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.

January’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District are Ernesto De Lara, Kimberly Luna, Rachel Serrano, Bouquet Vineyard and Dakota Wilson. San Jacinto Unified’s honorees for January are Jalisa Horigan and Ashley Vasquez.

Hemet Unified School District

Ernesto De Lara

West Valley High School Principal Gerardo Zavala said Ernesto’s favorite subject is history because he loves learning about the past. “He is an excellent example of a student who works hard in school, sports and in life,” Zavala said. “Outside of the classroom, his passion is soccer.” Ernesto started playing the sport when he was seven and he has achieved great things. He plans to attend Cal Baptist University to study kinesiology while playing Division I soccer and hopes to turn pro in the future. His teacher, Antonio Ramos, said Ernesto is a true team player in and out of the classroom. Through their shared passion for the sport of soccer, Ramos has seen qualities demonstrated in his student that he is sure will carry him through the future. “Soccer has helped me in many ways,” Ernesto said. “Soccer has taught me teamwork, responsibility and discipline, which I believe are very important in the sport and in real life situations.” He is grateful for the opportunity to have competed in several tournaments and a recent win is one of his proudest accomplishments as it helped him grow as a player and a leader on and off the field. He has also traveled to Maryland multiple times to compete against some of the best players around the country. “Being a student athlete has taught me the importance of balancing my priorities,” Ernesto said. “I have learned to manage my time effectively by managing school, homework, practices and games.” He enjoys giving back to the community through his volunteer work at church.

Kimberly Luna

Tahquitz High School Principal Andrew Holmes described Kimberly as a student who takes Advanced Placement classes, is in AVID, is on the cross-country, track and soccer teams as captain and volunteers her time at lunch to tutor her peers. Psychology teacher Jacquelyn Rodriguez said, “What’s truly remarkable about her is her ability to balance it all. She’s always understood that being a student comes first, even with a demanding schedule. I’ve seen her prioritize her academics with a maturity beyond her years. Excellence goes far beyond academics and athletics with Kim because she also has one of the biggest hearts you’ll meet on campus. It’s not about how she can lift up herself but it’s about how she can lift up those in the community and those around her, which is something that I admire about her most.” Kimberly hopes to attend Cal Poly as a psychology major to study the mind and behavior to help in her future career as an occupational therapist. “I struggled with stress and anxiety throughout high school,” she said. “It’s important to work hard for the things you want and in return our goals can be met. There is a reward for how much effort and hard work you put in.” A significant life lesson she said she learned is that there is more than one opportunity around her, and she just needs to discover what they are. She hopes to continue to give back to her school by offering to tutor younger classmates.

Rachel Serrano

Alessandro High School Principal Matt Centofranchi shared that his school is intended to be a credit-recovery school and looking at Rachel’s transcripts when she enrolled in her junior year showed a lot of good grades until her sophomore year, which was totally missing. She is now an all-star student who is excelling in the Welding Technology program, one of the school’s CTE pathways. Welding teacher Joshua O’Neal said he was impressed that Rachel was not afraid to try anything new. “Her resilience, faith and work ethic are truly amazing and her ability to inspire those around her is something I deeply admire,” he said. Rachel is the third oldest of seven children and when she was in second grade, her world was turned upside down when her and her siblings were taken away from their mother and scattered to different homes. “Living in foster and group homes, I learned that attachment was a luxury; losing people and places became a part of life,” Rachel said. “By the time I was 12, I had faced challenges no child should have to endure.” On her 13^th birthday, she reached a breaking point and was put in a mental hospital because she was struggling with thoughts of suicide. In 2023, she spent a year with her father in Guatemala, which proved to be a turning point for her. The following year, Rachel went to live with an aunt and uncle and enrolled at Alessandro. She hopes to become a certified welder and enter the field as a career. “I’ve learned to seek the positive in every obstacle, even when it’s hard,” she said.

Bouquet Vineyard

Hemet High School selected Bouquet this month and Principal Jeff Franks introduced her as a three-sport athlete in swimming, golf and water polo, who was named Homecoming Queen, is a member of the school’s band, and is in the top 10 of her 550-member senior class. She was nominated by her counselor, Dawn Sonnier, whose statement was read by teacher Lindsay Brown in her absence. Sonnier has known Bouquet for five years through her older sister, Meadow, who wanted to be part of Daisy Chain, an award given to the top-ranked juniors who are recognized for their academic achievement and lead the seniors at graduation. Although Meadow didn’t make it, she asked Sonnier to guide Bouquet so that she would, and she did. “The past four years of my life have been a difficult journey,” Bouquet said. In 2020, her mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and Bouquet spent all her time taking care of her while balancing schoolwork, sports and extracurriculars. “On September 12, 2024, mom lost her hard-fought battle. Navigating life without my mom’s help and support has been confusing but I know one thing for sure – I want to keep her fun-loving, encouraging and inclusive spirit alive through what I do and how I treat others every day,” Bouquet said. She plans to study English Education in college in hopes of becoming a teacher, just like her mother, who served the San Jacinto Unified School District for 25 years. “I know that God will guide my feet every step of the way and I hope to be a light the way my mom was,” Bouquet said.

