The Hemet/San Jacinto Student of the Month program held its most recent recognition breakfast at the Soboba Casino Resort Event Center on Nov. 16. Seven local high school seniors were recognized and honored for their character, love of learning and commitment to academics in addition to their involvement in school and community activities and their ability to overcome difficult life circumstances. And they do this all in a setting that honors God, country, family, community and free enterprise. Students are nominated by teachers or other school personnel for making a difference in their homes, schools and communities.

Local program founder and event facilitator Karena Zermeno also represents one of the sponsors, Altura Credit Union. Backpacks filled with gifts, a Student of the Month award, certificates of recognition and much more were donated by community sponsors to the award recipients. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past 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 schools are Trillis Payne, Rhianna Salazar, Isaiah Suso, Rey Urtiz and Luke Wright. San Jacinto Unified’s honorees for November are Sahid Aguilar and Sunshine Alvarado.

Hemet Unified School District

Trillis Payne

West Valley High School Principal Gerardo Zavala said Trillis was chosen to be recognized for excelling at building connections and establishing meaningful relationships with his peers which has led to him being one of the most well-liked students on campus. Football head coach Brent Perez said Trillis contributes to West Valley on and off the football field. He said the senior demonstrated the power of improvement through perseverance after he had to suspend him from the football program in his junior year. After five months of no contact, Perez felt it was time to reconcile and realized that he was the same as Trillis at one point and everyone deserved the power of a fresh start. This year, Trillis became team captain, but Perez said it is not the title but the influence he has on his teammates that shows how far he has come. Trillis has been accepted to North Arizona University and will pursue his dream of becoming a judge while playing football at the Division 1 school and then attending law school. “My biggest contribution to my school is being a campus leader and helping the younger students,” Trillis said. “About two years ago, when I was a sophomore, I was a kid that teachers didn’t like. I was like a messed-up kid to everybody. That made me want to do better.” He said he learned that if you don’t make smart decisions, you can’t get smart results.

Rhianna Salazar

Tahquitz High School recognized Rhianna in November for being a humble example of what it means to overcome, persevere and embrace change and improvement in one’s life. Jeff Prickett, who teaches math, physical education and AVID and served as Rhianna’s mentor while she was a Teaching Assistant for him, said he was impressed that she had turned her life around, allowing herself to be guided by peers to stay on a solid path. Prickett said, “The life she led before was not the life she wanted to define her in the future.” Rhianna said her greatest contribution to her school is that she is an active student, playing volleyball, soccer and being on the track team and participating in AVID and ASB. She plans to major in medicine to become an anesthesiologist. “One challenge I have overcome in the past is not letting difficult challenges identify who I am,” she said. “I am someone who was misjudged because I tried to carry myself in a way that may be more mature than some of my peers. Rhianna has suffered the loss of dear family members to drugs and illness and was most upset hearing the sorrow of her mother after her grandmother passed away and knowing there was no way she could help her. “I think the most significant life lesson I can take with me going into college is that when bad things happen to not let them keep me down. I need to realize that everything is a learning and experience,” Rhianna said.

Isaiah Suso

The Western Center Academy singled out Isaiah and Executive Director Paul Bailey said he appreciated the opportunity to share the words of nominating teacher Benjamin Brandt, who was unable to attend. “He has demonstrated such amazing character that not only does every staff member highly respect him but so does every student who knows him,” Brandt wrote. Last year, the student body awarded Isaiah with the Top Gentleman of Western Center Academy. Brandt said he is always building up his classmates and has learned how to share his opinions while treating others with the dignity they deserve. His mother, Holly Suso, said, “The past 18 months have been very challenging for our household. We have had a series of unfortunate events, starting with the loss of Isaiah’s cherished fur baby.” Due to layoffs in the tech sector, Holly has been unemployed for the past nine months and that subsequently led to the family losing their home. “Through it all, I’ve watched Isaiah persevere and somehow make a way out of no way,” Holly said, adding that despite an inadequate work/study space, he has excelled in numerous AP, Honors and college courses. He has risen through the ranks of AF JROTC and has a 4.5 GPA. He recently attended Boys State to represent Hemet and the Western Center Academy. Isaiah said, “This year has been a greater test of my academic performance than all the years I’ve been alive and admittedly a greater test of my willpower.” He said after the financial hardship his family began to face, new stressors began to emerge which “made up the largest mountain I have ever needed to climb in my life.” He said it became difficult to balance the stress of home life and school life, which already had its own stressors. “But one thing worse than being trampled by hard times is your human conviction being extinguished,” Isaiah said. “I choose to keep moving forward so that one day I can tell the next kid who’s going through the same thing what the other side of the mountain looks like.”

Rey Urtiz

Hamilton High School Counselor Jason Sonnier welcomed CTE teacher Louie Vega to the podium to speak about the student he nominated for this month’s award. Vega said that during his two years in the construction program, Rey has displayed a hunger for knowledge and is always ahead on projects. He said Rey is patient and challenges other students, adding that he thinks with those attributes Rey should consider becoming a teacher. Rey said, “What I believe is the greatest thing I do for my friends and family is talk to them because communication is one thing that we all should do but we do not do enough.” He said back when he was shy and didn’t talk with others he felt as if no one cared about him so he challenged himself to just talk to everyone he could. He said that is the greatest life lesson he learned and encouraged others to communicate more. “Even if it’s just for a minute, you will make people feel like they’re appreciated,” Rey said. His future career plans are to be a megatronics engineer, which is an integration of multiple technologies to create mechatronic systems that can perform complex tasks autonomously.

