The Hemet/San Jacinto Student of the Month program held its most recent recognition event at the Maze Stone restaurant at Soboba Springs Golf Course, Feb. 17. With one carryover from January, eight local high school seniors were recognized and honored for their character, love of learning and commitment to academics in addition to their involvement in school and community activities and their ability to overcome difficult life challenges. And they do this all in a setting that honors God, America, family, community and free enterprise. Students are nominated by teachers or other school personnel for making a difference in their homes, schools and communities.
Program founder and event facilitator Karena Zermeno also represents one of the sponsors, Altura Credit Union. Backpacks filled with gifts, a Student of the Month award, certificates of recognition and much more were donated by the program’s sponsors to the award recipients. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past challenges and future goals with a room full of supporters that included principals, teachers, peers, family members and community and school district dignitaries.
February’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District schools are Kasey Aguilar, Aaliyah Cruz, Erica Gutierrez, Amari Hill and Cynthia Jauregui. San Jacinto Unified honorees for February are Freddy Boyd and Abigail Lazarrus.
Hemet Unified School District
Kasey Aguilar from Tahquitz High School is the class of 2022 valedictorian and Principal Kari McGowan said she is the “epitome of Titan Pride.” Being on ASB all four years and serving as its current president are among her numerous accolades and accomplishments. A past soccer player for the school, she joined the football team this year as its field goal kicker and made 27 of 30 point after kicks and was named Varsity Special Teams Player of the Year. Kasey said her father was in the Navy for 22 years and was deployed for much of her childhood. She, her mother and her three siblings found it hard to have him gone so much. In 2015, a close family friend died and left behind four teenagers that Kasey’s family took in, completely changing their family dynamic. Kasey has volunteered 100-plus hours to AYSO and became Tahquitz’s first female kicker to play in a game and score a field goal. She said through her hard work she achieved a goal she set for herself in sixth grade which was to be the valedictorian for her graduating class. She plans a career in the surgical field and hopes to attend UCLA to major in biology.
Hemet High School’s Aaliyah Cruz was nominated by her ASB teacher Lindsay Brown who said she has had the joy of knowing Aaliyah all four years and watching her grow throughout her high school career. “She goes over and beyond to be kind and include everyone and truly leads by example,” Brown said. Born and raised in Hemet, Aaliyah will be a fourth-generation Hemet High School graduate. “School was difficult for me,” she said. She worked to overcome dyslexia by committing herself to new challenging roles and getting involved in ASB, yearbook and softball. Aaliyah said her teachers have taught her more than what can be learned from reading a book such as responsibility, teamwork, accountability and leadership. “It is because of these amazing educators that I want to be a teacher myself,” she said.
Erica Gutierrez was Hamilton High School’s choice for February. Her twin brother, Christian, received the Student of the Month award in January. Her art teacher started off with a quote from Irish artist Stacia Tauscher: “We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.” Erica said online learning during the pandemic proved to be a challenge for her but with the help of teachers and staff she was able to get back on track and she is thankful for their support. Erica aspires to be a wildlife biologist and has always been big on volunteerism and wildlife conservation.
Alessandro High School singled out Amari Hill to be recognized this month. She serves as her school’s representative for the Board of Trustees and only needs to complete 15 more credits to graduate. She is a member of ASB and plans to take after her mother and pursue a career in psychology. She said during middle school she suffered with depression and anxiety but one thing she learned that she will take to college and onward is that “I can’t let my off days turn into my every day.” Her mother said Amari has faced many health challenges and to see how far she has come is amazing. “As for the future, I know Amari is going to rock it out,” her mother said.