Dakota Wilson

Hamilton High School Principal Kari Sanchez said that last year Dakota was one of four juniors who won a Leadership Trip to Washington, DC through the Anza Electric Co-Op. “She has courage, confidence and is always looking outside of herself,” Sanchez said. Rose Fickes has been Dakota’s art and photography teacher all four years of high school. As editor-in-chief of yearbook and president of the Yearbook Club, she said Dakota oversees everything from the designing to the final production. As president of the Mud Club, she organizes fundraisers and events to provide students with opportunities to explore ceramics. Dakota said she enjoys being very active in the rural community of Anza. “My aspirations are in the field of forensic science, specifically crime scene photography,” she said. She knows this is something most people don’t have the stomach to do but she sees it as yet another way she can give back by providing evidence that will bring justice for victims. “Last October, my father was diagnosed with cancer, which is a hard thing as I’m an only child and it’s just me and my parents living in the middle of nowhere,” Dakota said. She credits her father with teaching her how to be a part of the community as she grew up watching him help their neighbors. She was grateful to see the community reach out to the family with food and offers to help when they heard about her father’s diagnosis and showed her that something so horrible can still bring people together. Dakota enjoys working with middle school students and did so regularly when she was a member of Hamilton’s Color Guard.

San Jacinto Unified School District

Jalisa Horigan

San Jacinto High School selected Jalisa as this month’s honoree. Her math teacher, Mayra Aldana, said Jalisa ranks third in her class and takes Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, college and honors classes while serving as vice president of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) and LINK Crew, both organizations that are close to Aldana’s heart. Jalisa feels her greatest contribution to the community is her ability to empathize and connect with others, especially those who have been made to feel lost or unseen. “Through LINK Crew, I’m able to create relationships with freshmen that we meet and guide through their high school journey and through HOSA I’m able to channel my passion for the healthcare field,” Jalisa said. She wants to become a psychiatrist to help people navigate life’s challenges. She shared that her birth mother took her brother and her away from their father at a very young age and were basically homeless as they moved around a lot. “I witnessed a lot of things such as verbal and physical abuse,” Jalisa said. When she was in first grade, her mother lost custody of the children and they went to live with their father, which led to a lot of pain. Their stepmother went to prison and their father lost his job, leading the children to be raised by extended family members for three years. Her father is now in medical school and Jalisa said she has chosen to take her pain and turn it into purpose. “I hope others see that no matter where you come from, you can overcome, you can exceed and you can make a difference,” Jalisa said.

Ashley Vasquez

San Jacinto Leadership Academy Principal Mike Luna introduced Priscilla Grijalva, counselor at the 6-12 grade school, to talk about Ashley. “She truly takes the initiative to seek out counseling as needed,” Grijalva said. “As a Lion, she continues to roar to success and beyond.” When Ashley was 12 years old, her mother died from having a seizure, heart attack and stroke all at once. This led to Ashley being taken out of the final two months of her sixth-grade year. The following year she was removed from her father’s home due to a toxic environment. Her and her younger brother were placed into foster care and lived in different homes, all with their own rules. Ashley said it was hard to find the stability she really needed during her teen years. When she was finally placed with her current foster mother, she was able to improve. “Her home is a sanctuary defined by structure and an abundance of love,” Ashley said. “She has taught me so many valuable lessons that I try to apply to my life such as cleanliness, manners and selflessness. But most importantly, she has taught me to deepen my relationship with God.” Ashley wants to pursue nursing, eventually working as a forensic nurse. She shared a Maya Angelou quote that she found to be true for her: “Family isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs. The ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what.”

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

The post San Jacinto Valley students honored in January appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Local program founder and Student of the Month Committee member Karena Zermeno, who also represents one of the sponsors Altura Credit Union, 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.

December’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District are Genesis Andrade, Davia Bean, Tristan Beatty, Savannah Mendoza and Landon Perez. San Jacinto Unified’s honoree for December is Sunnie Sanchez.

Hemet Unified School District

Genesis Andrade

Hamilton High School Principal Kari Sanchez said Genesis is forever giving of her time, her intellect and her courageous personality and that brings others together through ASB on an ongoing basis at the 6-12 campus. Nominating teacher Rio Clawson said Genesis always tries to bring people together for a common purpose – fun. “I’m your biggest fan and cheerleader other than God and your mom,” she told the outstanding senior. Genesis, a varsity athlete and honor roll scholar, feels her greatest contribution to her community is her commitment to teamwork. “I enjoy being part of my school and believe in leading by example,” she said. A few years ago, she and her family moved to Mexico to rescue women and children from sex trafficking as part of their missionary work. Genesis said this gave her a firsthand perspective of some of the awful things occurring in today’s world. “Imprinting me with the acknowledgement of the privilege I have,” she said. “Taking this positive attitude with me into college, I intend to continue to have gratitude for anything I put my mind to. I will always try my best to help others who can’t help themselves.” Gensis plans to practice law after college.

