Reporter

Theresa Walker

Theresa Walker has been a staff writer at the Orange County Register since 1992. She was a reporter and editor at the San Bernardino Sun from 1986 to 1992. She has a communications degree from Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Location: Orange County, California, USA

Students in the Orange County Young Curators (OCYC) program examine the placement of Mindy Shapero’s “All the edges at the same time all the time” in the exhibition, Piece of Me—titled after Britney Spears’s 2007 hit song in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, June 12, 2025. The paid after-school program comprises fifteen high school juniors and seniors from across the county and meets biweekly at OCMA to learn about curatorial practice and all facets of arts administration. As part of the program, the teens have curated their own exhibition drawn from OCMA’s collection through a Gen Z lens. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Teens curate part of OCMA show on adolescence past and present

June 27, 2025 at 8:29 a.m.

Teens learned the ins and outs of curation and then pulled their own choices from OCMA's collection of 4,600 works of art to present a piece of the show.

Artist of the Year 2025 winners are, top row from left, Allie Molin of Mission Viejo (instrumental music), Helen Zhang of Irvine (fine arts), Jennifer (Doyeon) Kim of Tustin (media arts), Madison Becerra of Fullerton (vocal music), bottom row from left, Isabella Kim of Fullerton (theater), Noah Villanueva of Irvine (film and TV) and Piper Rovsek of Newport Harbor (dance). (Photos by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County high school Artist of the Year 2025 winners announced

May 5, 2025 at 9:15 a.m.

These seven students were selected as Artists of the Year from a record field of 923 nominees.

Piper Rovsek of Newport Harbor, a senior studying at the Orange County School of the Arts, is the dance Artist of the Year for 2025. Rovsek is picture at Segerstrom Hall in the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Artist of the Year 2025 for dance: Piper Rovsek

May 5, 2025 at 9:10 a.m.

The 18-year-old Newport Beach resident co-founded a nonprofit to teach dance to people with neuro disabilities.

Isabella Kim of Fullerton, a senior studying at the Orange County School of the Arts, is the theater Artist of the Year for 2025. Kim is shown in the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Artist of the Year 2025 for theater: Isabella Kim

May 5, 2025 at 9:09 a.m.

The 17-year-old actor from Fullerton, hailed as a 'star' by judges, will attend The Juilliard School in New York City this fall.

Noah Villanueva of Irvine, a senior studying at Northwood High School, is the film and TV Artist of the Year for 2025. Villa Nueva is pictured at the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Artist of the Year 2025 for film and TV: Noah Villanueva

May 5, 2025 at 9:08 a.m.

The 18-year-old Irvine resident produced a film about time travel as part of his application.

Allie Molin of Mission Viejo, a senior studying at the Orange County School of the Arts, is the instrumental music Artist of the Year for 2025. Molin is shown inside the 65-foot steel sculpture titled Connector by Richard Serrain at the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Artist of the Year 2025 for instrumental music: Allie Molin

May 5, 2025 at 9:07 a.m.

The 18-year-old trumpeter from Mission Viejo performed last year at the Monterey Jazz Festival with other top female high school jazz musicians.

Madison Becerra of Fullerton, a senior studying at the Orange County School of the Arts, is the vocal music Artist of the Year for 2025. Becerra is pictured in the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Artist of the Year 2025 for vocal music: Madison Becerra

May 5, 2025 at 9:06 a.m.

The 18-year-old Fullerton resident impressed judges with her performance of an opera aria and a song by Mexican composer Manuel Ponce.

Helen Zhang of Irvine, a senior studying at Crean Lutheran High School, is the fine arts Artist of the Year for 2025. Zhang is pictured Helen Zhang of Irvine, a senior studying at Crean Lutheran High School, is the fine arts Artist of the Year for 2025. Zhang is pictured in the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Artist of the Year 2025 for Fine Arts: Helen Zhang

May 5, 2025 at 9:04 a.m.

The 18-year-old Irvine resident, who is deaf in one frequently incorporates themes of resilience and vulnerability into her artwork.

Jennifer (Doyeon) Kim of Tustin, a senior studying at the Orange County School of the Arts, is the media arts Artist of the Year for 2025. Kim is shown in the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Artist of the Year 2025 for media arts: Jennifer (Doyeon) Kim

May 5, 2025 at 9:17 a.m.

The 17-year-old Yorba Linda student has been honored for her innovative product designs.

A white wicker bassinet bought in 1934 is still in use 130 babies later

January 15, 2025 at 5:25 p.m.

This baby bassinet tells the stories of generations, a town and the weaving of lives one sleeping baby at a time.

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