Luke Wright

Hemet High School’s top choice this month is Luke and principal Jeff Franks said he is an “amazing example of how to learn to adapt and dominate.” With a 4.3 Grade Point Average, his math teacher Kristin DeWit explained how Luke recently moved here from London, England. “Besides being a knowledge seeking, outstanding math student, he is the most polite student that perhaps I have ever taught,” she said. Luke has lived in seven different countries, learning multiple languages. Luke thanked many supporters including his parents “for being my pillars of strength, embodying the values of resilience and determination to me.” He went on to say, “As a child, I had the unique opportunity to travel to various countries with each experience being very different from the last.” He said the constant moves and need to repeatedly sever and build connections left a lasting impression on him emotionally but instilled in him the importance of living in the moment. Luke said each move brought new curriculums and cultural nuances. In June, after his parents divorced, Luke moved to California with a mixture of excitement and a deep ache for the bonds he had to leave behind. “The challenges were different but the resilience I acquired from my earlier experiences became my guiding light,” he said. He was able to overcome cultural barriers and gain respect and understanding for different cultures. He is aiming to major in computer science at college with a minor in foreign language as he believes that through language “we can connect with other people on a greater level.”

San Jacinto Unified School District

Sahid Aguilar

San Jacinto High School chose to honor Sahid, a straight-A student who has earned a 4.5 GPA while taking multiple Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and MSJC dual-enrollment courses. Activities Director and San Jacinto High School alumna Danielle Powell described him by saying, “Sahid is a phenomenal student who possesses a steely determination and takes on any challenges that come his way.” She shared that he is part of the WorkAbility I Program and has paid work experience from the SJUSD IT department setting up new Chromebooks for students at district schools. Last summer he went to Sacramento as a participant in the California Youth Leadership Program sponsored by the California Department of Rehabilitation. He also tutors UCR students in math. “Sahid, you are an amazing student and we are very proud of you and your accomplishments,” Powell said before introducing Instructional Aide Lora Wood, who nominated him and has worked with him since he was in seventh grade at North Mountain Middle School. “I’ve seen him overcome quite a bit,” she said. Sahid said, “My life evidently has not been a normal one. I was born with a rare genetic condition known as Freeman-Sheldon Syndrome. Out of eight billion people on this planet, only 200 share this experience and it’s been a challenging one.

I’ve had a plethora of surgeries since birth.” He said that through it all, he has found the power to persevere and thanks God for that power. “I don’t let it get to me,” Sahid said. “I think of myself as a normal person.” After a major surgery in the summer of 2019 caused him to miss his entire eighth grade of in-person schooling, the onset of the pandemic led to a second year of isolation. “Again, through it all, I found the power to persevere and I think that’s something we all need to learn and know that things will get better,” he said. “Take me for example. My parents were told at my birth that I would never walk and 17 years later, I walked up here to give my speech today.”

Sunshine Alvarado

Mountain Heights Academy’s Sunshine was nominated by teacher Sarah Heritage, who said the outstanding senior has overcome personal struggles of depression and self-doubt. She said to her, “I always knew you could do it Sunshine and I’m glad I was able to help encourage you to see the best in yourself and realize you could do anything. I always want you to remember that the path you take is less important than the journey and your final destination.” Sunshine said she believes her greatest contribution to her family and community is how sympathetic and emotional she is. “Being compassionate is one of the biggest contributions you can give and receive. It is something I have always looked for in others,” she said. She shared a favorite quote of hers from Mother Teresa that states, “Never be so busy as not to think of others.” Sunshine said a major challenge in her life has been overcoming trauma from a young age that led to the self-doubt she continues to struggle with today, with depression being a huge part of it. This led to her being unable to attend school on a regular basis, causing her to fall behind. “The most significant life lesson I will take with me is to never give up,” Sunshine said. “I realize now there is always time to change and start over and be a better you.”

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

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

The Hemet/San Jacinto Student of the Month program held its most recent recognition breakfast at the Maze Stone at Soboba Springs Golf Course on Oct. 26. Seven local high school seniors were recognized and honored for their character, love of learning and commitment to academics in addition to their involvement in school and community activities and their ability to overcome difficult life circumstances. And they do this all in a setting that honors God, country, family, community and free enterprise. Students are nominated by teachers or other school personnel for making a difference in their homes, schools and communities.

Local program founder and event facilitator Karena Zermeno also represents one of the sponsors, Altura Credit Union. Backpacks filled with gifts, a Student of the Month award, certificates of recognition and much more were donated by the program’s sponsors to the award recipients. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past 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 schools are Brooke Benford, Olivia Lopez, Daniel Mendoza, Ubaldo Puente and Isabella Rivera. San Jacinto Unified’s honorees for October are Melissa Jimenez and Joshua Ramirez.