Davia Bean

Tahquitz High School Principal Andrew Holmes, said, “Davia is a student that symbolizes what it means to have Titan Pride. She is a dedicated scholar who enjoys being in her English class and actively participates. She likes to write and enjoys telling stories.” She is a member of the Debate Club, Yearbook and AVID. Her nominating social studies teacher David Nichols said, “She is a leader among her peers. She knows who she is, but she doesn’t let that get in the way if she doesn’t have all the answers.” Davia said change is the hardest part of growing up. “For me, everything changed when my eldest sister passed away. It was like time had stopped and the world became cold. Losing her wasn’t just losing a sister, it was watching my mother break. I had never seen my mom cry before. I told my mom not to worry because she was always here, we just couldn’t see her and now that I’m growing up, I look for her in everything that I do.” Davis hopes to attend either Cal Baptist University or San Francisco State to prepare for a career as an educator.

Tristan Beatty

Hemet High School Principal Jeff Franks introduced Tristan as extremely talented, gifted and athletic. “He also plays the guitar and bass and he’s one of those crazy smart kids that can process extremely fast,” Franks said. Nominating teacher Art Plinski said Tristan is “insanely bright” and always contributes to class discussions. “He has a spirit of academic exploration,” Plinski said. Tristan said everybody in their life goes through struggles and everyone has unique struggles. “But if anything had been different, we wouldn’t be exactly where we are today,” he said. He shared a life-shaping moment he experienced at the age of nine. His biological father explained he was moving to Missouri. “He went on and on about the pros, leaving out all the negatives,” Tristan said. “At the end, he asked me a very back-stabbing question that has pained me every time I think about it: ‘so are you okay with all this?’” He has not had any contact with his father since. “While I’m not thankful for the hurt that caused, I am thankful for the fire that it lit inside me,” Tristan said. “I want to one day become the father to my children that I never was able to have in my life and give them the opportunities that my father could not give me.” He plans to attend UC, Santa Barbara to major in neuroscience. “I’d like to eventually become a psychiatrist as I am passionate about helping others through the struggles that we face and the challenges that we experience.”

Savannah Mendoza

West Valley High School selected Savannah this month and Principal Gerardo Zavala said, “She is not only an excellent student but also a great leader, role model and advocate for our campus community. Savannah is a student who always gives back to her school.” Savannah is president of Latinos Unidos, serves as School Site Council chairperson, is part of speech and debate, marching band, Folklorico and the recycling club. “Her leadership and involvement are truly inspiring,” Zavala said. English teacher Nathan San Filippo, who nominated her, shared some words from Savannah’s essay at the end of last year’s class. The subject was about the value of writing in today’s modern society while referring to past readings the class had shared throughout the year. She wrote, “While new forms of communications have their advantages, they can never replace the depth, permanence and focus that writing provides. As long as we have thoughts and emotions to share, the written word will continue to be a vital tool for human connection and self-discovery.” Savannah shared that a challenge she faced when she was younger was living in poverty. “My father was a druggie and a wannabe gangster,” she said. “He focused more on finding his next high than really caring for his children. My mom worked two and three jobs just to provide for my brother and I.” Savannah aspires to be a military psychologist and has already been accepted at several California State Universities.

Landon Perez

Academy of Innovation serves students in K-12 through its independent study program. Principal John Bradshaw said he is impressed with students such as Landon who are able to forge deep relationships while only being on campus twice a week. Landon said last year he had to face the obstacle of adapting to the return of in-person school after four years of an all-online learning environment. He has contributed to his school and community through volunteer work with The Salvation Army’s Food Pantry and Angel Tree programs. “These activities have helped me understand the challenges faced by others and appreciate the importance of giving back,” Landon said. “The most important life lesson I have learned to prepare me for college is the critical role of time management.” His goal is to attend Stanford University where he plans to study political science or criminal justice. “These fields align with my passion of advocating for others as a lawyer,” Landon said.

San Jacinto Unified School District

Sunnie Sanchez

Mountain View High School selected Sunnie as this month’s honoree. He is involved with ASB and is a School Site Council representative. The senior shared that during his middle school years he was very active, playing basketball and football every day with friends, and that provided him with a great cardio workout. It also allowed him to indulge in sweets and “junk” food without worrying about the downside of doing that. Then COVID hit and Sunnie, who was 5-ft. 9-in. tall and weighed 190 pounds at the time ended up being 5-ft. 11-in. tall and weighing 235 pounds when in-person learning resumed. “I used to hate looking at myself because of my weight,” he said. “One day walking upstairs I got very winded and realized how unhealthy I was. I made a change and started going to the gym every day.” Sunnie continued his regimen until he got his weight back down to 190 pounds. “I want to give a big shoutout to Albert, my first gym partner,” he said. “He was the reason why I liked going to the gym and he taught me everything I know. He helped me make a change in my life.” Sunnie also thanked the staff at Mountain View for providing him with the opportunity to grow as an individual. “In my case, it helped me set goals for myself. I plan to go to college to become a teacher,” he said.

Closing Remarks

Hemet Unified School District Superintendent Christi Barrett addressed all the honorees and thanked them for sharing their stories. “You are all change agents,” she said. San Jacinto Unified School District Superintendent David Pyle said, “I was part of a generation where I think people kept their personal stories more to themselves and I’m so comforted in the fact that our students feel comfortable sharing their stories behind the microphone to a group of strangers. I encourage you to continue to take that with you into your next stage of life.”

