The Hemet/San Jacinto Student of the Month program held its most recent recognition breakfast at the Maze Stone at Soboba Springs Golf Course on Feb. 6. 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 and resiliency in overcoming difficult life challenges. And they do this all in a setting that honors God, country, family, community and free enterprise. Students are nominated by teachers or other school personnel for making a difference in their homes, schools and communities.
Local program founder and Student of the Month Committee member Karena Zermeno emceed the event. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past and/or current challenges and future goals with a room full of supporters that included principals, teachers, peers and family members, as well as community and school district dignitaries.
February’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District are Tagan Brown, Jesse Castenada, Saniyah Dalton, Alexis Larsen and Odessa Whitmer. San Jacinto Unified honorees for February are A’naej’e Cook and Malaya Saah. Daigan Cyhan from Noli Indian School was also honored.
Hemet Unified School District
Tagan Brown
Western Center Academy chose to honor Tagan this month. Teacher and Christian Club advisor Benjamin Brandt has known her since her freshman year. Tagan is the oldest child with six younger siblings and shares a birthday with her six-year-old brother Maverick. In October of 2020, he fell off the couch and they thought it was just a typical toddler spill. It turned out he had suffered a stroke, and the fall actually fractured his skull. After undergoing emergency brain surgery, he was left paralyzed and mentally handicapped. It changed all their lives. “At this all-time low of my life, I became a Christian and found God, which I think is my most defining feature,” she said. It has helped her through many bumps in the road and has pushed her to be kinder, more compassionate, patient and joyful. “I have learned I want to become a special education teacher,” Tagan said. She has been accepted at Northern Arizona University’s Honors College. “Because I’m the oldest sibling, I’ve had to be a leader from a very young age,” she said. She is involved with her school’s ASB and LINK Crew, is president of the Christian Club and has volunteered with the Ramona outdoor play throughout high school. “My experience has taught me that life is a precious gift that we should all cherish, and I plan to cherish it to the fullest,” Tagan said.
Jesse Castenada
Tahquitz High School Principal Andrew Holmes described Jesse as a varsity basketball player and an outstanding track athlete who is also gaining real world experience by working part time. His English teacher, Molly Otis, said Jesse actively engages in everything they do in class. “Jesse exhibits an ‘I CAN’ attitude – imagination, commitment, affirmation and he never gives up,” she said. Jesse hopes to attend UC, Berkeley or UC, Irvine to study business administration. “I have a passion to become an entrepreneur and to build something meaningful and to prove that where you come from doesn’t determine where you can go,” he said. His father was deported when Jesse was very young, so he had to learn many things on his own. “I had to be strong for my mother even on the days when I just wanted to be a kid,” he said. “But life doesn’t wait for you to be ready. It knocks you down and either you stay down or you get back up and I chose to get back up, but I didn’t do it alone. My brother George taught me responsibility when I had no one else to show me, school taught me accountability and playing sports taught me discipline. Pain is temporary but giving up lasts forever.” He said one of the most powerful lessons he learned that he will take with him to college is to take advantage of every opportunity God sends your way.
Saniyah Dalton
West Valley High School Principal Gerardo Zavala introduced Saniyah as this month’s choice for Student of the Month. He said, “Saniyah’s passion for service goes beyond school; she wants to study law and go into politics to be a strong and honest leader.” Shereen Johnson is her English teacher and Black Student Union advisor who said Saniyah is a dedicated teacher’s assistant, varsity cheerleader and stunt cheerleader who is known for her integrity and kindness. “I believe my greatest contribution to my school, family and community is leadership,” Saniyah said. “Leadership is more than just a title or position; it’s about the impact I make on my surroundings and the way I inspire and guide others. Being an older girl on the cheer team, many of the younger girls look up to me for guidance with any of their problems with family and school. At home, leadership means being responsible, supportive and understanding. In my community, as I’m in many clubs, leadership is supporting that advisor and listening to what people in the club want and need, making sure everyone has a voice.” She was just starting high school when her father died from cancer. “I had to navigate the profound loss of someone who was my guide, my protector and my role model,” Saniyah said. “I was stuck in the grief of losing my dad. It became hard to focus.” Although she admits healing is not a straight line, she has been able to move forward. She plans to attend Xavier University of Louisiana to study political science and government.
Alexis Larsen
The Academy of Innovation is an independent study school who chose to honor Alexis this month. Keely Bunn is the CTE Visual Arts teacher who has worked with Alexis for the past three years. “She’s an intelligent young woman who always turns in quality work,” she said. “She has faced some major challenges in her life that have shaped who she is today.” Alexis said she experienced severe trauma that completely changed her life and the plans she had for her future after her parents divorced when she was 11. “We moved to a new city, and I had to start over at a new school,” she said. “Those changes were overwhelming, and I struggled with anxiety so much that even walking into school felt impossible.” Over time and with determination and support, she learned how to manage her anxiety and refocus on her goals. “Starting high school was a turning point,” Alexis said. “I saw my situation as a reality check. Watching my single mother work two jobs to support us motivated me to push myself even harder.” She joined ASB as a freshman and is serving as its president this year. She plans to major in education at college. “No matter what challenges we face, we have the power to overcome them and shape our own futures,” Alexis said.
