Program founder and event hostess Karena Zermeno also represents one of the sponsors, Altura Credit Union. She welcomed everyone to the event and said as the program concludes its eleventh year, she wanted to take the opportunity to acknowledge the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, Soboba Trial Council and Soboba Foundation for being one of the program’s biggest supporters from day one.

“We’re celebrating our students for their character, their love of learning and their commitment to academics in addition to their involvement in their school, community and home,” she said. “But especially because of the resiliency they’ve shown in overcoming difficult life challenges and still managing to do good in school.”

She said the reason she was so passionate about bringing this program to the San Jacinto Valley under the mentorship of Sally A. Myers from Sizzler/BMW Management Inc. was very personal. “I was that high school student who could never be that 4.0 or honor roll student but I tried and gave it my thousand percent,” Zermeno said. “I wanted a space where we can acknowledge and honor those students and that’s the Student of the Month/Student of the Year program. If you’ve been a part of the monthly program, you know the heart of our students and their dedication to not only improve themselves but to also improve their family. They say, ‘what is a great mind without a great heart’ and all of our students here tonight share that same virtue – great hearts.”

After the final breakfast in March, each Student of the Month was encouraged to complete an application to be considered as the Class of 2024 Student of the Year for their school site, resulting in seven honorees. The Academy of Innovation, Alessandro High School and Western Center Academy are under the umbrella of Hemet Schools of Choice and attend twice per year each. One student out of all three schools is chosen for Student of the Year.

The evening mirrored well-known awards ceremonies such as the Oscars and the Grammys since the results were not revealed in advance. A short video clip of each student’s speech from when they were honored during their month was played before announcing the winner for each school.

Hemet Unified School District’s Student of the Year honorees are Natalie Perez Flores, Daniel Mendoza, Jasmine Moralez, Jocelyn Ochoa and Ubaldo Puente. Those honored from San Jacinto Unified School District are Desiree Hernandez and Leslye Osuna. Each accepted their award with gratitude to the sponsors and the school personnel and family members who supported them throughout their high school journey.

Desiree Hernandez
As Student of the Month in December for Mountain View High School, Desiree is currently attending Mt. San Jacinto College studying business administration while continuing her job as a small business owner.

Natalie Perez Flores
December’s Student of the Month at West Valley High School was Natalie who said her education has been the most important thing in her life and ever since she was a little girl, she has dreamt of becoming a pediatrician.

Daniel Mendoza
Hemet High School honored Daniel in October. He hopes to play football at the college level while studying kinesiology in pursuit of a career as a physical education teacher.

Jasmine Moralez
Jasmine was Hamilton High School’s choice in December. She plans to use her leadership qualities in her future career as a political scientist.

Jocelyn Ochoa
Jocelyn was singled out in February at Alessandro High School, where she immediately engaged in its CTE welding program and emerged as a beacon of inspiration and a testament to the power of self-direction and motivation.Leslye Osuna
January’s Student of the Month at San Jacinto High School was Leslye who aspires to become a registered nurse after earning her BSN because she has a passion for helping people.

Ubaldo Puente
Tahquitz High School chose Ubaldo in October. He plans to study for a career as an accountant or actuary. He wore a flower on his shirt in honor of Principal Kari McGowan, who passed away in September.

Individual scholarships were presented to students who were chosen for their ability to meet the criteria set by the community members or businesses who sponsored the awards. The name of each scholarship is followed by the name of the student, their school and the month they were selected as Student of the Month. Adanesne Carrasco Soto Memorial Scholarship: Lea Hope Raven Edwards, San Jacinto High School, March; Dr. Koka & Family Medical Scholarship: Camila Carmona, San Jacinto High School, September; Daniel Lopez Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Donald Downs, Mountain View High School, December; Dr. Kari McGowan Memorial Scholarship: Rhianna Salazar, Tahquitz High School, November; Marie Quandt Memorial Scholarship: Sahid Aguilar, San Jacinto High School, November; Sizzler/BMW Management Inc. Scholarship: Sayra Navarro, West Valley High School, March; and the Cassi Tichy Memorial Scholarship: Loren Sullivan, Hemet High School, December.

Closing Remarks

The program ended with lots of photos being taken and Zermeno thanking all the program’s committee members who make it possible to honor deserving students throughout the school year. “I ask you to find what you are passionate for and if you can’t donate financially please donate your time, your expertise,” she said to all the guests. “There are so many nonprofit organizations here in our valley that really need help and support. We can only make our community better by giving.”