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

The post San Jacinto Valley students honored in December appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Local program founder and Student of the Month Committee member Karena Zermeno, who also represents one of the sponsors Altura Credit Union, 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.

November’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District are Drew Sene Amisone, Karelyn Blackmore, Nadia Henry, Damian Renteria and Christina Walker. San Jacinto Unified’s honorees for November are Estrella Guzman Banuelos and Mariah Ruiz.

Hemet Unified School District

Drew Sene Amisone

West Valley High School singled out Drew this month. Coach Brent Perez composed a letter to Drew which he read as a way to introduce him. “In all my years of coaching, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone so talented, yet so humble,” he said. “I know this season has been tough for you. This was supposed to be your big year when you landed a Division 1 football scholarship but injuries have sidetracked that momentarily.” Drew said, “This has probably been the hardest year for me. I was restricted from doing the thing I love most and that was playing football. From a young age, football has been my world, it’s been my identity and it’s been more than a sport to me.” An injured ankle before the season’s first game cost him six out of 10 games, which put him in a dark place where he avoided his friends who were also his teammates. After a long six weeks of recovery he returned to the field with a fierce intention to show what he could still do. In the third quarter of his second game back, he broke his collarbone and that ended his senior regular season. Damian hopes to attend a college with strong animal science and biology classes where he can also play football. “One lesson I’ll carry with me to college is to never give up.” Drew’s mother, Sone Faasalele, directed her comments at her son, saying, “You have surpassed all of my expectations and have become the young man that your father and I have always dreamt you to be – a responsible young man who leads from the front, not only on the field but specifically with your siblings. I don’t need the accolades or trophies to tell me how incredible you are.”

Karelyn Blackmore

Hamilton High School Principal Kari Sanchez described Karelyn as a “Girl on Fire” who has her feet planted solidly on the ground but is truly on fire. She is known around campus as “Kare” and said it is very fitting. Teacher Diana Welty-Guerrero has known Karelyn since her freshman year and said she’s always been a stop student. She serves as ASB president and is always eager to help others. She plans to attend UCSD to major in computer science.

In 2022, Karelyn’s father died after losing his battle with alcoholism after being sober for 15 years. Because she had inherited her love for technology from him, the passion they had shared began to falter. “When I was told to leave my childhood home at 16, I supported myself with my father’s mindset and my determination to prove I could survive with no parental support,” she said. She shared a quote from poet and novelist Herman Hesse, “I have always believed, and I still believe, that whatever good or bad fortine may come our way, we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value.” Karelyn said, “I am now more passionate and dedicated to success than ever before.” She said she has dreamed of attending college since she could spell her name and hopes to bring more technology back to her community after she earns her degree.

Nadia Henry

Hemet High School calculus teacher Kristin DeWit introduced Nadia as an outstanding student with a 4.5 GPA, who is ranked first in her senior class and has passed eight AP exams. “Her passion for research recently led her to complete an impressive study on post-fire sapling regeneration. Her findings were shared with the San Jacinto Forestry Department which helped them to better understand the results of their past regeneration efforts,” DeWit said. “She wants to use her intelligence to better our world.” Nadia said her story begins in her mountain hometown of Idyllwild. “Growing up in a place surrounded by nature, you can guess I’m very passionate about the environment, which has evolved into a love for conservation,” she said. After her parents divorced and her father moved to Alaska, the family had to move in with friends and when they changed religions, the rest of the family cut ties with them. This caused a lot of despair, and her sister was driven to the point of attempting suicide. Nadia worked hard to overcome these challenges. Hoping to combine her love of nature with her strong physics and math skills, she hopes to attend Stanford to prepare for a career as a biomimicry engineer. “I’ve learned that perseverance is not just pushing through your obstacles but using those experiences to fuel your passions and create a positive change,” Nadia said. “My story is a testament to that.”

Damian Renteria

Western Center Academy selected Damian as their Student of the Month for November. Counselor Sandy Arave said that throughout his time at the school, Damian has exemplified kindness, consideration and unwavering support for everyone around him, all while excelling academically. “His commitment to improving our school culture as a member of ASB is evident in every initiative he champions,” she said. Damian said, “Growing up in a Mexican family it became apparent to me at a young age that I was different from those around me. The household I grew up in was my safe place and up until elementary school I never had any issues with my identity or more specifically my sexuality.” In middle school he would overhear snarky comments about how he talked and questioning if he was gay. “At this point I never considered myself gay because to be honest I didn’t know what it meant,” Damian said. “My sister had already come out as gay, but I couldn’t fully understand what orientation was.” He began to express himself through eyeliner, mascara and feminine clothing and in his sophomore year some senior boys called him a “fag” as he was walking to his biotechnology class. “I had no other emotion but sadness; it waved over me like fire,” he said. However, those words eventually turned into motivation for Damian, leading him to join ASB, LINK Crew and UNICEF and allowing him to become the leader and mentor he never felt like he could ever be. “My actions spoke louder than my words and I’ve become someone to look up to,” he said. “So always remember, words may have power, but your actions will always be stronger.”

