Student of the Month Committee member Lakshman Koka 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.

September’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District are Jaysen Arreola, Nevaeh Gray, Charlee Horton, Isaac Montes and Lily Snow. San Jacinto Unified honorees for September are Monique Merendon and Raven Volrie. Edgar Gladin from Noli Indian School was also honored.

Hemet Unified School District

Jaysen Arreola

Hemet High School chose to honor Jaysen as its first Student of the Month. Teacher Laura Brown said after having Jaysen in Honors English as a sophomore, she encouraged him to take AP Research, the highest class offered by the College Board and “he is thriving.” Less than two years ago, Jaysen was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative autoimmune disease which has no cure. He has to deal with doctors’ appointments for checkups, infusions, medications, tests and much more. “I have to take pills every day and there are times when I feel exhausted and sick and anxious almost to the point of being completing debilitated,” Jaysen said. “However, above all that I feel in a lot of ways my life is so much better. My grades have never been higher, and I feel so involved with my community, my school and family.” He volunteers at the Western Science Center and is treasurer for the Breakfast Club at his school. Jaysen said the accomplishment he is most proud of is the ability to care for her younger brother who is disabled. “The most important thing that I’ve probably learned from all these hardships and responsibilities and my fight to be healthy and happy is this: adaptation to and recovery from difficult situations comes one step at a time, which is kind of cliché but it is very true. He hopes to attend UC Berkeley to major in geology.

Nevaeh Gray

Hamilton High School Principal Kari Sanchez said Nevaeh reminds her of one of her favorite quotes: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Former teacher and current varsity volleyball coach Lance Fogle said Nevaeh has always been a conscientious learner, cares for the people around her and is very confident in a leadership role. “She prefers to be unnoticed in her serving others but can also step up and out when needed; this is a rare quality,” he said. Nevaeh said she always worked hard in school, not for the rewards but for the knowledge she gained and the pride she gave to her grandparents who raised her. “Their love has been my greatest motivation but what truly defines me is not only academic—it is kindness,” Nevaeh said. “My kindness is not quiet or hidden; it is loud, visible and meant to be shared. I believe kindness has the power to change the atmosphere of a school and even the course of somebody’s life.” She plans to pursue a career in medicine as a traveling nurse to combine her passion for helping people with her dream of seeing the world.

Charlee Horton

Western Center Academy teacher Melanie Thornburg introduced Charlee as a leader on campus who excels academically and as a varsity athlete at her home school, which brings its own challenges because she has to travel. “The hardest thing I ever faced was my dad passing away,” Charlee said. “At first, I didn’t know how to move forward. I had to keep showing up for myself and everyone around me. I had to learn how to balance the grief of my dad passing away and the fragility of my grades. I had to learn how to stay focused on a future I couldn’t even see at the time.” She said her support system got her through it and taught her to reach out and support others. She plans to attend UC Irvine to study criminology to eventually become a lawyer. “A lesson that I will take with me to college, through my career and the rest of my life is to keep moving, even when I think I can’t,” Charlee said.

Isaac Montes

Tahquitz High School Digital Media Academy head Omar Ali has known Isaac since his freshman year, and said it took a while before he came out of shell. The following year, Ali was asked to recruit 30 students for the new Academy and he immediately knew that Isaac would be the best fit for that. He was looking for him to become a leader and ultimately he took to the position. “He controls all media coming out of our school, leading over 100 students in the digital media academy,” Ali said. Isaac said he suffers from hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating, which necessitates him to wear gloves all the time. “But that isn’t necessarily my biggest challenge, which has mostly been communication,” he said. “I’ve struggled with being more open about that.” Isaac said stepping into the leadership role has given him the opportunity to face that and forced him, in a good way, to be more open with everybody. “The biggest lesson is there will always be opportunities,” he said. He said even if you think you missed it, even if you regret not taking advantage of an opportunity, there will always be another chance for that; it’s just a matter of time.

Lily Snow

The Academy of Innovation is an independent study school that chose to honor Lily for September. Math teacher Julie Hoye said Lily was the unanimous nomination among all teachers and is a great representation of the school and what it can offer students. Lily explained that she came to this school by necessity, having suffered a serious ATV accident the summer before she was to begin her freshman year at Hemet High School. Throughout her freshman and sophomore years she underwent 10 surgeries and nine of them were performed on her face which had taken the brunt of the damage. “It was brutal, and it wasn’t just about the surgeries and doctors’ appointments; it was about coming to terms with seeing a different face in the mirror,” Lily said. “It challenged me in ways I didn’t think were possible.” She said that being involved with ASB all four years and serving as president this year has taught her to always lead with purpose.

San Jacinto Unified School District

Monique Merendon

Mountain View High School selected Monique as its Student of the Month. CTE film and media teacher Ron DeGenova explained that as part of an alternative education school, his class is unique in that it emphasizes project-based learning, group project work and collaboration. He said Monique became a role model and leader for other students in the class. “One of the main lessons I’ve learned over time is that there’s always room for improvement no matter the struggles or mistakes you’ve made,” Monique said. “Always be kind, loving and respectful to others and God will be by your side.” She explained that she moved around a lot when she was younger and lived for a while with a mother who was addicted to drugs. She lost her older brother to an overdose, and she and her other siblings were removed from the home. Monique started using drugs herself and ended up in a juvenile detention facility. She has plans to graduate early and do a film production internship at Mt. San Jacinto College. Eventually she hopes to start her own real estate business. “Always have faith in yourself,” she said.

Raven Volrie

San Jacinto High School chose to honor Raven and English teacher Marissa Jensen said the young woman has faced obstacles that could have knocked her off her course but didn’t. She is the manager of the football team and helps with the yearbook. “She is someone who proves that obstacles don’t define us, how we respond to them does,” Jensen said. Raven explained that shortly after her father kicked her out of the house, he died. She was a sophomore at the time. “It was a pain that could’ve broken me but instead it taught me strength and resilience and the importance of never giving up,” Raven said. “I found joy being involved with the school, whether it was through clubs, activities or sports. Each opportunity gave me a chance to grow, not only as a student but as a person.” After high school, she plans to move to Texas to live with her grandfather and pursue her studies to become a medical laboratory technician. “This career path is not just a profession to me—it’s a way to give back to help others and to use my skills to make a real difference in people’s lives,” Raven said. “Every step I have taken has been guided by my faith. Without God in my life I don’t know if I would have had the strength to keep pushing forward.”

Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians

Edgar Gladin was chosen to represent Noli Indian School as Student of the Month. Principal Donovan Post said the school offers middle and high school courses for any student from a federally recognized Tribe within about an 85–90-mile radius. He said he feels honored when students such as Edgar make the choice to attend Noli and not a local school closer to their homes. Teacher Jacquelin Phillips has been at Noli for almost two decades and described Edgar as a student who is always striving for success and is very inquisitive, which pushes her as a teacher. After graduation, Edgar plans to take EMT courses and then enter the fire academy. One of the biggest obstacles he has had to overcome is the loss of his dear cousin earlier this year. “A life lesson I will take with me everywhere I go is to never give up—always walk with your head up and your chest out,” Edgar said. “I plan to give back to my community every chance I get, whether that’s by teaching my culture or lending a hand to someone in need.”

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

The post San Jacinto Valley students honored in September 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.