Navy Ensign, Students Achieve Impressive Feats

Yorba Linda native serves on USS Boxer, local high schoolers win global STEM competition, and Estancia High students revamp beloved holiday display

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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This Bravo! section highlights the achievements of several individuals and groups in Southern California. Ensign Christopher Li, a Yorba Linda native, serves as a combat electronics division officer on the USS Boxer. A student-led team called Team SW1FT, representing high schools in Irvine and La Cañada Flintridge, won awards at the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals 2025 in Singapore. Additionally, seniors at Estancia High School in Costa Mesa partnered with the city to rebuild cherished pieces of the Snoopy House holiday display.

Why it matters

These stories showcase the impressive accomplishments of young people in the region, from military service to STEM excellence to community engagement. They highlight the talent, dedication, and civic-mindedness of residents in Southern California, inspiring others and strengthening the local community.

The details

Ensign Christopher Li, a 2020 graduate of Yorba Linda High School, serves aboard the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship. He is the combat electronics division officer, responsible for maintaining the ship's electronic systems. Li joined the Navy after graduating college, motivated by a desire to give back to the country that welcomed his family as first-generation Americans. Team SW1FT, a self-taught student team from Arnold O. Beckman High School in Irvine and La Cañada High School in La Cañada Flintridge, represented the U.S. at the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals 2025 in Singapore. They won the Sponsorship & Marketing Award and were nominated for several other awards, competing against 82 of the world's best student teams. At Estancia High School in Costa Mesa, seniors in the Building Industry Technology Academy partnered with the city to rebuild cherished pieces of the Snoopy House holiday display. The students analyzed the aging structures, studied their construction, and redesigned elements like the stack of presents and house facades to add more charm and functionality.

  • Ensign Christopher Li graduated from Yorba Linda High School in 2020.
  • Team SW1FT competed at the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals 2025 in Singapore.
  • The Estancia High School students worked on the Snoopy House holiday display ahead of the most recent holiday season.

The players

Ensign Christopher Li

A native of Yorba Linda who serves as the combat electronics division officer aboard the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship.

Team SW1FT

A self-taught, student-led team of three local high schoolers from Arnold O. Beckman High School in Irvine and La Cañada High School in La Cañada Flintridge who represented the U.S. at the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals 2025 in Singapore.

Estancia High School seniors

Students in the Building Industry Technology Academy at Estancia High School in Costa Mesa who partnered with the city to rebuild cherished pieces of the Snoopy House holiday display.

Willard Jordan

Former Costa Mesa Mayor who started the Snoopy House holiday display in 1966.

Manuel Chavez

Costa Mesa Mayor Pro Tem who visited the Estancia High School students working on the Snoopy House project.

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What they’re saying

“I joined the Navy because I'm a first-generation American and the first to graduate from college, and I wanted to do something meaningful after I earned my degree. The founder of Cornell University, Ezra Cornell, gave the school an unofficial motto of 'Do the greatest good,' and I wanted to do what I could to give back to a country that gave my family and me so much.”

— Ensign Christopher Li (ocregister.com)

“We wanted the stack of presents to look more Christmas-y. The stack is the same size as the old one, but it has more details now. We made the bottom box taller and the top box shorter. We wanted to make it so kids could lean comfortably against them and parents could easily sit with their kids on the bottom box.”

— Rosselyn, Estancia High School student (Newport-Mesa Unified School District)

“It's incredible what you've done. This project is adding to the joy of Costa Mesa children.”

— Manuel Chavez, Costa Mesa Mayor Pro Tem (Newport-Mesa Unified School District)

What’s next

The Estancia High School students' rebuilt Snoopy House pieces will be on display for the upcoming holiday season in Costa Mesa.

The takeaway

These stories highlight the remarkable achievements of young people in Southern California, from military service to STEM excellence to community engagement. They showcase the talent, dedication, and civic-mindedness of the region's residents, inspiring others and strengthening the local community.