Hemet Unified School District

Brooke Benford

West Valley High School selected Brooke to be recognized this month for being an outstanding leader who exhibits a positive energy on campus. She is a spirit commissioner for student assemblies alongside her brother, a member of the dance and cheer teams and a leading actress for the theater department. She is also an International Baccalaureate student whose favorite subject is English. Her teacher Shereen Johnson said she was always willing and able to assist in the classroom and she appreciated Brooke’s commitment to excellence. Brooke said, “When you look at me from the outside I seem like a very happy kid and my extracurricular activities and my social skills make me seem like a bright light that shines on everything within my radius.” She then shared that she has suffered from clinical depression and anxiety since the age of 12 and was suicidal when she was in eighth grade. After embracing professional help from a counselor therapist, Brooke was able to become more productive in high school. She plans to be a forensic psychologist to “lend a listening ear to those who need it and a helping hand to those who are reaching out.” After thanking all the sponsors of the Student of the Month event and congratulating her peers on being recognized this month, she addressed the staff at West Valley and said, “Teachers and coaches can change lives and you guys have definitely changed mine for the better.”

Olivia Lopez

Hamilton High School Principal Kari Sanchez proudly introduced Olivia, a student she has known since toddlerhood growing up in the community. Her nominating teacher, Mary Kleinvachter, said the active senior stays busy with Advanced Placement and CTE classes, athletics, leadership positions with many clubs and community service. She was also recognized by the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program for her strong academic performance and high assessment scores. “I enjoy volunteering with From the Heart,” Olivia said. “I love seeing the positive impact this organization has on our small town.” She plans to major in civil engineering or something else within the STEM field. As a standout on her school’s CIF wrestling team, a shoulder injury during her sophomore year that sidelined her was devastating. Olivia said she started to feel selfish that she worried so much about this when there were people dealing with much more difficult problems. She felt she should be grateful for all the good things and opportunities she had. Something she learned during this time that she will take to college is, “God gave me this day and I can either use it for good or waste it. This quote speaks to me by reminding me that God gave us each day as a gift and it’s up to us to make the most of it,” Olivia said.

Daniel Mendoza

Hemet High School’s top choice this month is Daniel, who at the end of his senior year will be a three-sport, four-year athlete. Principal Jeff Franks said he maintains a 3.6 GPA through dedication and hard work. His nominating teacher, BJ Edwards, said Daniel leads by example and is positive for the culture of the campus. “He has integrity as a student and athlete,” he said, adding that his “favorite thing about Danny isn’t just his academics or the effort he puts into school every day but that he is a good human.” Daniel said his father is his number one fan who pushes him every day to be the best version of himself. He has played sports since the age of four. “I try to bring all the school spirit I can; I always try to bring people together and keep a positive attitude,” he said. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that nothing in life is handed to you, you have to go get it yourself.” Daniel hopes to play football at the college level while studying kinesiology in pursuit of a career as a physical education teacher. “After seeing a lot of the teachers and staff that work at our school, I’ve decided I do want to be a teacher,” he said.

Ubaldo Puente

Tahquitz High School recognized Ubaldo in October for his uncanny ability to make connections with adults and other students. He was nominated by multiple teachers who had many good things to say about him such as being a true Titan who is creative and spirited, someone who takes initiative, is a natural born leader and always lends a helping hand. Ubaldo, also known as Junior, is ASB treasurer, emcees student assemblies, serves as the baseball team’s manager and is school site council president. He admitted to having conquered a “multitude of obstacles” in recent years and shared a favorite quote: “No matter how far you get in life, never forget the passion that got you there.” Ubaldo’s dream school is the University of Utah where he hopes to study for a career as an accountant or actuary. His future plans also include opening a community food pantry.

Isabella Rivera

Alessandro High School singled out Isabella for her level of maturity and positivity. Her nominating teacher, Lee Clark, said Isabella is a well-spoken and altruistic young woman who seldom let the trauma of her life overwhelm her as she moved to several states as a pre-teen, caring for her younger sister in every way possible. Isabella said when her parents finally got clean from their addictions, things improved but she still carries scars from the past experiences that resulted from her having to grow up way too young. Losing an older cousin to suicide was the catalyst that made her so resilient and pushed her to move forward. “A significant life lesson I will take with me is that everything is changing; nothing is permanent. Success is limitless and it begins with your imagination,” she said. Isabella plans to be a criminal justice major in college with aspirations to become an attorney.

San Jacinto Unified School District

Melissa Jimenez

Mountain View High School’s Melissa was nominated by counselor Justin Ryan who said she stands out for a lot of reasons. She is very self-aware but not self-centered, he said, adding that whenever there is an opportunity to serve, Melissa is always the first person to sign up. Melissa is a voting member of the school site council. “Being at Mountain View for a year and a few months has truly helped me in many ways, from daily challenges that will prepare me for adult life to basic daily responsibilities,” she said. After ending a 10-month long abusive relationship that had caused her to become depressed, Melissa said the situation taught her some valuable lessons and she has moved on from the emotional toll it took on her. She is on track to graduate in January and plans to attend High Desert Medical College’s two-year program to become an OB/GYN ultrasound technician.

