Pilar Bastida excelled in academics, athletics, and the arts at West Valley High School, maintaining a stellar GPA in advanced courses.  A dedicated track and cross-country athlete, she fostered inclusivity through bilingual skills. Also recognized for her artistic talents, she will pursue music education at Riverside City College, aspiring to teach elementary or middle school students. 

Nevelyn Jaime is a passionate scholar who excels in reading and writing.  She values education, responsibility, and organization, inspiring others through her dedication.  She will attend UC Riverside to study English, with a goal to return to teach at her alma mater, Hamilton High School, and guide students in embracing literature as a lifelong journey of learning and self-expression.

Alexis Larsen, a school leader and scholar from The Academy of Innovation, served in ASB for four years, including as vice president and president.  Passionate about student engagement and academic excellence, she plans to study at Mt. San Jacinto College, eventually earn her teaching credential and inspire future students as a high school English teacher.

Megan Leffel, a dedicated student and history enthusiast, is part of the San Jacinto Leadership Academy’s first graduating class.  She actively serves in her church, teaches a night class, and played tennis for three years at her school. Passionate about education, she plans to attend Biola University to study history, become a teacher and share her knowledge with future generations.

Angelina Lomeli, a recent graduate of San Jacinto High School with an outstanding GPA, demonstrated resilience and independence while excelling academically. Passionate about education, she plans to attend Mt. San Jacinto College and transfer to UC Riverside to become an elementary school teacher, aiming to support students’ success while fostering a healthy mindset.

Katelynne Ray, a third-generation Hemet graduate, embodies leadership, resilience, and dedication. At the Western Center Academy, she excelled in academics and extracurriculars, serving as ASB and Link Crew President. Katelynne plans to major in History at George Washington University and eventually teach at the high school level. 

Alina Rivera, a graduate of Tahquitz High School, plans to attend Cal State San Bernardino to major in liberal arts and eventually work with young students. Balancing academics, work, and family support, her bilingual skills and dedication to learning highlight her commitment to shaping young minds and making a lasting impact.

Sunnie Sanchez, a Mountain View High School graduate, is recognized for his leadership and passion for education. He plans to attend Cal State University San Bernardino to become an English Language Development (ELD) teacher, advocating for improved language education. Beyond academics, he mentors junior high students in track and field, demonstrating his commitment to community support. 

Rachel Serrano, a graduate of Alessandro High School, overcame challenges in the foster care system, finding strength in faith and family. She plans to attend Mt. San Jacinto College, majoring in Education, with the goal of teaching elementary students. She is committed to providing the necessary emotional and academic support needed for all students to experience success in the classroom.

Aaron Valencia, a Nuview Bridge Early College High School graduate, excelled academically, earning four associate degrees at Moreno Valley College while still in high school. He plans to attend UC Riverside to major in Mathematics and eventually teach middle or high school. During his four years of high school, Aaron tutored fellow students who struggled in mathematics, fostering a supportive learning environment and making math understandable for those he mentored.

Sophie Vargas, a recent graduate of Hemet High School, overcame dyslexia and a learning disability, challenges that fueled her passion for education.  Inspired by a supportive teacher, she aspires to create a nurturing classroom where every child feels valued. She plans to attend the University of Oregon and major in Elementary Education, with the goal of uplifting young students and fostering a lifelong love for learning.

Kayleigh Yarborough, a San Jacinto High School graduate, is dedicated to becoming an elementary school teacher. Overcoming personal hardships, Kayleigh remained focused on academics and education and gained hands-on experience in teaching through volunteering at local elementary schools. Inspired by her teachers, she plans to attend Cal State Monterey Bay, earn her credential, and eventually create a nurturing learning environment as a public school teacher.

Cyclaly Hernandez Villa, Hamilton High School’s Valedictorian, is the first recipient of the CalRTA Marvin Nottingham Memorial Scholarship and reflects the very characteristics that former educator and administrator Marvin Nottingham valued: Passion for learning, dedication to education, and a desire to inspire others. Passionate about mathematics and education, Cyclaly dedicated herself to tutoring peers at Hamilto High in her field of interest. She plans to attend UC Riverside, where she plans to major in Mathematics, earn her teaching credential and, as a teacher, eventually create a supportive classroom environment where students feel empowered to succeed. 

The mission of the California Retired Teachers Association is to protect and advocate for retired and active educators’ pensions and other retirement benefits, and to support public education in our communities. Each year CalRTA Division 33 offers fifteen $1000 scholarships to local high school graduates and randomly awards 16 “no strings attached” $100 teacher grants to local teachers for use in their classrooms to benefit their students.  For more information about CalRTA, go to calrta.org.  For information about membership or to financially support CalRTA, go to calrta.org/join-us.