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

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Sue Breyer | CalRTA Division 33 Vice President

Division 33 of the California Retired Teachers Association (CalRTA) will honor eight future educators and their families at their scholarship luncheon in June. Each student will be presented with a $1000 scholarship from CalRTA Division 33 during their senior awards in the coming weeks. Scholarship recipients must meet three qualifications: Plan to become a public school teacher, hold a 3.0+ GPA in their junior/senior years, and show good citizenship at school and in the community.

Crystal Hernandez Villa, a senior at Hamilton High school, says, “Teaching little kids isn’t everyone’s first choice in future careers, but it is mine!” Crystal has always had a passion for helping kids. She says that she was lucky to have many caring teachers who helped her “feel safe and understood,” and she hopes to have that same kind of positive influence on her future students. Crystal plans to attend Mt. San Jacinto College then transfer to Cal State San Marcos or UC Riverside. “College would affect my life for the better because it will give me opportunities that my parents never had and some people only dream of having,” she says.

San Jacinto High School senior Haneen Lopez plans to continue her education at Cal Baptist University in Riverside. There she will work toward earning her elementary teaching credential, but her plans don’t end there. Her goal is to eventually earn her master’s degree, possibly an administrative credential or even a second credential in art. She’s looking forward to beginning Cal Baptist’s teaching program in the fall. “What’s unique about this program is that I will also receive my preliminary teaching credential and perform my student teaching while in my undergraduate program,” Lopez explains.

Natalie Town has a limitless imagination and a passion for art, especially animation, and she hopes to share that passion with her future art students. Natalie says, “I would love to become an art teacher and teach young artists to pursue their art careers,” just as she plans to continue expanding her own career and create her own original content. She even has a bit of the entrepreneurial spirit in her, selling her own artistic creations at a small crystal shop and the local farmer’s market. To help her fulfill her dream, Natalie plans to attend UC Riverside, major in art and animation, and eventually teach secondary art.

Iram Morales, a senior at Nuview Bridge Early College High School, “wants to become a teacher for deaf students, because everything is possible for deaf people.” Morales, who is deaf, says that she will not let her “disability” hinder her goal of becoming a teacher. The first in her family to go to college, she plans to attend UC Riverside after graduation, major in liberal studies, and eventually teach high school. “If I’m planning to become a teacher for deaf students,” Morales explains, “then I might have to teach all the subjects!”

Over the last four years, West Valley High School’s Kaitlyn Turner has transformed from an insecure freshman caught up in the drama of social media to a confident, senior class president whose goal is to go to college and become an educator. “During my K through 12 experience I have been fortunate to have teachers who positively impacted my education and my personal life. As a result of my personal experience, I now understand the value of dedicated, caring, and trustworthy educators. This is why I chose to pursue education as my career path,” Turner explains. After graduation, Turner will attend either Pepperdine University or Cal State Fullerton and eventually become a secondary English teacher.

A fourth-generation graduate of Hemet High School, Thorin Johnson is looking to follow in the footsteps of his parents, both educators in the Hemet Unified School District, and become a middle school or high school math teacher. “I’ve watched the impact my parents have had on their students and have always wanted to follow their path and be a teacher,” Johnson explains. In his years at Hemet High, he has followed a challenging college-preparatory path with some of the most rigorous courses offered. “Thorin has always performed exceptionally well and is able to handle large workloads with ease,” mathematics instructor Ryan Ortiz, says. Johnson plans to attend UC Irvine in the fall and pursue a major in mathematics.

Western Center Academy senior, Thomas Mainhart, will be the first in his family to attend a 4-year college, a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly. Like many students, Mainhart struggled academically during the COVID pandemic, but he soon found his footing and his passion, history. “I didn’t want to simply read and understand history. I wanted to share it,” Mainhart says. “This is when I learned that I wanted to teach history, to share the knowledge of the past and hopefully inspire someone to take an interest in the subject,” he explains. Mainhart plans to attend Cal State San Marcos, major in history, and eventually become a middle or high school history teacher.

Even as a small child, Stephanie Charro, a senior at Tahquitz High School, dreamed of being a teacher. “I saw my teachers being so helpful to students, and it inspired me to want to be like them, to help them when they are struggling and have a positive impact on their life.,” Charro says. She’s not sure where she will begin her college journey in the fall, but she’s laser-focused on her future career as an elementary school teacher.