Joshua Ramirez

San Jacinto High School chose to honor Joshua for being a genuinely good-hearted person. His former teacher Jesse Spriggs said Joshua’s service to the community impacts many. Two years ago, he was instrumental in organizing the student-led Tiger Den benevolence closet on campus, a place where students who have minimal amenities and necessities like clothing, shoes and hygiene products can go and privately get what they need. It has been visited by more than 60 SJHS students. Under his leadership, the district’s two middle schools have developed their own benevolence closets. Spriggs said he is moved by a Native American proverb that sums up Joshua, “Blessed is he who plants trees under whose shade he will never sit.” Joshua’s teacher Niki Gray said his thoughtfulness for others always warms her heart and that a C.S. Lewis quote reminds her of Joshua, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” Joshua said becoming manager of the Tiger Den was a great opportunity for him to give back to his community. “My parents provided the best even when circumstances weren’t always in our favor,” he said. “My older siblings shared with me the hardships they faced in the past.” Joshua said that even though he feels like in a way he has already impacted his community, he is not done yet. “I feel like this is just the beginning,” he said. “My end goal is to create a community where everyone is thriving, and everyone feels empowered.”

Closing remarks

Karena Zermeno said it was obvious that all of the students represented at the breakfast have so much love for others. San Jacinto Unified School District Superintendent David Pyle said the theme he heard emerge among the seniors being honored was the concept of change. “It’s very fitting that the weather is changing outside,” he said. “While a lot of things change, there are a lot of things that don’t change and those are empathy, character and selflessness, which today’s students represented.”

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

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

The Hemet/San Jacinto Student of the Month program held its first recognition breakfast of the 2023-2024 school year at the Maze Stone at Soboba Springs Golf Course on Sept. 14. Seven local high school seniors were recognized and honored for their character, love of learning and commitment to academics in addition to their involvement in school and community activities and their ability to overcome difficult life circumstances. And they do this all in a setting that honors God, our country, family, community and free enterprise. Students are nominated by teachers or other school personnel for making a difference in their homes, schools and communities.

Local program founder and event facilitator Karena Zermeno also represents one of the sponsors, Altura Credit Union. Backpacks filled with gifts, a Student of the Month award, certificates of recognition and much more were donated by the program’s sponsors to the award recipients. “Thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers who make this program successful each month,” Zermeno said. “And thank you to our students who share their stories and leave us humbled and motivated to do better each day.”

Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past 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 schools are Mason Dunn, Bailey Easley, Kai Loera, Diana Ramirez and Kevin Smith. San Jacinto Unified’s honorees for September are Camila Carmona and Kelis Hernandez.

Hemet Unified School District

Mason Dunn

Hamilton High School selected Mason to be recognized as an outstanding Bobcat who successfully overcame some educational challenges to become a straight A student. Principal Kari Sanchez said Mason is a “light wherever he goes.” His nominating teacher said Mason “does everything with gusto and enthusiasm.” Further, the meaning of his name indicates a builder and he said the senior “builds himself up and others.” Mason believes his greatest contribution to his school is his involvement in the National Honor Society and its numerous projects. He plans to attend Northern Arizona University to major in computer science with an emphasis on programming or building computers. He has prepared a seven-page to-do list of things he needs to do before he goes off to college. “The most significant life lesson I’ve learned is to always be aware,” he said.

Bailey Easley

Hemet High School chose Bailey for her “stoic humility, grace and peace” as pointed out by teacher Allen Kruse. “We all tend to struggle with life-changing and life-altering tragedies,” he said. “Bailey has been able to take her loss and make it a point of effort for her not just to honor her father but to be the best version of herself that she can be.” Bailey shared that her father died five days after she turned 15, when she was just a freshman. A U.S. Marine veteran, she plans to follow in his footsteps and serve her country in the military after earning a degree in exercise physiology at Northern Arizona University. She carries a 4.3 GPA and is active on the cross-country and track teams. “Standing beside my dad’s headstone, my grandpa taught me how to get rid of the weeds and only look at the flowers in my garden,” Bailey said.

Kai Loera

West Valley High School’s top choice this month is Kai, who was cited as being well liked and respected among his peers. He is enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program, serving as IB president and plays varsity volleyball. Before introducing Kai, IB math teacher Frank Urquiza addressed all the students. “My encouragement to you is don’t forget where you came from and the things that you’ve already accomplished,” he said. “You all have a story to tell and make sure you share it with as many people as you can because you are all great students.” He went on to say that Kai can balance life with his academics/education, being involved with sports and clubs on campus and extracurricular activities. As a junior, he received the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Award. Urquiza said, “He’s quiet in spirit but full of life.” Kai’s dream school choices are Harvard or Cornell where he plans to study computer science to become a programmer. “When I was younger, an issue I had was learning how to read in elementary school and it put me behind everyone else in my class. My parents allowed me to go at my own pace and practiced with me at home,” he said. “Now I’m at the top of my class and Student of the Month. The most significant life lesson that I will take with me to college is that it doesn’t matter how good you do, it matters that you try your best and hardest to do it.”