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Emmale Americano, a recent graduate of Hemet High School, attributes her desire to be a teacher to HHS Ag teacher Cassidy Steenbock, who taught agricultural mechanics and animal science.  “I strive to be half the ag teacher Ms. Steenbock is.  I hope to be an influential ag teacher because they not only teach agricultural skills, but they also serve as mentors, guiding students in their personal growth and development,” Americano says.  She plans to attend Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, majoring in education with a minor in biology.  

Nuview Bridge Early College High School graduate Andrea Bonilla says, “becoming a teacher has been a dream of mine for many years because of the impact teachers can have on their students and the importance of education.”  Bonilla feels that she was very fortunate to have had teachers who had a positive impact on her life and says that “without them I simply would not be where I am today.  These educators allowed me to realize my potential and gave me the confidence to reach my goals.”  Bonilla plans to attend UC Riverside, major in studio art and become an art teacher.   

Miriam Gonzalez’s goal is to become an elementary school teacher and work with “little kids that are just like me, coming to a whole different country and learning English as their second language.”  A recent graduate of Alessandro High School, Miriam says that she “really likes helping little kids with things they don’t understand.”  She will attend Mt. San Jacinto College in the fall then eventually transfer to a university and complete her teaching credential.

Eugene Hernandez says, “my unwavering determination serves as a driving force in my pursuit of knowledge and personal development.”  A graduate of The Academy of Innovation in Hemet, Hernandez has a “deep-seated passion for education and a genuine desire to inspire and empower others.”  Hernandez plans to pursue a degree in English with a focus on literacy.  He will attend Mt. San Jacinto College in the fall and earn his associate’s degree, then transfer to a university and earn his bachelor’s degree and a secondary teaching credential.

Western Center Academy graduate Hannah Jindra says, I want to be a high school English and theater teacher and have wanted to be such for as long as I can remember.”  She says that she has been influenced by both her parents and teachers to pursue a teaching career and that both have shown her how to be an encouraging leader.  She hopes that her years in leadership roles will help her to appreciate different perspectives and extend the same encouragement she received as a student to others in her own future classroom.  Jindra plans to attend Brigham Young University, Idaho in the fall.

Kamryn Jorgensen, a recent graduate of West Valley High School, plans to attend Point Loma Nazarene University in the fall with a major in English literature.  Her goal is to become a middle or high school English teacher.  Jorgensen says, “My sophomore year of high school I had the privilege of being taught by an incredible English teacher.  Instead of the usual feedback I would get, he demanded more from me.  He saw me in a way that no teacher ever had before.  The end of that year, I decided that I wanted to be an English teacher.” 

Abigail Meza says that throughout her educational career, “I sought out mentors who believed in my potential and never lost sight of my dreams.”  A graduate of San Jacinto High School, Meza has overcome many challenges and emotional times but through it all has learned “the power of resilience and the human spirit.”  She says that “every setback became an opportunity for growth” and says that the wants to “be there for the kids who are going through what I had to go through.”  Meza plans to attend Riverside City College in the fall, purse an English major, and eventually become a middle or high school English teacher.

San Jacinto High School graduate Valeria Perez Carrera loves art. “My only passion, one that I consider dedicating my whole life to, is art.”  Perez Carrera plans to attend Mt. San Jacinto College in the fall and follow the art pathway to become an art teacher.  Eventually, she will transfer to a university to complete her bachelor’s degree and earn her secondary teaching credential. Perez Carrera says, “I want to make my parents proud.  Being the first child in my family to attend college, I am aware of their hopes and the sacrifices they have made.”

Tahquitz High School tri-sport athlete Avery Ros says she always wanted to be a teacher but didn’t know what kind.  She says her years in ASB, however, “taught me that in the future I want to be an activities director.”  Combining her love of athletics with her goal of becoming a teacher, Ros will attend Cal State Fullerton and pursue a degree in kinesiology to become a high school P.E. teacher and ASB director.  “I will use my degree to help people and better the next generation.”

CalRTA Division 33 offers 11 $1000 scholarships each year to qualifying seniors in Hemet and San Jacinto school districts.  Students must have plans to become a K-12 public school teacher, have a 3.0+ GPA for their junior and senior years, have good citizenship at school and in the community, and be involved in extra-curricular activities at school and in the community.  For more information about the California Retired Teachers Association, go to calrta.org or div33.calrta.org.

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