Christina Walker

Tahquitz High School Principal Andrew Holmes introduced Christina as a “talented scholar that loves to dance and her favorite class is English because she finds it inspirational to write about her passions.” College and Career Counselor and Pacific Islander Club advisor LaVerne Williams Schoonover said Christina has embraced the art of storytelling through Polynesian dance culture. “But most of all, she has embodied the aloha spirit through her daily actions,” she said. As a token of love, she presented Christina with a special lei that symbolizes enlightenment, protection, peace and guidance. “I believe my greatest contribution at school is helping my peers in class and getting more students involved by joining clubs,” Christina said. “I believe as a captain of the Polynesian dance team I try to encourage and teach other students to do their best in school and outside of school.” On Aug. 8, 2023, when wildfires destroyed Hawaiian towns on the island of Maui, Christina reached out with her teammates and singlehandedly organized a fundraiser. One hundred percent of the proceeds went to provide basic back-to-school items for school children through Maui Strong. Christina plans to pursue a career in radiology.

San Jacinto Unified School District

Estrella Guzman Banuelos

San Jacinto High School teacher John Norman Jr. has known Estrella since her freshman year. He said that in his 20-plus years of teaching, she is the toughest student he has ever known, adding, “She’s probably impacted me more than I have impacted her. This year she has really blossomed; it’s amazing to see when somebody is given a chance to have some structure in their lives what they can become.” Due to unfortunate circumstances, her family lived in a one-room hotel room all of last year. Estrella said that she had always planned to become a pediatric doctor until she realized that children need mental and emotional help and not just physical help. This shifted her career plans to the area of child and family social work. “Growing up I had to deal with a language barrier until I was able to speak proper English,” Estrella said. She said there were added family responsibilities that often brought her down as she was seen as the one who needed to set an example for her younger siblings. “One of the most important things I’ve learned is that you may not be able to control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide to not be defined by them,” she said. Estrella spent two years on the cross-country team and four years on the track team. She’s been an AVID and MEChA club member all four years as well.

Mariah Ruiz

Mountain Heights Academy teacher Gabrielle Henderson described Mariah as an “incredibly driven” student who seeks a future career in the healthcare field as a registered nurse “where her compassion and commitment will undoubtedly make a difference.” Mariah said her greatest contribution is and always will be supporting her mother. “I am the second oldest of seven girls and my mom works 10 hours every day to have the things that we have,” she said. “Although I know my mom is a strong, independent woman, I still try my hardest to make her day easier. Whether it’s having the house clean, dinner made or even just helping to get my sisters ready for bed, it is always worth it to help my mom get a moment of rest because I know how much she needs it. Being there for my mom has taught me empathy, responsibility and resilience and these are qualities I will take with me for the rest of my life.”

Her goals are to attend college, earn her degree in science and become a registered nurse, hopefully in the neonatal field. “Nursing isn’t just a career for me, but a way to make a difference in people’s lives,” Mariah said. “I have learned self-love and how to be resilient despite others’ opinions of me. I learned to speak up and set boundaries. A significant life lesson I’ll take with me is to not let others’ opinions bring you down or define who you are.”

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

The post San Jacinto Valley students honored in November appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Local program founder and Student of the Month Committee member Karena Zermeno, who also represents one of the sponsors Altura Credit Union, 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.

October’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District are Brooklynn Batlle, Maximus Pimentel, Shonclee Rene and Cyclaly Hernandez Villa. San Jacinto Unified’s honorees for October are Stephanie Alcala, Kristi Chadha and Calvin Maxwell.

Hemet Unified School District

Brooklynn Batlle

Hemet High School singled out Brooklynn this month and teacher James Walsh coached her in Mock Trial where he said she was “instantly amazing.” He also coached her in tennis where she excelled. Brooklynn said, “From a very young age, I always wanted to prove I was worthy at the opportunity of life.” Being born to a teenaged mother led to her becoming a second parent to her siblings and having to grow up too fast. “As a young woman, I admire my mother’s will to do everything on her own but as a daughter, I had so much resentment towards here,” Brooklynn said. “By age 8, I was insecure in myself and always anxious.” Her mother’s new boyfriend led to Brooklynn being a secondhand victim to domestic violence and to her mother becoming a drug addict. The family became homeless, and Brooklynn lived in and out of motels most of her young life. Eventually she went to live with her grandmother but in 2018, she and her brother were able to go back to her mother, who had given birth to another daughter. Brooklynn could not escape her feelings of helplessness as anxiety and stress continued to consume her. “I thought I was broken as a person,” she said. In her junior year, she overfilled her plate to look better to others and in March of this year, she attempted suicide as a cry for help. So far in her senior year, she holds a 4.6 GPA, is president of AVID and plays varsity tennis, along with being involved with many community service clubs. Brooklynn plans to attend Cal Poly for her bachelor’s degree in animal science and then attend veterinarian school at UC, Davis. “There is something so special about helping a being that can’t help themselves and gaining that trust,” Brooklynn said.

