Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire is proud to officially announce our 2026 Bigs & Littles of the Year and Mentors of the Year.
These outstanding individuals represent the very best of our three unique mentoring program models. They demonstrate exactly how a supportive relationship can help mentees (Littles) achieve their biggest possible futures while creating a life-changing impact on their mentors (Bigs).
Celebrating Excellence in Mentorship Our 2026 honorees exemplify the power of connection across Orange County and the Inland Empire. Through their dedication, they prove that mentorship is a two-way street that transforms lives.
"This very special annual recognition celebrates the invaluable contributions of the organization’s Bigs and highlights the resiliency of our Littles. These relationships are at the heart of our mission and often have a lifelong impact on both parties. We are honored to be showcasing these individuals in our community who embody what mentorship can mean for a young person, the volunteer and the community in igniting the power and promise of the next generation.”
Every year during National Mentoring Month, BBBS honors these outstanding mentors and matches with a regional title to celebrate extraordinary mentorship, friendship, and advocacy.
Meet our Winners
Community Program
An adult volunteer mentors a child between the ages of 6 and 16. Matches spend quality 1:1 time out in the community twice a month. Click here to volunteer!
Ian and Durrah Wagner and Emiliano
From the very beginning, Durrah and Ian understood that consistency wasn’t just helpful for Emiliano—it was essential. Matched at around seven years old, Emiliano was navigating a new ADHD diagnosis, a reevaluated IEP, and a world that often felt overwhelming. Time, in particular, was tricky. He couldn’t wait to see his Bigs again, constantly asking if their next outing was tomorrow… or the day after… so, Durrah and Ian created something beautifully simple and steady: every other Saturday at 11 AM was their time. With support from Emiliano’s mom, that routine turned into an “Adventure Calendar,” where outings, soccer games, folklorico classes, and daily life all lived together, helping Emiliano make sense of his world.
Their adventures are fueled by curiosity. Emiliano has boundless energy and a deep love for learning, and Durrah and Ian have embraced all of it. They encourage his questions about art, architecture, music, and the world around him. Together, they’ve built small but meaningful traditions, like a gratitude jar where something positive is written after each outing, and a “get to know you” card game played in the car. Over time, those moments have added up. Emiliano graduated early from ABA therapy, joined The Wooden Floor dance program, balanced soccer, school, and dance with growing confidence, and began setting tangible goals one small step at a time.
When Emiliano reached 10 adventures with his Bigs, he proudly announced, “Now we’re BEST friends.” Nearly two years in, it’s clear this Big Couple match is built on patience, creativity, and a true team effort. It’s a relationship that continues to help Emiliano grow into himself while knowing, without question, that he’s deeply accepted and supported.
Jessica Lam and Yaitza
When Yaitza was matched with Jessica, she was navigating an incredibly uncertain chapter of her life following her parents’ separation. Her family hoped a Big Sister could provide stability, encouragement, and a safe place to land. From the start, Jessica showed up as exactly that—steady, consistent, and fully present. She became someone Yaitza could rely on as she worked through big changes while continuing to push herself academically and personally.
School has always been Yaitza’s outlet, and Jessica leaned into that strength with intention. When math became a challenge, Jessica planned outings that included homework time and study support, turning something stressful into something manageable. At the same time, Jessica was finishing her own undergraduate degree, creating a shared sense of effort and motivation. That encouragement helped Yaitza step into leadership at school, joining volleyball, then flag football, and continuing to challenge herself in new spaces.
Yaitza’s confidence has grown well beyond the classroom. She won an art contest centered on suicide prevention and mental health awareness, using creativity to give voice to something deeply meaningful. She’s now preparing to volunteer in our High School Bigs program—when asked why, her answer was simple and powerful: “Because I see what my Big Sister has done for me. I want to do that for somebody else.”
This match is strengthened by a family fully invested in the journey. Jessica was at Yaitza’s quinceañera—an experience that was new for Jessica, but incredibly meaningful for Yaitza and her family. Yaitza’s mom, Maria, also serves on our Parent Advisory Committee, and the entire match attends trainings together—proof that mentorship here extends beyond the match to the entire support system. What began as a hope to help a shy young person find her voice has grown into something much bigger: a confident young leader, inspired by her Big Sister, and ready to give back.
High School Bigs Program
In this program, high school students find their voices as community advocates and leaders serving as role models to elementary school students. During weekly group mentoring sessions, they guide students through activities that support academic achievement and personal growth.
Congratulations to our 2025 High School Bigs Mentors of the Year who will also receive the $2,500 Angelitos Award to help fund their college and career dreams thanks to the support of Angelitos de Oro.
Tram Nguyen, Buena Park High School
“Impact comes from connection, not perfection.” —Tram
Tram’s journey with Big Brothers Big Sisters began her freshman year, and what started as an after-school commitment quickly became a calling. Over the years, Tram has mentored three Littles across multiple school sites, meeting each transition with grace, consistency, and care. Rather than measuring impact by longevity alone, Tram showed up fully in every match, helping Littles grow more confident, focused, and socially connected.