Diana Ramirez

Tahquitz High School recognized Diana for September and her volleyball coach Art Zambrano said she “has a passion for learning in the classroom and on the volleyball court.” Diana shared that she has spent many years in therapy due to many challenges such as losing her father at a young age, surrounding herself with people who were not good influences and using poor coping mechanisms to help her get through life. “The me of two years ago never would have believed I would receive this award. I couldn’t be prouder of myself,” Diana said. “No matter what I went through, I never let it define me in a negative way.”

Kevin Smith

The Academy of Innovation singled out Kevin as its first Student of the Month for the new school year. The school is part of a rotation with other small, specialized HUSD schools so they only have two opportunities each school year to honor their outstanding students. “Kevin was an easy choice,” his Spanish teacher said. “He’s a teacher’s dream and I’m so proud of the accomplishments he’s made in his educational career.” Kevin said he has faced numerous challenges during his academic journey, including the loss of loved ones and a fear of academic failure. “With the help of friends and family, I was able to see these challenges as opportunities for growth and the drive to always be better,” he said. Kevin plans to attend UC, Riverside as a business or computer science major. “My road to college is not limited to academics. To prepare myself for this new challenge, I have learned to be adaptive, resilient and self-confident so I can face any challenge that comes my way,” he said. “To my fellow students I’d like to encourage you to face each obstacle as an opportunity to do better and remember, the next step after failure is greatness.”

San Jacinto Unified School District

Camila Carmona

San Jacinto High School’s Camila was nominated by several teachers and principal Kristi Coulter shared what one of them wrote about the young student. As its current president and a leader with the LINK Crew program for two years, they said Camila has built an excellent rapport with her designated freshmen and has become a great asset to the program, always going over and beyond. She is also active with the school’s swim and water polo teams, marching band, various clubs and takes Advanced Placement courses. Band Director Patrick Harris said Camila is woodwind captain and helps tutor band students to help them keep their grades up and supports them in many other ways. “Helping people is the way I show my love and gratitude to those who have done so much for me,” Camila said. She aspires to become an OB/GYN doctor, stating, “A goal without a plan is just a dream.” She is accustomed to staying busy and has always filled up her days with extracurricular activities and supporting her brothers in their sports endeavors. “I always found a busy schedule normal and hated summers because my life would be so calm,” she said. Her mother added that despite some health issues, Camila never missed a day of school.

Kelis Hernandez

Mountain View High School chose to honor Kelis, who didn’t let becoming a teen mother disrupt her educational goals. “My greatest contributions are centered around my family and being the best role model I can be for my son and for my brothers. I also like to motivate others,” she said. Kelis plans to become a registered nurse and eventually a travel nurse after attending Mt. San Jacinto Community College and then transferring to Cal State, San Bernardino. “In my past and present I have been harmed by others and I’ve felt the pressure of motherhood stressful but it’s motivated me the most. Being a mom has taught me patience and responsibility but most of all that no matter what road you take – the straight one or the long, winding one – you can still reach your dreams. The lesson I will take with me to college is that hard times should never be the reason you hold back on your dreams – it should push you to where you want to go. I want to inspire the class of 2024 to do what you love and do it great.”

Closing remarks

This month’s program began and ended on a somber note as the passing of Tahquitz High School Principal Kari McGowan was announced and acknowledged with a moment of silence by San Jacinto Assembly of God Pastor Jeff Johnson and remembered with final words by HUSD Superintendent Christi Barrett. “I cannot help but feel the absence of someone who embodied the spirit of community; someone whose smile could light up not just a room but an entire school site,” Barrett said. “Yesterday, we received the sad news that Dr. McGowan passed away suddenly from an unexpected health condition. This news has left a mark on our hearts and on our schools. Dr. McGowan was a true champion of school spirit and a prime example of the sense of togetherness that defines our communities. Her unwavering commitment to our students and her infectious enthusiasm for education set a remarkable example for all of us. Today, as we gather to honor the outstanding achievements of our students of the month, let us remember that each one of these exceptional young individuals represents the future that Dr. McGowan was so passionate about. In their accomplishments, we see the potential of our districts and in their dedication to excellence we carry forward the legacy of Dr. Kari McGowan.”

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

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

The Hemet/San Jacinto Student of the Month program held its final recognition breakfast of the current school year at the Maze Stone at Soboba Springs Golf Course, March 16. Seven local high school seniors were recognized and honored for their character, love of learning and commitment to academics in addition to their involvement in school and community activities and their ability to overcome difficult life challenges. And they do this all in a setting that honors God, America, family, community and free enterprise. Students are nominated by teachers or other school personnel for making a difference in their homes, schools and communities.

Program founder and event facilitator Karena Zermeno also represents one of the sponsors, Altura Credit Union. Backpacks filled with gifts, a Student of the Month award, certificates of recognition and much more were donated by the program’s sponsors to the award recipients. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past 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.

March’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District schools are Cataryna Acevedo. Sean Fuentes, Kevin Perales, Kaitlyn Turner and Salem Walsh. San Jacinto Unified’s honorees for March are Desiree Herrera and Soowut Rodriguez.