Maximus “Ace” Pimentel

West Valley High School Principal Gerardo Zavala said Maximus has played football all four years, serving as captain for the past two and has led the team with his competitive spirit as both a linebacker and running back. “He often says that the best part of football has been the friendships and bonds he’s found with his teammates,” Zavala said. “Off the field, Maximus excels academically with math being his favorite subject. He’s also a dedicated member of our Folklorico group, following in the footsteps of his aunts who danced at the college level.” Maximus is also involved with LINK Crew and has been on the track, wrestling and stunt cheer teams. “Four years ago, during the pandemic, my family decided to leave L.A. for a quieter and less crowded place,” Maximus said. “I felt a mix of confusion and apprehension, realized that this move would be a significant life event with a major impact on me.” He said it wasn’t easy leaving everything behind and transitioning to a new school after being in the same school district from preschool through eighth grade, surrounded by friends, familiar teachers and the support of the community. Maximus tried to find his social footing by joining clubs, sports and extracurricular activities. “It is important for me to promote cultural awareness and to show that it’s okay to engage in activities that are often stereotyped as gender specific,” he said. “I proudly joined West Valley Folklorico as the first male dancer in a class of 18 girls. Since then, other boys have followed suit. Don’t limit yourself; seek out opportunities to be selfless.” Maximum plans to major in engineering at college and said the most important lesson he’s learned is to treat his grades like a paycheck, knowing that hard work is essential for a bright future.

Shonclee Rene

Alessandro High School Principal Matthew Centofranchi introduced Shonclee as a member of the Newcomer Academy at the continuation high school that is designed for students who are deficient in credits and new to this country. “Since coming to the school, she has been a superstar,” he said. “Everybody that has gotten to know Shonclee sees her as an inspiration. She embodies characteristics that we strive to see in our students, in ourselves, in our own children. She is resilient, she is dependable, dedicated, positive and an absolutely wonderful student to be around.” Teacher Javier Zamora said that after 25 years as a teacher, he had to redo everything he thought he knew about teaching to match the needs of the students in the Newcomer program that began last school year. Shonclee speaks four languages and is enrolled in Alessandro’s First Responder CTE pathway. She is on track to graduate this month and plans to attend Mt. San Jacinto College before transferring to a four-year university to pursue a career in the medical field. She said many people die every day in her home country because crime is so rampant on the streets. When she turned 18, her parents stayed behind but sent Shonclee to America. “I hope and pray God will protect them every day,” she said. “I know how lucky I am to be able to come here so I can have a better life.”

Cyclaly Hernandez Villa

Hamilton High School selected Cyclaly as their Student of the Month for October. Nominating teacher Mary Kleinvachter taught Cyclaly in her World History class as a sophomore and this year in AP Government and Politics. “When she first entered high school, she got a diagnosis that would change the course of what she would do in high school,” Kleinvachter said. “She’s taken that energy and turned it into positivity and exceling in academics.” Cyclaly said, “I believe my greatest contribution to my community is volunteering as part of NHS (National Honor Society) with blood drives and veterans’ outreach.” She plans to become a math teacher and wants to return to Anza after college to also continue her volunteer work. Cyclaly was diagnosed with limb girdle muscular dystrophy, a rare genetic disease that causes muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass. While it was difficult to learn this, she said it answered the questions she had long had about why she couldn’t do some of the things her peers could do. “I’ve had to change my dreams because of my disability,” Cyclaly said. She loved the sport of basketball and had hoped to play in high school but couldn’t as her condition worsened. “I’ve had to face looks and comments from peers and strangers,” she said, adding that others should surround themselves with people that will support them in their life and impact it positively.

San Jacinto Unified School District

Stephanie Alcala

San Jacinto High School math teacher and baseball coach Merlin Torres said he met Stephanie in her sophomore year when she started doing stats for the team at the urging of a friend and classmate. “She is one of 1,200 students I’ve had since I started teaching and I will never forget her kindness,” Torres said. Stephanie was born in Texas and moved to California when she was four. While living in Orange County, she suffered a lot of abuse and sexual harassment. She began therapy at the age of six and lived in a one-bedroom apartment with her two sisters and parents. After struggling for a few years, they moved to San Jacinto where they found better opportunities for housing and schooling. “This changed me in good and bad ways,” Stephanie said. “I was labeled a bad kid because I couldn’t sit still. It’s safe to say we all understand pain and challenges of life but the way we work through those challenges is what makes us who we are. What we have endured and what we continue to endure is what pushes us to never want to stop to reach our successes. Every student here today can understand that being a student in these times is genuinely hard. I have always been told that I wasn’t smart, and I felt that way for a long time. People may come and go but God never leaves and never fails. I am here because of him but also because of my math teacher, Mr. Merlin Torres and my English teacher Mr. (Stiven) Castillo; they really helped me up again and pushed me to want something better for my future.” Stephanie plans to earn her college degree before starting California Highway Patrol training.

