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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Hamilton High School’s Angie Delgado says, “I am devoted to my chosen field of study.  I have always found an interest in Kinesiology and am fascinated by the idea of helping athletes with their athletic journey.”  Angie will be the first in her family to attend college, a point of immense pride for her and her family.  Angie is hoping to attend Cal State San Marcos or Mt. San Antonio College, focusing on movement anatomy or exercise physiology.

Kayla Benson from Hemet High School says that after she acquires her college degree in Civil Engineering, “I want to serve my community and help those who struggle.  I’ve been inspired by the needs of the people I see every day who are less fortunate and need somewhere to call their own.  Education is power, and the more I know the more I can do good for others.”   Kayla plans to attend either Brigham Young University Provo or BYU Idaho in the fall.

Although mathematics isn’t every student’s favorite subject, Ubaldo Puente of Tahquitz High School plans to further his education at the University of Utah where he will work towards a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and eventually earn his teaching credential.  “I want my future students to view the subject in a new light, the way my third grade teacher showed my peers and me a new perspective on the misunderstood subject.”  Dr. Emily Shaw, Hemet Unified School District’s Director of Wellness and Community Outreach, says, “Ubaldo is the all-around package: brains, character, high morals and strong leadership.”

Western Center Academy graduating senior Logan Fogle says, “For as long as I can remember, I have had a love for the outdoors and an appreciation for the natural world’s complexity and simplicity.  I find a peace and relaxation in nature.  I want to pursue a career in nature, working for the US Forest Service as a Forester.  My office will be among the trees, my water cooler will be a cool mountain stream.”  Logan plans to attend Cal Poly Humboldt University and major in Forestry.  Western Center AP English teacher Tonya Brady says that Logan will bring “a focused dedication to college where no class will intimidate him.  He is a quality person.” 

Sports Medicine has become a profound part of Nathalie Garcia’s life. She has a passion for helping athletes and making a meaningful impact.  She developed that passion at West Valley High School, “working at my school’s clinic with 8 other selected peers and working and interacting with individuals outside of school.  Sports medicine is more than a career to me, it’s an emotional and heartwarming journey that stirs my soul.” Her two years in West Valley’s CTC Sports Medicine class has had quite an impact on this young lady.  Nathalie has her eyes set on attending Cal State San Marcos with a major in Kinesiology and the ultimate goal of becoming a physical therapist. 

“Whether grappling with the complexities of mathematics or immersing myself in literature, my thirst for understanding remains insatiable, propelling me towards continual growth.”  These are the words of Eugene Hernandez, HEF scholarship award winner from The Academy of Innovation.  Eugene says that with a “deep-seated passion for education and a genuine desire to inspire and empower others, I aspire to pursue a career in teaching.”  His plans are to first acquire an AA degree from MSJC then transfer to a university to earn his bachelor’s degree and eventually his teaching credential. 

Since 1978, the Hemet Education Foundation has been supporting schools sites and students in the Hemet Unified School District with financial donations and academic scholarships.  Over the past 15 years, the Foundation has donated over $104,000 to the District’s schools for much-needed supplies and resources.  Additionally, since 2014, the Hemet Education Foundation has awarded over $200,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors in the district — $500 to qualifying seniors at both of our alternative high schools, and $5000 to qualifying seniors at each of our five comprehensive high schools.  For more information about the Hemet Education Foundation, you can access their website at hemeteducationfoundation.com.

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Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) hosted its 20th annual TRIO Upward Bound and Talent Search graduation ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the program’s high school seniors on Saturday, April 29. More than 100 students and their families attended the TRIO Senior Recognition Celebration at the San Jacinto Campus library.

This year, MSJC’s Talent Search program served 500 students from Monte Vista Middle School, North Mountain Middle School, and San Jacinto High School and Upward Bound served 52 students from San Jacinto High School. At the celebration, 37 high school seniors were recognized for their commitment to their education by successfully completing the program.

Keynote speaker MSJC Board President and Upward Bound Graduate Joshua Rivera shared his experience being a student at MSJC and how transformative these programs are. His advice to the students was, “Ask yourself, what is my why? When you can answer it, things will come into place.” Superintendent/President, Roger Schultz, Ph.D. congratulated the students and commended them for participating in the TRIO program. He shared inspiring words of encouragement and reminded the graduates of the importance of perseverance and determination in achieving their goals.

For the first time in the program’s history, a generous donation for student scholarships was received. Wedbush United, a private investment firm based in Los Angeles, donated four thousand dollars providing four graduating seniors one-thousand-dollar scholarships each. Alonso Zul, a scholarship recipient, thanked Wedbush representatives for their donation, “With this scholarship I can worry a little less about my finances and it will help my parents with their cancer payments for my grandma.”

Zul plans to attend University of California, Berkeley in the fall. “We are so proud of our TRIO graduating class for their accomplishments,” Marisa Jones, Director, TRIO grant programs said. “This time of the year is one of our favorite moments with our students.

We are extremely grateful to Wedbush for making our students’ dreams come true.” TRIO Upward Bound and Talent Search are federally funded programs that provide academic and personal support to high school students from low-income families, first-generation college students and students with disabilities.

Both programs help students develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed in college and beyond.

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