West Valley’s Cynthia Jauregui could not attend but Principal Shannyn Cahoon said the senior is a four-year cadet with the school’s Navy JRTOC and very active with the program. She’s also on the soccer team and is “honest and dedicated and believes in service to country and stands firm on her beliefs.” Cynthia plans to either attend college or enlist in the U.S. Navy as a step in accomplishing her lifelong goal of being “financially independent.” San Jacinto Unified School District
Freddy Boyd transferred to San Jacinto High School two years ago and has excelled on and off the football field since he arrived. Principal Courtney Hall said he is one of the best ambassadors for the school by possessing the skill to talk to people that takes most people many years to develop, if ever. “You can tell he genuinely cares about what you have to say,” Hall said. Football coach and Tiger University teacher/mentor Aric Galliano said Freddy is a born leader and has made first team All-League both seasons and team MVP this past year. Freddy started off by saying, “This community offers nothing but the best so I feel it deserves nothing but the best in return. I believe my greatest contribution to my community, my school and my family is the way I motivate others and bring joy into people’s lives whether I know them or not.” His passion for sharing knowledge and helping others is what has led him to aspire to three careers simultaneously: a football coach, a personal trainer and a high school math teacher, all to help further develop the next generation of society. He said his mother’s ability to maintain a positive outlook despite what is going on around her is one of the many lessons he will carry throughout his future journey. “Because my mom is my role model, my hero and most of all, my best friend,” Freddy said.
Mountain Heights Academy chose Abigail Lazarrus as its outstanding student for February. Principal Ken Swanson met her when she first moved to San Jacinto as a fifth-grade student at Megan Cope Elementary where he was principal at the time. Abigail said her parents divorced at that time but that her father started sexually abusing her at the age of 3 and it continued when he had visitations. She said she was sexually abused by her boyfriend at the age of 13 and “lost myself.” She started hanging out with the wrong crowd, drinking, doing drugs and fighting which led to her being kicked out of school. “I was a toxic person and hard to be around,” Abigail said. “I tried to take my own life.” She said the ensuing trauma led to physical problems and she was full of pain. Now four months clean and sober, she finished high school in early February. “I found hope and I want to inspire others,” she said. She is working as a respite caregiver for adults with special needs and plans to attend college and start her own business. “My goal is to make people feel beautiful and empowered and feel good about themselves,” she said.
Jasmine McKenna of Mountain View High School, who couldn’t attend the recognition ceremony when she was honored in January, was given the opportunity to share her story at this month’s event. The school’s ASB director said when in-person learning resumed in August students were isolated and disconnected but when Jasmine joined ASB she brought many students with her and improved school morale. She serves as her school’s Board of Trustees representative and even though she officially graduated in January and works two jobs, she has committed to continuing her role of reporting at monthly school board meetings. “One thing I learned while being here at Mountain View is that even if you don’t believe in yourself when things get really difficult there are people that are there for you and they are there to help you,” Jasmine said. “When I was younger, my mom and dad split up and not having my mom around was very difficult for me and caused a lot of personal problems for me and it also affected my schoolwork,” Jasmine said. “But I decided I didn’t want it to affect me in the long run so I started focusing more and putting myself out there.” She hopes to follow her dad’s creative path as a tattoo artist and open her own shop. Her ultimate goal is to work in the dental field as a dental assistant or a hygienist. Closing remarks
Zermeno applauded the students for sharing their personal stories and for being great examples of being able to persevere through difficult times and situations. She encouraged everyone to forgive the past and to “forgive the person who did you wrong because when we forgive, we do something very powerful, not for them but for ourselves.” She said it gives us the ability to move on and look forward and added, “Don’t give up on your dreams. Don’t be a victim, be a victor.”
HUSD Superintendent Christi Barrett said some of the students’ speeches brought to mind the importance of family and what that means. “Many of us have a very distinct definition and mental model of what a family is,” she said, adding that the critical takeaway from this event is that everyone has the ability to be someone’s family. “Family means to love and to support without judgment and to love unconditionally.”
SJUSD superintendent Dave Pyle said he was inspired and impressed by the fact that so many of this month’s honored students have played a strong leadership roles at their schools, with ASB and other programs. For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.
Diane A. Rhodes | Contributed
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