Kristi Chadha

San Jacinto Leadership Academy is new to the SOM program as this is the first year it has had a senior class, making the selection of Kristi extra special. Interim Principal Vince Record said staff cites Kristi as an inspiration to others at the rigorous school. Nominating teacher Matt Corum said, “As teachers, we only get to see a little slice of our students’ lives” but added that when seniors begin to write more about themselves for college essays, teachers learn more about them. When he read through Kristi’s essays, he learned that when she saw one of her friends struggling with food insecurity, she decided to do something about it and started a nonprofit to combat the problem. “I saw that as an incredible feat of selflessness and that’s why I nominated Kristi to be our school’s first ever Student of the Month,” Corum said. Kristi said when she learned that a large percentage of residents in the San Jacinto Valley are either low income or unhoused, she felt called to help in the best way that she could. “Helping others is something I always felt passionate about and that passion led me to create Supplies for Humanity, a nonprofit focused on addressing food insecurity in this community,” she said. “With a dedicated team of student volunteers from schools across the San Jacinto Valley, we’ve been able to help the needs of our own neighbors and in turn strengthen the bonds within our community.” Kristi is the founder and president of her campus’ Diversity Club to provide spaces for open dialogue and understanding between students of different backgrounds. She also founded the Guiding Lines mentoring program, which pairs older students with younger ones to offer guidance and support to navigate school. She has a passion for medicine and hopes to attend UCLA to major in biology and eventually practice pediatric medicine. “I want to be the kind of doctor who helps children feel seen and understood and cared for during their most vulnerable moments,” Kristi said.

Calvin Maxwell

Mountain View High School’s honoree for October is Calvin, who principal Ken Swanson described as the little engine who could. “He keeps chugging along and will get to the top of that hill,” he said. Teacher Trish Ochoa noted how Calvin made a powerful choice to transform his situation. “He’s put in the effort, showing that with dedication, hard work and the right mindset, it’s never too late to get back on track,” she said. Calvin said being at Mountain View helped him a lot. “It was rough growing up,” he said. “I had a single mom, and she worked her butt off to get us help in every way possible and I love her for that. My older sister died and that put a hole in us, and it was hard to get over that.” Because of rising housing costs, the family moved around a lot and Calvin and his siblings had to attend different schools. Once they got back on their feet, COVID hit, and he found online learning to be very difficult. “During my junior year, I was told how far behind I was, and it made me give up on myself but then Mountain View helped me,” Calvin said. He plans to major in computer science in college. “Never stop believing in yourself,” he said.

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

The post San Jacinto Valley students honored in October appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Local program founder and Student of the Month Committee member Karena Zermeno, who also represents one of the sponsors Altura Credit Union, emceed the event. She noted that along with new faces for this year’s honorees, there have been some important personnel changes as well. San Jacinto High School welcomed new principal Lloyd Sheppard and San Jacinto Leadership Academy has grown to include its first senior class and will be included in the rotation of alternative schools. Another change is the addition of Diamond Sponsors for those that want to provide even more support to the community-based program than what was expected at the Platinum Sponsors level.

“Students, the reason we are here is for you; just know that you are our motivation,” Zermeno said. “Every month, I leave this event humbled and I feel encouraged to go out and face the world and overcome any challenge after hearing your stories.”

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.

September’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District are Trevor Comstock, Sadie Dinnyes, Bellynn Kincaid, Alexis Rackley and Ravin Vandergriff. San Jacinto Unified’s honorees for September are Angel Iglesias and Jazzlyn “Jazzy” Mancinas.

Hemet Unified School District

Trevor Comstock

Tahquitz High School singled out Trevor this month because of his strong academics, his leadership roles as part of ASB where he builds school culture, and his athletic talents as a member of the water polo team. His teacher Lee Jones said, “He goes out of his way to be supportive and has a quick wit and hardworking personality.” Trevor believes his greatest contribution to his community and family is to be able to bring laughter and joy to everyone around him as well as always trying to lighten up the mood when given the opportunity. In elementary school he lost his father to melanoma skin cancer which resulted in him having to be vigilant about his own predisposition to the disease for the rest of his life. In June of 2023, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. “A mix of confusion and sadness hit me,” Trevor said. This past summer, his mother completed her chemotherapy treatments. “She taught me to cherish every single moment with family and friends and to not take anything for granted,” he said. His plans are to enlist in the Coast Guard after graduation and then start a Burger Shack with his family. He currently works at Hangar One restaurant at Hemet-Ryan Airport. A quote from Benjamin Franklin that Trevor likes to think about often is, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what can be done today.”

Sadie Dinnyes

Hamilton High School counselor Jason Sonnier introduced Sadie on behalf of Athletic Director Patrick Williams, who nominated her and said she has excelled in track and cross country and has found academic success through her CTE nursing pathway. Sonnier said he has been in education for 23 years and counseling for 19 and seeing the amazing transformation she has made in the past couple of years totally fills his heart and makes him so proud of her. Sadie said, “The year 2022 was the hardest year of my life. I started out as a straight A student, doing academically well. Despite that, I still went home and cut on myself every day. At the same time, my mom had terminal cancer. On April 10, I decided to jump off a bridge, partly due to my mental issues and also because I couldn’t stand the thought of having to say goodbye to my mom one day.” When her mother was placed on hospice, Sadie was released early from the hospital but continued to spiral and was placed in foster care temporarily. “Watching my mom lose her life and dealing with my own struggles has given me the motivation to become a hospice and psychiatric nurse and to give people the help and comfort they need during the times they are struggling,” Sadie said. “I wish to show people it’s okay to accept your past and to come to terms with the bad experiences.”