The CalRTA Division 33 scholarship luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6th, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Seven Hills Members Club in Hemet, with a hot lunch catered by Emilio’s Restaurant. Students are encouraged to bring their families to the celebratory luncheon, and each student will share his or her future college and career plans with those in attendance. To register for the luncheon, go to tinyurl.com/Division33Luncheon or call (951) 925-7001 or (951) 330-1568 to RSVP.

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Six local Hemet Unified School District students received the good news at their recent senior awards ceremonies that they had been awarded the Hemet Education Foundation Scholarship for their school’s graduating class. The Hemet Education Foundation awards a $5000 scholarship to one student from each of the comprehensive high schools and a $500 scholarship to a qualifying student at the alternative high schools. This year’s $5000 scholarship recipients are Jonathon Sanchez, West Valley HS; Aneth Castaneda, Hemet High School; Kai Ware, Tahquitz High School; Christopher Huerta, Western Center Academy, and Janeth Culviner, Hamilton High School. Starr Iwaszewski from Academy of Innovation received a $500 scholarship.

The Hemet Education Foundation awards these scholarships to students who truly desire a college education, who are often overlooked for other scholarships and financial awards, whose parents must pay for their education, and who has good citizenship and a GPA between 3.0 and 3.9. Each comprehensive high school provides up to three candidates for consideration and the Hemet Education Foundation Board then makes the selection. A scholarship committee, principals, or counselors make the selection at the alternative schools.

West Valley High School graduate Jonathon Sanchez says he “wants to pursue my dreams of being a forensic psychologist and being persistent and determined will help me achieve those dreams.” He is hoping to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a major in psychology or criminology.

Aneth Castaneda, a recent graduate of Hemet High School, has been accepted to Cal State San Marcos for the fall semester and plans to major in visual arts, eventually becoming a professional photographer. “I have a passion for becoming a photographer. I find photography beautiful and aesthetic,” Castaneda explains.

With a love of fashion and new clothing styles, Tahquitz High Schools’ Kai Ware has his eyes on a major in Fashion Design. He hopes to attend either UC Davis or Cal State Long Beach and is “more than excited to start this new chapter and take on my future and career.”

Hoping for acceptance to UC San Diego, UCLA or UC Davis, Christopher Huerta of the Western Center Academy plans to major in neurobiology or biochemistry with a projected career path in neurology or neurosurgery. “I’m ready and eager to show the world the individual I’ve become and all the skills that I can bring to the table. My career path is going to be long and demanding, but I’m ready to face each challenge and obstacle one step at a time,” Huerta says.

Hamilton High School graduate Janeth Culviner plans to pursue a degree in business at San Diego State University in the fall. “After college, I would like to join a successful business to support my parents and family,” Culviner explains. “I do intend to give the same effort and dedication once I go to college, so I can continue my history of success.”

Starr Iwasqewski says that “this world needs more people to help fight for justice, and the idea that I can help make this world even the tiniest bit safer is what keeps pushing me to my goals.” The recent graduate of the Academy of Innovation plans to further her education by attending MSJC to earn her associate degree in Administration of Justice before transferring to UC Irvine to earn her bachelor’s and eventually master’s degree in the same field. Her goal is to be accepted to the FBI academy in Stafford County, Virginia.

The Hemet Education Foundation has been supporting schools and students in the Hemet Unified School District since the 1970s. Funds for senior scholarships and other financial contributions to school sites are generated by the foundation’s yearly “Bucks-a-Month” payroll deduction fundraising effort. They are also a Silver Sponsor for the Hemet San Jacinto Student of the Month program. For more information about the Hemet Education Foundation or to make a donation, visit their website at https://hemeteducationfoundation.weebly.com.

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At its June 14 board meeting, all students were invited to receive their scholarship check, a proclamation and an honorary Soboba stole at Soboba Tribal Administration. The presentations were made in adherence to social distancing guidelines.

Recipients were Judith Almaraz, Academy of Innovation; Yulissa Ortiz Antunez, Mountain View High; Vanessa Fernandez, Noli Indian School; Francisco Garcia, Western Center Academy; Paola Gutierrez, Tahquitz High; Alyssa Hamlett, Hamilton High; Ricardo Orozco, San Jacinto High; Melissa Plata, West Valley High; Cameron Powers, San Jacinto Valley Academy; Amayah Purnell, Hemet High; and, Kaylee Tomasello, Alessandro High.

Judith Almaraz plans to begin her higher education at Mt. San Jacinto College to eventually study neuropsychology in her pursuit of a career in the medical field as a researcher or clinician. Throughout high school she received awards for her outstanding abilities in math, conceptual physics and as an artist. She was also valedictorian for this year’s graduating class at the Academy of Innovation.