Odessa Whitmer
Hamilton High School CTE teacher Alex Williams said Odessa is excelling in athletics, earning CIF honors and MVP recognition in varsity wrestling and varsity track and field. “She serves our community in various roles through her membership in ASB and she is one of the students selected for our CTE nursing internship program with Temecula Valley Hospital Volunteer Foundation,” Williams shared. Odessa said that she has faced many challenges throughout her life, but they shaped her into the person she is today. She was only 10 years old when she learned of her father’s drinking problem, and it caused her severe anxiety and OCD and she couldn’t sleep. Her parents divorced when she was 11 but she would visit him and see he was still drinking. She said that even after a physical assault from her father that left visible marks and mental scars on her, she didn’t want to see him go to jail. “I know he is sick and always will be,” Odessa said. “My philosophy, which inspired me to pursue a law degree, is my belief that every person has a voice that deserves to be heard and sometimes all they need is a helping hand.”
San Jacinto Unified School District
A’naej’e Cook
San Jacinto High School selected A’neaej’e and Assistant Principal Antoinette Miles spoke on behalf of the AVID teacher who nominated her but could not be there. She described the outstanding senior as a “natural born leader whose presence and contributions positively impact everyone around her.” A’naej’e said that even though AVID is a college preparatory class, it was more than that for her because she found a space where she felt safe, heard and supported. She said she will always be grateful to the teacher for her guidance and belief in her. She feels her greatest contribution is her willingness to help whenever she is needed. “I’ve always tried to show up for my school and my community,” A’naej’e said. “High school has taught me that the small actions, whether it’s volunteering, mentoring or simply encouraging someone, can make a big difference. I want to be remembered as someone who not only worked hard but also uplifted others along the way.” Her dream is to become a registered pediatric nurse, specializing in neonatal intensive care. She said she did not have a stable home or attend a school regularly growing up due to moving so often. But she feels these experiences helped her to build strong communication skills. “Connections matter,” A’naej’e said. She currently serves as ASB Senior Class President, vice president for AVID and president of the Black Student Union.
Malaya Saah
Mountain View High School chose to honor Malaya who has recently graduated and is attending Mt. San Jacinto College. Her teacher Trisha Ochoa said, “Malaya has faced challenges that would discourage many but through moments of hardship and self-doubt, she found strength, learned the importance of grace and embraced the support of those who believed in her,” she said. “Malaya’s journey at Mountain View wasn’t just about academic success – it was about rediscovering her potential and stepping into the person she was always meant to be.” Malaya said she was always hard on herself and felt inferior if she asked for help so her mental health declined. She acted out at home and resented her family and others which led to her being sent away from home and into foster care where she continued to make poor choices. Eventually, she returned home and enrolled at the high school and was able to get back on the right path. “Mountain View is a chapter in my life that I will never forget and continue to embrace,” Malaya said. “Throughout my rollercoaster of a journey, I have been able to discover who I am and give myself grace while accepting the fact that I am only human.” She is studying law and public policy with plans to eventually become a prosecuting attorney.
Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians
Daigan Cyhan was chosen to represent Noli Indian School as Student of the Month. Principal Donovan Post said the school offers middle and high school courses for any student from a federally recognized Tribe within about an 85-mile radius. Daigan pushes that limit by commuting from the Los Coyotes Reservation in northern San Diego County. “I take it as an honor to have these students attend Noli because they can easily attend a school that is a lot closer to their homes,” Post said. “This young man plays sports and other things and gets home around 1 a.m. and then gets up at 4:30 a.m. to catch the bus to come back to school; it’s amazing. He’s been with us his entire high school years and he exemplifies everything we want in our students as far as leadership, determination, not giving up and doing everything that is required. But more importantly, it’s his cultural values and what it means to be a Native American right now in today’s society.” His mother, Tashina Ornelas, is the Culture teacher at Noli and said Daigan is her oldest of eight children. She said it has been a great experience having her son as a student in her classroom where she can mentor him, and he can see the relationship between teachers and community. She grew up in the San Jacinto Valley with the Soboba community and said the commute is worth it. Daigan said, “I believe my greatest contribution to my community is when I help out with cultural events. My mom does basketweaving and things like that and I like to help out, teaching the kids and being there to offer my assistance.” He hopes to attend UCR to major in biology and then continue onto medical school to eventually be an anesthesiologist or radiologist. He has had to overcome some obstacles, including being disenrolled from his Tribe. “It’s kind of hard to express what that felt like, getting kicked out of your own community,” Daigan said. “It’s like shameful almost, feeling like you did something wrong, but you didn’t. It really hurts but it’s something that I lived through, and I’m still involved with the community as much as possible. I’m still part of Pechanga – just not documented; that’s my people and I’ll forever be a part of them.” Daigan gives back to the community by continuing to share the cultural knowledge he has learned from his uncle, his mother and others, teaching the youth how to keep the traditions alive.
For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.