Bellynn Kincaid

Western Center Academy teacher Melanie Thornburg introduced Bellynn by saying, “Her strength is unwavering. She has faced losses that no child should have to endure, and her resilience and positivity are a great inspiration to everyone at WCA.” Bellynn is part of the ASB Leadership Academy program and has volunteered with the Ramona Pageant, as her father had done in the past. She plans to attend MSJC for their audiovisual technology courses and then intern under her father who is an independent contractor in the field to one day become a video engineer. Her parents divorced when she was young but then reconciled. When Bellynn was 11, her mother was expecting another daughter but when she was eight months pregnant, she and the unborn baby were killed by a drunk driver. This caused Bellynn to sink into a great depression, especially with the pandemic following on its heels. “One lesson that can be taken away from my mother’s passing is knowing that rock bottom isn’t the end of the world and life will keep going,” she said. “Hard things happen, but that doesn’t mean your life is over. You learn how to build up from the rock bottom again.” She wants to give back to her community by being an example of light at the end of the tunnel. “Life has a lot to offer and it’s okay to be set back but it’s important to get back up and find the good in life, all with a smile,” Bellynn said. Her father, Zach Kincaid, said, “If it wasn’t for this kid, I wouldn’t be here today. She was dealt a card no one should be given, and she played it well. She saved my life many times, she only knows how to work hard and give. She is the greatest accomplishment of my life.”

Alexis Rackley

Hemet High School Principal Jeff Franks introduced Alexis by saying, “Her grit, her determination, her perseverance is unmatched and says her focus is to just be better every day.” Alexis said she is an older sister and a teammate first with plans to attend the University of Chicago for their social work program. After earning a master’s degree she wants to continue her research on the foster care system and its effect on teens. “I was put into the foster care system at 11 and I was, and still kind of am, terrified,” she said. “I truly believed my life was over and that I had nothing going for me. The instability associated with foster scare is as apparent as ever. Being placed with a new home, having to learn the traditions and mannerisms to better fit in is really hard.” She plans to go into the field of those who have helped her throughout her life. “I want to be the person who helps a child see the full potential in themselves,” Alexis said. “I want to use the chance I’ve been given to help the next generation.”

Ravin Vandergriff

Academy of Innovation is an independent study school who chose Ravin this month. Principal John Bradshaw said Ravin embraces every aspect of the school, taking every advantage of the program by always volunteering to take part in things. Ravin said she started the school year suffering from “senioritis,” but a comment made to students from a counselor gave her a wake-up call. “She said, ‘after high school, that’s it, you’re going to be an adult in the real world’ and to be honest with you, it scared me,” Ravin said. She reflected on the struggling student she had been and the little girl who had been too shy to talk to people but did it because she wanted friends. She said, “I’m still a struggling student but the fact that I recognize that is one small step that makes me motivated to make my future successful.” Ravin aspires to attend Northern Arizona University to study music and English. Her mother said, “From that little wallflower came this beautiful rose – she has grown so much.”

San Jacinto Unified School District

Angel Iglecias

Mountain View High School’s honoree for September is Angel, who is described by Principal Ken Swanson as “polite, respectful, kind, good to others, looks out for others and is a delight to have on campus.” Angel said growing up was a little rough. “I lost my oldest brother Daniel in 2012; he was someone that I looked up to and it hurt my family a lot,” Angel said. In his junior year he knew he had to change his life around and enrolled at Mountain View with only 25 credits to his name. He said being at the school helped him work hard and he now has more than enough credits and will be finishing high school early. He plans to attend C V Beauty College in Hemet to get his barbering license with hopes of opening his own shop one day. After losing his grandmother in February, Angel said he wants to be successful for her as she was a strong influence in his life.

Jazzlyn “Jazzy” Mancinas

San Jacinto High School Principal Lloyd Sheppard read an acceptance speech from Jazzy, who was unable to attend the ceremony due to a prior commitment to attend a Middle College class at MSJC. She is working on her associate’s degree through this dual enrollment program and is currently in the top 20 of her senior class. Jazzy lost her mother when she was three years old and was raised by her father, who is her biggest fan. She believes her biggest contributions to her school, community and family are her perseverance and artistic qualities. In college, she plans to pursue a major in English with a minor in performing arts. “My dream since I was in elementary school was to be an actress, a singer and an author,” she said, adding that she has already been in many theatrical musical productions and has written her own short stories. “It has never been easy to be the student I am today. I have ADHD so I struggled on concentrating and keeping my mind clear,” she said. Years of searching for the right therapies and treatments followed her diagnosis at age 10. “A life lesson that I will take with me to college is that it’s okay to ask for help, it’s okay to not know where I’m going in the next few years because life is going to throw you curveballs,” Jazzy said. “It’s not okay to stay silent when you need help because in the end you are keeping yourself from being the best version of yourself.”

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

See also:

Mt. San Jacinto College Kicks Off Record-Breaking 2024-25 Academic Year with Excitement and Innovation

The post San Jacinto Valley students honored in September appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.