Hemet Unified School District

Cataryna Acevedo

Hamilton High School selected Cataryna to be recognized as an outstanding Bobcat who has been with ASB all four years, is a three-sport athlete and is someone who cares deeply about her fellow students. She helped create the Multicultural Club on campus because she wanted everyone to feel supported and welcomed. Her art teacher Rose Fickes said, “Cataryna is very inspired by creativity” and is a helper and leader in the classroom. Getting ready for the ceremony, Cataryna said she realized some things about herself that she had never really thought about before. “I realize I help my community and school in many ways. Gandhi once said ‘the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others’ but I didn’t always feel as I do today.” Cataryna said the death of her grandfather from COVID-19 left her broken-hearted and low-spirited. “I lost all focus and motivation for school and sports,” she said. “I was mentally not okay, and I wasn’t taking school seriously.” She used the summer to work on herself and started her senior year with a better outlook but was still worried. On her first day of classes when she entered her third period art class, she felt “kid-joy” instantly. The class, and Ms.. Fickes, helped Cataryna cope with her problems and emotions. She plans to pursue a career as a licensed esthetician and continue to volunteer at her church.

Sean Fuentes

Western Center Academy singled out Sean for the impact he has had on people. Executive Director Paul Bailey said he serves as a barometer on campus and his counselor Sandy Arave agreed. She explained that Sean was a successful student since starting at WCA in sixth grade but struggled with online learning during the pandemic. Arave said Sean only earned 20 credits in his sophomore year and there was nothing she could do from behind her computer screen to motivate him. In his junior year, Sean arrived with a better attitude and set out to undo the previous year. By his senior year, he was back on track, serving as a true example of what determination can do; he never gave up. Sean said the inability to interact with classmates during the lockdown blocked him mentally and prevented him from doing what he wanted and needed to do at school. “I thought of myself as almost a failure that year,” he said about not being motivated to participate in school during this time. “I would be the first person in my family to go to college and that one year almost ruined my whole life.” He credits his counselor, Ms. Arave, as being his savior during that time, helping him turn things around. After attending MSJC for a year, Sean would like to transfer to UCR to study mechanical engineering so he can help design cars in the future.

Kevin Perales

Tahquitz High School’s top choice this month was Kevin. Principal Kari McGowan said that he is “kind of a legend” at the school, and she puts him in the same category with people such as Prince, Madonna and Cher, who are known by one name. “Because when you say Kevin, everyone knows who you are talking about,” she said. “When I told numerous colleagues that Kevin was our student of the month, everyone smiled.” He saw a need in ASB and instead of criticizing, he created a solution. Activities Director Lee Jones said, “My philosophy is that if you have suggestions, you can pitch them to the (ASB) class and you can help make them happen. Kevin accepted that challenge and started helping with announcements. He volunteered to take on projects. Other students looked forward to his input and direction.” Kevin said that growing up with immigrant parents that came here from Mexico with nothing was difficult. “My parents inspired me to become the best version of myself and gave my sister and me everything. On June 1, I’ll be the first person in my family to graduate from high school.” Kevin is captain of the award-winning varsity Titan cheer team, a varsity volleyball player and the social media manager for yearbook. “I have made the decision to attend Riverside City College to continue cheerleading and further my education. After RCC, I plan on going to UC, Santa Barbara to pursue my career in marketing.”

Kaitlyn Turner

West Valley High School recognized Kaitlyn as a scholar-athlete who is also a history buff and ASB president. Principal Gerardo Zavala said Kaitlyn has a desire to shape the future by becoming an English or history teacher. Kaitlyn said, “There are two types of pain that we feel – we feel mental and physical pain. The pain that I felt when I was in middle school was all mental and started when I was placed in honors classes.” The student dynamic was a little different in those classes and Kaitlyn said she soon realized that the other students weren’t going to accept her no matter what she did. “It’s really hard to think about what I was going through and how at that young age I didn’t realize I was experiencing social bullying,” Kaitlyn said. It really weighed on her and she felt there was something wrong with her. She was depressed and nothing was fun for her anymore. She had always dreamed of being a teacher but when she began dreading going to school instead of enjoying it, she knew she had to do something to help herself. “Instead of dwelling on the bullies, I started thinking about my teachers,” Kaitlyn said. She realized the teachers were her biggest supporters and she started making connections with them and focusing more on her academics. “The most significant life lesson I’ll take with me is that you have to be yourself,” she said. “You have to be confident in yourself and you have to rely on yourself to do your best. My self-esteem was so low in middle school that I didn’t even want to be alive anymore. To pay it forward, I’ve grown to be a giving person because I had something taken away from me, my confidence.” Kaitlyn feels that being a supportive teacher helps more than anything in the world which is why she wants to go to Pepperdine, get a good education and become an educator so she can make a positive impact.