As a leader, Tram’s influence multiplied. She rose from club member to Vice President, then President, and played a pivotal role in launching new BBBS partnerships at Valencia Park and Pacific Drive Elementary. When Valencia Park struggled to recruit Bigs during its first year, Tram stepped in, personally recruiting more than 30 students and helping the school reach full site capacity. Her leadership wasn’t loud or performative; it was relational. She inspired others simply by sharing why mentorship mattered to her.
That same creativity reshaped her club’s fundraising efforts. Under Tram’s leadership, a struggling cupcake sale evolved into a boba lemonade fundraiser that dramatically increased profits—funds that went directly toward holiday grams for Littles and a well-stocked Big Bucks Store. Every idea had a purpose: enriching the experience for younger students and making them feel celebrated.
Behind all of this is a young woman shaped by resilience. While maintaining a 4.8 GPA and leading multiple clubs, Tram also carried immense responsibility at home after her father’s cancer diagnosis and her family’s sudden loss of healthcare. Her perseverance has led her to her senior year, where she is now on the cusp of becoming a first-generation college student and has earned a full-ride QuestBridge scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania. Tram’s story is a powerful reminder that mentorship doesn’t just change Littles—it shapes leaders who carry compassion, courage, and purpose wherever they go next.
Christian Hernandez, Western High School
“Ethan is part of me now because he made me into such a better person.” —Christian
Christian has been a Big for nearly four years, and from the beginning, his heart for mentorship has been unmistakable. Matched with his Little Brother, Ethan, their relationship started quietly until they discovered a shared love for Minecraft. From that moment on, something clicked. Christian saw a younger version of himself in Ethan and committed to being the kind of mentor he once needed: present, encouraging, and consistent.
No matter how busy his schedule became—with band practice, schoolwork, or leadership commitments—Christian showed up. Sometimes that meant arriving to site still in his band uniform. Over time, Ethan transformed from shy and reserved to expressive, confident, and joyful. Their mentorship journey reshaped Christian, too, helping him become more attentive at school, more engaged at home, and a better big brother to his three younger sisters.
Christian’s leadership extends well beyond his match. A dedicated student with a 3.8 GPA and aspirations in engineering, he attended every BBBS Leadership Summit and embraced every opportunity to grow. His mentors recognized that dedication and entrusted him with the role of High School Bigs Club President at Western High School. In that role, Christian has worked to recruit and inspire other students, believing deeply that mentorship should be shared.
As the son of immigrant parents and the oldest sibling in his family, Christian has carried responsibility from a young age. Those experiences shaped him into someone inclusive and deeply empathetic—the kind of person others naturally gravitate toward for advice. Christian’s impact lies not in perfection, but in his unwavering willingness to grow, serve, and lead with heart.
Workplace Mentoring Program
Corporate and community partners sponsor mentoring relationships between their employees and young people at local high schools or community colleges. Matches connect during monthly group mentoring sessions to help students develop career goals and prepare for the workforce.
Jennifer Wiegman, Ingram Micro
Jennifer embodies what intentional, people-centered mentorship looks like in a workplace setting. From day one, she showed up fully, participating in every session, coming prepared with thoughtful discussion topics, and creating a space where students felt safe asking questions, sharing ideas, and stepping into their confidence.
As a mentor to both Adaleny and Carolina, Jennifer took the time to understand each mentee as an individual, and their growth has been unmistakable. Adaleny became more confident speaking up in professional environments and began expressing a strong interest in continuing her education. Carolina gained clarity around her goals and started to see herself as a leader with real potential. Jennifer helped by modeling professionalism, empowering her mentees to lead conversations, and defending their confidence by reinforcing that their voices belonged in the room.
“Before this program, I didn’t always believe I could speak up or lead. Now I’m proud of the person I’m becoming.” —Adaleny
Beyond her own matches, Jennifer has become a powerful advocate for mentorship at Ingram Micro—sharing her experience with colleagues, encouraging others to volunteer, and highlighting how it strengthens both youth outcomes and company culture. She has truly taken this as an opportunity to invest meaningfully in the next generation.
Simir Shah, Google
Simir’s commitment to mentorship showed not only in his decision to come back as a second-year mentor at Google, but also in the way he engaged wholeheartedly with his mentee, Jett.
Their mentoring relationship was built on authentic, organic conversations about life, work, and the future. Simir created space for Jett to ask real questions and explore his goals openly. He went a step further by opening doors—most notably by inviting him to a Google networking event, an experience that pushed Jett beyond his comfort zone and into new professional circles.
That support paid off in tangible ways. With Simir’s guidance and encouragement, Jett secured his first internship and achieved his goal of transferring to UC Irvine.
“Simir is a fantastic mentor and has been a great help. He has even helped me find connections to get my first job experience.” —Jett
Simir has also been a strong ambassador for our mission—sharing his experience with colleagues and family, inviting others to get involved. His approach shows how workplace mentors can make a lasting difference simply by investing an hour of their workday!
