Diane A. Rhodes | Contributor
The Hemet/San Jacinto Student of the Month program held its most recent recognition breakfast at the Maze Stone at Soboba Springs Golf Course, Jan. 19. Seven 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 and family members, as well as community and school district dignitaries.
January’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District schools are Valerie Barajas, Valerie Flores, Angelise Jones, Isabelle Lee and Kaylee Lopez. San Jacinto Unified’s honorees for January are Emily Gates and Grace Truslow.
Hemet Unified School District
Valerie Barajas
Tahquitz High School’s band director Jeremy Pietsch nominated Valerie for being an outstanding student during the four years he has known her. She takes Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses and is one of his strongest musicians. He said she earns the highest place at all festivals the band performs at. As first chair in clarinet last year she participated in virtual concerts and was part of the first jazz album ever produced by the Tahquitz Titan musicians. Valerie is lead saxophone in jazz band this year. She plans to become an elementary school teacher. She has played clarinet for six years and alto sax for three. She wants to attend Mt. San Jacinto Community College before transferring to a University of California school. Valerie said, “A life lesson I plan to carry with me on my journey after high school is to focus on present moments and to not worry about things I cannot control.”
Valerie Flores
The Academy of Innovation’s top choice this month is independent study student Valerie. Nominating teacher Linda Olsen described her as an excellent example of self-discipline as she utilizes the fully online option of study. Valerie said one of her greatest contributions to her community has been supporting the Ramona Bowl. She has been involved with the Summer Youth Theater productions, which benefit the nonprofit amphitheater association. She plans to attend California State University, Channel Islands in Camarillo but is undecided about a major or career. “I am interested in the idea of art and see myself likely being associated with it,” Valerie said. Virtual learning has been a good fit for her as she has worked hard to overcome serious sleep problems. Her mother Marie said her daughter is very creative and has a vivid imagination and has been illustrating and writing books and short stories since she was six years old. Valerie said, “A significant life lesson I’ve learned is to rely on myself and trust myself. I want to be a highlight in the life of people, leaving a positive impression and fond memory for them to carry through their day.”
Angelise Jones
West Valley High School singled out Angelise for being a dynamic student who has been singing for the past 13 years. She performed in musical theater at the school for the first time last year, the dance team this year, is part of the Tech Theater team, is a choir member and a Thespian officer for drama. Her nominating teacher Cheri Kehler, who teaches drama and dance, said, “It’s unbelievable that one person can accomplish all these things in one day and Angelise does this with grace and confidence and humility.” Angelise said experiencing bullying and racism while in middle school caused her to become anxious and paranoid and it wasn’t until her junior year of high school when she joined drama that she finally found somewhere she felt like she belonged. She wants to earn her bachelor’s degree in fine arts and return to West Valley. She said her journey has taught her that, “you don’t always have to do things just to satisfy others; sometimes you just need to roll with the punches, pick yourself up and keep moving forward.”
Isabelle Lee
Hamilton High School selected Isabelle for being a very kind, goal-oriented, natural leader. Diana Welty said Isabelle is one of the few students who stepped up to help her when she took over as ASB director and is consistently at every event. Isabelle said moving to California from Minnesota five years ago was a huge culture shock for her. She had attended an all-Hmong school in the past and was the only Asian student when she began attending Hamilton. She said she felt alone and scared but the students were very welcoming and her teachers motivated her to step out of her shell and pushed her to be who she is today. She does a lot of volunteering, especially after school, saying ASB allows her to connect with From the Heart, a nonprofit in Anza. Isabelle said, “My parents are my constant support and will always be there for me no matter how far I go from the nest.” The generosity and kindness she has received from others has motivated her to become an elementary school teacher “and inspire younger kids to be kind to each other, no matter what their situation is.”
Kaylee Lopez
Hemet High School’s Kaylee was introduced by Assistant Principal Zach Taylor as an amazing artist. “I’m really proud and honored to be working in this community but I’m even more proud and honored to present Kaylee today.” Her art teacher Kari Howell said, “How do you talk about someone who is extraordinary? How do you talk about someone who faces adversity head on and keeps going? It is rare to see anyone at any age emerge from aspects of their lives that would normally crumble a person but instead they rise above it and they thrive. It is rare to see someone so young have strength and conviction and to be an advocate for those who are in need and for those who cannot advocate for themselves. She uses her creativity in art to harness the attributes of the Victorian-era style detail and she meshes it with a really amazing modern Gothic edge.” Kaylee said one of her driving motivations since she was very young was to be creative and expressive. “Creating art doesn’t just allow me to become a better artist, but to raise my own self-esteem and to continue to impress myself with my skills,” she said. “I’ve always felt it was important to stay true to my creative passions rather than to acclimate to social norms and traditions. I’m an advocate for disability awareness. My little brother Jacob was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. It is crucial that everyone is treated with dignity and respect and our lives should be centered around unity and compassion for others. Growing up with an emotionally and physically absent father put the weight of parenting on my mom. She encouraged me to be myself and celebrate my uniqueness and go above and beyond when it came to my academic career.” Kaylee plans to attend Riverside Community College in the fall and pursue a career in cosmetology.
San Jacinto Unified School District
Emily Gates
San Jacinto High School Air Force Jr.ROTC is led by Emily, who serves as unit commander to nearly 170 cadets. Lt. Col. Michael Howard prefaced Emily’s time at the podium by saying, “It’s our goal to teach students the Air Force core values of integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do, to develop citizens of character, dedicated to serving our nation and community. Only a select few, like Emily, will rise to the top because they internalize those values and turn them into actions.” Emily said that while all three core values are equally important, it is the second one that has resonated with her the most. “Since the beginning of my Jr.ROTC career, service before self has been at the forefront of who I am as a commander because I believe that in order for my unit to succeed, it needs a leader that’s willing to set personal matters aside and take the time to be there, listen attentively and take action.” Emily plans to attend a private military college in Vermont where she will major in criminology before commissioning into the Air Force as an officer.
Grace Truslow
Mountain View’s Grace was nominated by Mrs. Ochoa who said that teachers at traditional schools get to know their students over time. “I just met Grace in August and I’m already so impressed with her,” she said, adding that Grace is spearheading an art project at the alternative high school and has joined ASB. She recently shared a butterfly tattoo she had gotten on the back of her neck with her teacher who said she found some quotes about butterflies that made her realize that Grace could not have made a better choice. “The butterfly is a beacon of light and hope that comforts and inspires us as we navigate through the complex mix of trials and triumphs that unfold in all of our lives. Just as the butterfly has to undergo different development stages to come out stronger and more beautiful than ever, you too must accept change and lose the parts of yourself that hold you back.” Grace feels her most significant contribution to her school and home has been her creative mind and inquisitiveness. She plans to attend a two-year college and then enlist in the military. She said she has gone through a lot this past year, starting with her and her younger sister being placed into the foster care system. “Although it’s been rough, I’m proud of myself for pushing through. Even though it’s been rough losing friends and family, I plan on making the best of the situation and the opportunities given me,” Grace said. “If there’s anything I’ve learned through the hardships, it’s that despite your shortcomings and disadvantages in life, if you keep pushing through, the end result will be worthwhile.”
Closing remarks
Zermeno asked all the honored students to stand and be applauded once more. “Know that your challenges have formed the amazing human beings you are today,” she told them. Hemet Unified School District Director of Secondary Education Nereyda Gonzalez said a recent school holiday honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “who inspired us to live in service to others. The students we heard from today are living that every day. One of my favorite quotes from Dr. King is ‘darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.’ So, students, thank you for being the light that has inspired us today.”
For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.
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