Salem Walsh

Hemet High School’s Salem is ranked third in her graduating class and has many club associations, including being an integral member of Mock Trial. Teacher Jamie Killebrew has known Salem since she was about eight years old and said it’s been a privilege to see her grow into an amazing student and human being. She is captain of the tennis team, captain of Mock Trial and editor of the yearbook. She started a coding club for girls because she felt they were not being represented. “She saw a need and she met it,” Killebrew said, adding that “despite difficulties, she never let it compromise her education.” Salem said that one of her favorite aspects of Hemet High, aside from the amazing people, has been the endless opportunities it offers students, particularly in extracurricular activities. Since her freshman year, Salem has become involved with many clubs and groups. She has had the pleasure of participating in tennis, Mock Trial, yearbook, Computer Science Club, Breakfast Club, Habitat for Humanity Club and Link Crew, among others. “One of my greatest leadership opportunities was when I was awarded yearbook co-editor-in-chief as a junior, the youngest to receive such an honor,” Salem said. “My love and joy for yearbook has been synonymous with my love and joy for my community. Everything I do, I’m driven with passion.” Salem hopes to attend UCLA to study computer science. In her sophomore year, she started the Girls Who Code Club and hopes to one day be able to give back as an expert in the field.

San Jacinto Unified School District

Desiree Herrera

Mountain View High School’s Desiree was nominated by her math teacher, Karin Lee, who said that multiple teachers are impressed by Desiree for many reasons. She serves as the school board student representative and was elected as ASB Vice President. She also recently completed all her high school graduation requirements. “I was impressed with her focus and effort into learning her math,” Lee said. “She has become one of the finest board reporters we’ve had in many years.” Desiree began by thanking her father for being such a strong inspiration in her life and her older sister who put so much faith in her when she didn’t have faith in herself. Desiree has chosen to attend Mt. San Jacinto College for a year and then transfer to La Sierra University, which is her dream college. There she hopes to student criminal justice to become a special victims unit detective. “Throughout a person’s life, they are faced with obstacles and challenges. Obstacles I have faced are lack of confidence in myself and having to deal with the passing of my mother,” Desiree said. “One of life’s most dramatic obstacles is the aftermath of the death of a loved one. I found myself in the grieving process when my mother passed away a year ago.” She added that her struggles with self-confidence began when others told her she would never amount to anything and that she would never graduate high school. A life lesson she will carry with her to college is believing that she can accomplish anything she puts her mind to and just believing in herself.

Soowut Rodriguez

San Jacinto High School chose to honor Soowut and Principal Kristi Coulter said, “You can obviously see that he has a presence about him and I know that presence is cultivated. When I met with him in my office, there was this wisdom beyond his years, this very clear direction of where he wants to go in life. And most importantly, there’s this inner light that shines out and that’s unique.” AVID coordinator and teacher Niki Gray shared, “There’s a story that I’m sure most of you are aware of about two wolves that live inside each of us. Once wolf represents jealousy, greed, lies – all the negative darkness. The other wolf represents joy, peace, love, hope, humility and truth. Whichever wolf we decide to feed is the one that wins and I just want to tell you that the wolf this young man definitely feeds is the one with the hope, humility, peace and love. I have personally witnessed a big chunk of all of those characteristics within Soowut. He is literally one of the kindest students I’ve been around.” He has spent his summer breaks contributing to his community by working at the Soboba Indian Reservation Community Garden. He also helped distribute the produce grown there to its residents. “I plan to attend Cal State, San Marcos to major in American Indian Studies because I’m interested in learning about different Tribes, but I plan to become a professional baseball player as my career.” Soowut is on his school’s varsity baseball team and has played there all four years and recently pitching a no-hitter. A significant life lesson he said he will carry with him is to stay focused on goals to be successful and not give up during any challenging times. “I plan on giving back to the community by sharing my knowledge with the younger generation and assisting with as many events as possible,” Soowut said.

This year’s Student of the Year celebration dinner will be May 17 at the Soboba Casino Resort Event Center. For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

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

The Hemet/San Jacinto Student of the Month program held its most recent recognition breakfast at the Maze Stone at Soboba Springs Golf Course, Feb. 16. Seven local high school seniors were recognized and honored for their character, love of learning and commitment to academics in addition to their involvement in school and community activities and their ability to overcome difficult life challenges. And they do this all in a setting that honors God, America, family, community and free enterprise. Students are nominated by teachers or other school personnel for making a difference in their homes, schools and communities.

An opening prayer by San Jacinto Assembly of God Pastor Jeff Johnson, reminded everyone that February is a month of celebrations with Black History Month, Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day “but today is to celebrate our students.”

Program founder and event facilitator Karena Zermeno also represents one of the sponsors, Altura Credit Union. Backpacks filled with gifts, a Student of the Month award, certificates of recognition and much more were donated by the program’s sponsors to the award recipients. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past 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 schools are David Emiliano Delgado Bazaldua, Aiden Featherstone, Erik Pomares, Jazmine Lou Riveral and Hazel Joi Taclay. San Jacinto Unified’s honorees for February are Christina Mehlman and Michelle Rodriguez.