“It was an absolute honor to be awarded this scholarship,” Judith said. “Coming from a less privileged home, there were times where I believed I would not be able to afford college and my education has not been by chance, but by choice. I am incredibly grateful to have been given this opportunity to pursue my future goals – thank you, Soboba!”

Vanessa Fernandez, valedictorian for Noli Indian School’s Class of 2021, also won multiple awards during her high school years for writing, art, science, athletics and academics. She will be attending the University of California, Berkeley majoring in the Critical Diversities field of Native American/American Indian Studies and minoring in Fire Science.

“Having a Tribe backup and support me in furthering my education, especially as a Native American student, really sets up my hopes for other students within my ethnicity who also want to achieve the same goals as me,” Vanessa said.

Francisco Garcia carried a 4.0 GPA all four years of high school at the Western Center Academy and was an AP Scholar. He earned many academic achievement honors and will be attending the University of California, San Diego as a Computer Engineering major with a goal to help other minority students explore a fascinating, yet marginalized STEM career.

“To have been chosen is really special because college and the idea of going into debt from it has always been one of my biggest fears,” Francisco said. “Now, with the Soboba Foundation scholarship and many others I received, I don’t have to worry about that for my undergraduate studies. I’m fortunate and thankful for this opportunity.”

Melissa Plata was the valedictorian for West Valley High’s Class of 2021 where she was an AP Scholar, made Principal’s Honor Roll all four years and earned many awards for academic excellence. She will be attending the University of California, Irvine to major in Pharmaceutical Sciences and minor in Public Health. She plans to use her education to research medications and therapies that will better society as she sets out on a path to become a physician while advocating for often-overlooked populations in the healthcare system.

Cameron Powers earned physical fitness and academic awards while at San Jacinto Valley Academy. He also earned a Community Service Award for 100-plus hours of active volunteerism. He excelled in mathematics and plans to continue his education at Mt. San Jacinto College on his path to becoming a mechanical engineer. “Me and my family were very grateful I was chosen for this scholarship as it gave me the ability to further pursue my career in engineering, thus helping me give back to my community,” Cameron said.

Kaylee Tomasello accelerated her studies at Alessandro High School and was able to graduate a year ahead of schedule. She will attend Mt. San Jacinto College in her pursuit of a career in social work or psychology. She stays active, physically and creatively, through softball and photography. Due to a difficult upbringing, she has expressed a desire to be a catalyst of change for others and is sincere about making a difference in the world and responding to the needs of people who have been oppressed by society.

“Receiving this scholarship meant a lot to me because it showed that even with my challenges in life, I could still accomplish something amazing. The money will help in so many ways towards school so I can have an opportunity to help others,” Kaylee said. “The essay I wrote (as part of the scholarship application) was important to me because it was my story, and I was happy to share my drive to be heard.”

Soboba Foundation President Dondi Silvas, Vice President Catherine “Cat” Modesto, Secretary Antonia Briones-Venegas, Treasurer Julie Arrietta-Parcero and Members at Large Sally Moreno-Lopez, Daniel Valdez and Isaiah Vivanco all participated in the selection process to choose deserving students from submitted candidates to receive these generous scholarships.

Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians • Contributed

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On March 26 and 27, five MSJC students participated in the 2021 UC Irvine Community College Honors Research Conference, where they had an opportunity to share their research from Honors classes at MSJC.

Students Christian Dave of Temecula and Haylie Wilcox of Murrieta were among a group of students from across California who were awarded the 2021 HTCC Exemplary Achievement Scholarships.

Such scholars must be nominated by the Honors directors at their college and are expected to demonstrate in an essay how participation in Honors has affected their education by helping to overcome challenges or create opportunities for them to be recognized as campus and community leaders. In their essays, both students mentioned how being a member of the Honors Enrichment Program at MSJC gave them a stronger connection to the college, other students, and staff, and allowed them to get much more out of their college experience than they anticipated.

“Even though online learning has been hard and often isolating, being a part of this Honors community has allowed me to continue to connect with others and support each other,” Wilcox wrote in her essay. “The people I met through the Honors Program will continue to inspire me to pursue my goals and help others along the way.” On May 27, both students will graduate from Mt. San Jacinto College. Dave will earn associate degrees in Liberal Arts-Mathematics & Science; and Liberal Arts-Social & Behavioral Sciences. Wilcox will earn an associate degree in Liberal Arts-Mathematics & Science and will earn an Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum Breadth to transfer to UC Davis to major in Biological Sciences.

