Local program founder and Student of the Month Committee member Karena Zermeno-Leon emceed the event. She also represents program sponsors Karena Zermeno Realtor and Cave Restaurant at Oak Mountain Winery. 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 Aidan DeSanto, Celeste Lopez, Kenia Lupercio Gomez, and Timothy Wisda. San Jacinto Unified honorees for February are Isabelle Millan and Allison Norman.

Hemet Unified School District

Aidan DeSanto

Tahquitz High School Principal Andrew Holmes introduced Aidan as an academic scholar who has been in the AVID program for more than four years. “He excels not only academically but he’s got a lot of talents,” Holmes said. “He participates in dance and this is one of his passions.” English teacher Molly Otis said, “I love Aidan’s ‘I can’ attitude, his imagination, his commitment, his affirmation and the fact that he never gives up.” Aidan said, “I believe that through my experiences as a competitive dancer, four years of AVID, and as the social media manager and Link Crew member, I can inspire students to take every opportunity that is handed to you, no matter how tired or unmotivated you may feel at the time.” He plans to become a teacher so he can inspire kids to learn. Aidan unexpectedly lost his father a year and a half ago, which affected him deeply and in many negative ways. “It helped me realize that none of us truly are promised tomorrow. And to take every moment in and appreciate the people you love and care about the most,” he said. “I would like to close this by saying I hope to be viewed as a light to my community. No matter how hard my days are or what I’m going through, I never want to be the reason someone has a bad day or be viewed as a negative person. I hope to be the reason that someone feels valued or loved because I know love is what the world needs.”

Celeste Lopez

Western Center Academy Executive Director Paul Bailey introduced Celeste’s ASB advisor Maura Trujillo to talk about her. “Celeste is a remarkable student, leader, and human being,” she said. “She has consistently shown what   dedication and discipline look like in action. Celeste leads with heart. Through ASB leadership, National Honor Society, and years of service in her church and community, she has uplifted others, created connections, and made people feel seen. She pours her joy into dance, her compassion into working with children, and her faith into everything she does.” Celeste said her world crumbled after her father left and she was forced to move. A chaotic home life led her to feel isolated, scared, sad, and betrayed. She chose not to let her situation break her but rather to push her past her limits and force her to grow over time. “I held onto pursuing academics, hobbies, and serving others. Since before high school, I volunteered weekly through dance school and church,” Celeste said. “Giving my time reminded me that even when life feels like it’s falling apart, and you are too, you still have something to give.” She is working towards her dream of becoming a labor and delivery nurse with a certification as an ultrasound technician because she wants to “encourage, protect, and care for a new life at the very beginning.”

Kenia Lupercio Gomez

West Valley High School Principal Cynthia Leon said Kenia is a model student. “In spite of the challenges she’s faced, she continues to persevere and we’re so proud of her,” Leon said. Teacher Valerie Lopez congratulated Kenia on being honored. “You have a 4.0 GPA, you have a job, you are heavily involved with Latinos Unidos on campus, and it has been such a pleasure to see you grow and to see you be a leader,” she said. Kenia said from a young age, she understood that her life was different than those of her classmates. Since the age of three, Kenia’s mother was living in the United States while she was living in Mexico with her grandmother because her father would not be responsible for her. “When the day finally came to reunite with my mother in the United States, I felt nervous yet hopeful,” Kenia said. Upon arrival, she learned that her mother had begun a new life and a new family. Starting school here without speaking English proved to be another challenge but with a dedicated teacher’s help, she was able to become fluent in six months. However, she went back to Mexico for several years and all this instability took a toll on her mental health, causing anxiety and depression. “I am committed to pursuing higher education, achieving success and proving that obstacles do not define limits, they create strength,” Kenia said. “My end goal is to become a clinical psychologist.  I also want to continue with my folklorico dancing career to always remember my roots and embrace my culture.”

Timothy Wisda

Hamilton High School Principal Kari Sanchez said that due to unforeseen circumstances, Timothy was unable to attend the ceremony. Additionally, his nominating teacher was under the weather and could not be there. Rather than cancel, Sanchez reminded herself of the purpose of the event being about perseverance and getting through unexpected circumstances that are beyond our control. So she came from Anza to offer her congratulations to all the students being honored and to share a little bit about Timothy. “He has been through quite a bit,” she said. “He made some poor choices early on in his high school career but turned that all around. He’s now a three-sport athlete; an active member on our football, wrestling and baseball teams. He’s currently earning all As and Bs, and he is just the most respectful young man.” At a later date Sanchez was able to meet with Timothy and present him with his backpack and Student of the Month trophy. She said he expressed much gratitude and was apologetic that he could not attend the breakfast. “Motivation gets me started, but daily consistency is what has made the difference for me,” Timothy said.

San Jacinto Unified School District

Isabelle Millan

Mountain View High School Principal Ken Swanson introduced Trisha Ochoa, Isabelle’s Social Studies teacher. “Students come to Mountain View with many different paths and experiences,” she said. “What stood out to me about Isabelle was her determination and her willingness to work toward the goals she set for herself no matter the challenges along the way.” Isabelle said people often tell stories about growing up with difficult childhoods. “I wouldn’t say mine was terrible, but like everyone, I experienced hardship that shaped me into who I am today.” She said her mother’s strength, sacrifices and love inspired her. “She showed me what perseverance looked like long before I knew I would need it myself,” Isabelle said. “Growing up, I was a total daddy’s girl. So when my father suddenly got deported and my parents separated, it felt like my world shattered overnight. I didn’t just lose my dad being around, but I lost a sense of security I had as a child.” Her mental health suffered. She transferred to Mountain View as a senior and said although it’s different from a traditional high school, different does not mean less. “Behind the label is a school filled with some of the most caring, dedicated, and genuine educators I have ever met,” Isabelle said. “I walked in feeling dumb, ashamed, and like a failure. I walked in thinking I didn’t belong anywhere, but they all changed my life.” She went from thinking she wouldn’t graduate at all to graduating on Dec. 16th, completing her CNA program and being accepted into Grand Canyon University’s pre-nursing program.

Allison Norman

San Jacinto High School Principal Lloyd Sheppard congratulated Allison for being a CIF League Champion on the tennis court in November. Education specialist and cheer coach Jennifer Draw said, “Allison has consistently demonstrated exceptional academic excellence throughout her high school years. She has had straight As all four years of high school. She has set a remarkable standard of dedication and perseverance. But Allison is much more than just a stellar student. She is a well-rounded young woman who excels in many areas.” Beyond school, Allison is already positively impacting community youth by giving tennis lessons and working at Charlotte’s Gymnastics. “I played four years of tennis at SJHS, I’ve done cheer for two years, and if that were not enough, I was also in ASB for the past three years,” Allison said. “ASB made a huge impact on my ability to socialize with others and had given me a sense of accomplishment. Tennis and cheer made it possible to excel in activities related to sports, which all of my family is deeply involved in. All of these things made a direct impact on my schedule both daily and weekly. Balancing my education with all of my activities is very important to me.” She credits her success to the overwhelming support she has always received from her parents and grandparents. During her high school years, both her mother and grandmother were diagnosed with cancer. “Cancer used to frighten me as I did not know much about it, but I quickly learned that treatment is possible. Nevertheless, I was affected by these events,” Allison said.

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

The post San Jacinto Valley students honored in February 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.