MSJC | Contributed

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I recently had the opportunity of interviewing the young man in the Garden of the family home in Hemet.

Q: When did he first take an interest in sports?

A: “My parents encouraged the four of us (his siblings) to show an interest in sports when we were very young. My father and mother are very athletic and felt that if we had any abilities, we should try from the bottom to develop anything that might be useful in the future.”

Youthful was only the beginning. “As for myself, I started throwing the ball hard at a very young age.” (About four or five, he says).

It began for Gavin Hemet Youth at a lot where his mother attended high school.

“We were home-schooled; from Hemet Youth and a short time with J Minor’s Gold team, I sort of graduated to Valley Wide Sports. As a freshman, I was accepted at Tahquitz High School to play for their Junior Varsity Team. As a junior, when I was fourteen. The youngest in my class. When I became a sophomore, the school’s seniors were leaving and the coach began to look for replacements. My ERA as a pitcher was 135, so I was transferred to the school’s Varsity baseball team where I was a second rotation guy.”

At that time, his pitching speed max was 82 MPH. He began to rapidly grow in weight and height and during this past summer off-season he’s averaging 88 MPH. He has pitched at 92MPH. That is major league stuff. Remember, he is still not old enough to vote.

Q: Outside of Tahquitz, you have not played for other local teams. So when did you start pitching for a traveling team?

A: “During summer after my freshman year, I began playing with California Baseball Academy, which seemed to offer more of what I was seeking for a step to a higher level. I was with them for 2 years and then went to Performance Fitness Athlete. Until then, I had never over-exerted myself in training. That’s when I started traveling a lot. Places like Las Vegas, Arizona, Georgia. I still play for them.”

His PFA Coach, Edgar Garcia, has a connection to the Atlanta Braves. “He gave me an opportunity to play in their high school youth organization. I’m in my second year for them. They scout high schools in search of promising players of the future. All from different high schools around the country. They call us ‘prospects.’

He’s pitched in several of their games at San Manuel ballpark in San Bernardino. “Most recently, Edgar sent down to Florida to pitch with a Texas Club Team.”

Q: How did you happen to get hooked up with Cal Fullerton State College in Fullerton, CA?

A: “One of their scouts came to watch me, thanks to Edgar. I got a call from their pitching coaches and asked if I would be interested in coming down for a campus visit. You can bet I would. So it was arranged and that’s when I was offered a full athletic scholarship. I will be graduating high school next spring and in September I will be living and going to school in Fullerton.”

His scholarship includes housing and food supplements and all the other goodies that come with a full school scholarship.

“I know,” he says, “I am really blessed. In the meantime, I’m to max out this next year and get into better physical shape. Work on my pitching mechanics, keep up my health, eat the right foods, exercise and load up on vitamins and nutrients. Becoming stronger is my goal.

Q: Your mother tells me that you are always being pursued by girls. Do you have a steady girlfriend?

A: Not at all. There is plenty of time for that. Education and career is the only thing I’m dedicated to now.”

I later spoke with his high school coach, Ron Savage. Here’s his opinion of this multi-talented young man.

“The first thing I noticed about Gavin was his amazing sense of humility. I would later learn that was a family trait. He has parents that are totally dedicated to the future of their children. Gavin speaks respectfully and as I said, with real humility. He has that certain inner desire to succeed and has a world of confidence without any sense of taking his abilities in any haughtiness as some athletes might have. Everything about him is real and sincere.”

Last winter, when the team was absolutely routed in their final game, Coach Savage addressed the team.

“We lost the game and I know that some of you are going to blame me. If anybody was to talk to me, just let me know and we’ll sit down in my office and talk about it.”

Gavin called. “Coach,” he said, “You were right. Some of the guys did blame you. I don’t. I just want to let you know we lost that game as a team. What I’d like to do is help you make things better so we can go forward as a great team next year.”

How many athletes, young or old, would do that? Gavin is not only honorable and humble, but the one thing he is – the kind of young man that any parent would be proud to call, “My son.”

Just sayin’.

rustystrait@gmail.com.

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If you didn’t know better, you would swear she was in middle school. However, her appearance and brilliance are not to be taken at face value. Jenny Cedeno, a student at Hemet High school, will be entering her Junior year this fall. She is petite and shy and not the least bit forward in her demeanor.

While in her sophomore year, she received one of the most prestigious awards given in the exchange student program. She was selected in the top percentage in the country to spend a year in Germany as an exchange student in the ASSE program.

“It was supposed to be an entire year but due to COVID-19 it was cut in half,” She explains.

A former resident in Riverside, her family moved to Hemet after she finished middle school, “I like Hemet because it is more key and calm.”

She is a straight-A student with a GPA of 4.1 and will not graduate until 2022. However, her overseas jaunt will begin in January 2021. She describes herself as, “sort of a nerd.”

“I have no idea where I will be living in Germany. They still haven’t notified me of my location or host family.”

She readily admits she was a bit nervous. “It was a lot of work getting qualified. I was required to write essays about myself and what talents I might have and other reasons why I would be good for the program.”

According to the references about the program, an exchange student is different. When the student leaves all the familiar behind, he or she plunges into the unknown. Rarely do they speak the language or are familiar with the host country. However, they must show a commitment to understanding other people, to learn about the world in a way not taught from a textbook.

Every moment, every conversation and experience challenges the way they see a world alien to their own. It is a learning experience about self as well as other cultures. Exchange students develop leadership skills, self-confidence and a greater understanding of the complexities around them. That’s why the best universities as well as corporations and professionals look favorably on students who have lived abroad for some time.

Exchange students experience life in another culture and make close friends in the host country, sitting in small cafes, play sports, shop in the same outdoor markets – things that tourists miss. Experiencing cobblestone streets so narrow you can touch the walls of buildings with outstretched arms in each direction or perhaps reside in a German community with a ‘living castle,’ an actual private residence still being used today.

Jenny Cedeno will experience things during her stay that supersede anything taught in a classroom. That is why the brightest students are selected. They seem to have a thirst for knowledge that eludes others. They will be able to share those experiences with their families and friends when they return home, and are certainly more prepared for higher education. Living abroad as an exchange student better prepares one for the road ahead as an adult. Jenny will have no problems despite her apprehensions of living away from family and familiarities for the first time in her life. She absorbs knowledge like a sponge. She will exceed beyond her wildest aspirations and we wish her all the best. Just sayin!

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Search: Hemet teen awarded

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Since joining the swim team at Hemet, Mya has broken a few records that were over 20 years old, Including the 50 freestyle (23.29), 100 freestyle (51.02), and the 100 backstrokes (59.39). Mya trains three times a week in San Bernardino with Victory Aquatics. She doesn’t only train there; she also spends time coaching the younger kids.

Mya finished her High School career ranked ninth in the state for CIF and first for USA
swimming. She won her two individual CIF events and went undefeated on the year at CIF
events. Identifying the caliber of swimmer she is. Mya drew attention from over 90 different colleges all hoping to offer her a scholarship to swim at their school. Mya said she knew that she wanted to stay in California, so a lot of the schools were immediately dismissed. Mya and her mom only visited four schools, when she stepped on to campus at Cal-State Bakersfield; she almost knew right away that it was the place for her.

Mya trains three times a week in San Bernardino with Victory Aquatics. She doesn’t only train there; she also spends time coaching the younger kids.
Mya finished her High School career ranked ninth in the state for CIF and first for USA
swimming. She won her two individual CIF events and went undefeated on the year at CIF
events. Identifying the caliber of swimmer she is. Mya drew attention from over 90 different colleges all hoping to offer her a scholarship to swim at their school. Mya said she knew that she wanted to stay in California, so a lot of the schools were immediately dismissed. Mya and her mom only visited four schools, when she stepped on to campus at Cal-State Bakersfield; she almost knew right away that it was the place for her.

Mya talked about how impressive the facilities are and how they are building new pools, but that isn’t the thing that drew her to that school. Mya loved the way the team played and the vibes she felt from her fellow athletes, “There were lots of positive vibes, I felt like there was a team mentality here, and it seemed family-oriented.” Mya hopes that while at Cal-State Bakersfield, she can shave 0.3 seconds off her time, which will enable her to try out for the Olympic trials.

While at Cal-State Bakersfield Mya is going to major in kinesiology. She wants to work in sports in the future as a physical therapist and help people rehab who suffer from significant injuries like she did when she was in middle school. Mya broke her Fibula and had to spend some time away from the pool, but made a full come back and never let the injury slow her down.

Mya would like to thank her mom for all of her love and support, her grandma for always having her back, and her coach Loren McCoy for being willing to meet with her and work around her schedule. The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle would like to acknowledge Mya for her amazing achievements and can’t wait to see what her future holds.

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