Hemet Unified School District

David Emiliano Delgado Bazaldua

Tahquitz High School selected David, stating he is multidimensional and a standout soccer player. He is known to be a role model for younger players at the school. He has faced challenges, including his mother’s cancer diagnosis this past November. In June of 2022, she broke her knee and was immobilized for three months. During the summer of 2020 she was hospitalized for two months with COVID-19 and on the brink of life and death. He said he felt lucky to still have his “strong beautiful mother with us,” adding that what they went through affected every aspect of his life and has taken a toll on his family. He took the initiative to figure out how he could invest in himself and his family and through association with positive people, self-help books and online influencers, he found his motivation. “By doing this, my mind, body and soul have become potent and I look at myself now and I’m healthy and positive-minded. I’m a power-washing business owner and a varsity soccer athlete. This has also helped me set up a clear goal for the future,” David said. He plans to study business, economics and finance and open a digital technology business. He said, “I love creating new things and finding ways to innovate. I know I have to stay positive and strong.” He reminded everyone to take time to say “I love you” to their loved ones. “I want to inspire everybody to realize that we don’t have much time here. We can only do so much, and time is our enemy,” David said. “But with the time we have here, I know there’s a difference I can make so the only choice is to go forward, keep pushing and to not give up and to find motivation to stay disciplined.”

Aiden Featherstone

Hamilton High School’s top choice this month was Aiden. Principal Jeff Franks said although he was sidelined by an injury during his first year of varsity football, he stayed on to cheer on his teammates. His nominating teacher Keith Gwyn said, “Aiden is a two-sport athlete and is indicative of what we as teachers hope to see in all of our students. He is inquisitive, hard-working, dedicated and motivated. I am positive Aiden will continue to set the standard as he moves forward in life.” Aiden loves learning about and playing sports. “Sports have pushed me to learn and be a better person and to never give up on anything,” he said. As a freshman, he said he had a hard time with reading in front of people because he wasn’t confident in his reading skills. “I struggled with writing as well, but my teachers gave me extra time to do my work and helped me with writing and other assignments,” Aiden said. “Now, as a senior, I’m way more comfortable with reading and writing.” He plans to study fire science in college and aspires to be a firefighter. Aiden’s father said, “It takes a tribe to raise these good kids” and thanked everyone for their support for his son and all the students being honored.

Erik Pomares

Hemet High School singled out Erik for his honesty, humility, leadership and genuine love for people. He is a member of the Young Black Scholars, PLUS Leadership program and ASB. His nominating teacher, Lindsay Brown said, “I know that one day he will change the world; he has already changed so many lives at Hemet High School.” Erik said his parents divorced in 2013 and it was a rough time for him and his two younger sisters. Being a nurse, their mother worked long hours and she admits she had to lean on Erik a lot during that time. During COVID, his family dealt with the loss of two of his aunts, a cousin who was his same age and Erik lost his grandfather, who was a huge role model in his life. Learning how precious life can be, Erik cites his little sister as his biggest role model because she encouraged him to help family and others. “She was there for me when I needed it most,” he said. In his junior year, Erik earned straight As, started the Young Black Scholars group and served as its president and joined all the clubs he could in his senior year. He plans to attend college and then serve in the U.S. Army Reserves. “What I hope to give back to this community is a place where students like me who have big dreams but come from such a rough childhood could now have that dream come true because I care about putting smiles on everybody’s faces,” Erik said. “I want to be an inspiration to all those students.”

Jazmine Lou Riveral

West Valley High School’s choice for February was Jazmine, who is the commanding officer of 137 cadets in the school’s Navy JROTC program. She plans to enlist in the U.S. Navy after graduation. Her nominating teacher, Warrant Officer Alfonza A. Walton, reminded everyone that JROTC is not a recruiting program and offers no pathway to military service unless it is decided on by the student. “We teach leadership skills to be great citizens,” he said. Walton said Lt. Commander Jazmine has acquired many outstanding attributes during the four years she has been in the JROTC program. She has devoted 500 hours to community service as part of the program and said it is her way of giving back to her community. Her father is deployed a lot and with five children in the family, Jazmine has a bigger responsibility at home. It’s a lot of team effort and having multiple responsibilities has taught her time management, a lot of patience and how to tackle tasks in a given timeframe. “The life lessons I’ve gained in JROTC of not giving up when the road gets tough have enabled me to overcome any obstacles,” Jazmine said. While enlisted, she hopes to earn her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. “My parents laid the foundation for me to build my dream,” she said. West Valley Principal Gerardo Zavala thanked all the students for “demonstrating to all of us that it is possible to remain positive through adversity and tragedy and keep a positive outlook on life.”

Hazel Joi Taclay

Alessandro High School’s Hazel was introduced by Principal Matthew Centofranchi who said that all his students face adversity in one form or another and that it has been a joy to have Hazel on campus and rewarding to see her get on track for a successful graduation. Nominating teacher and advisor James Nuce said her middle name fits in very well with her attitude on life. He said, “She’s focused on her future; she knows exactly what she wants to do and she knows how to get there.” Hazel said, “In my freshman year I focused on anything but education.” She said the COVID shutdown felt like a forever summer break that gave her more reasons not to focus on school. In her sophomore year she got pregnant. She transferred to a different comprehensive school during hybrid learning but was still not motivated. After failing two years of high school, she knew Alessandro, an alternative continuation high school, was her last chance to turn things around. She started her junior year there with only five credits but soon became the student she always aimed to be. “It just took some courage and a very firm motive and at this point I had gained a very strong trait of ambition,” Hazel said. “I now believe if you really want something you’ll do everything you need to do to get it. The teachers at Alessandro really care about their students’ wellbeing and future.” She felt encouraged and supported at Alessandro and only needs 20 more credits to graduate. “I’m a fulltime mother and student with a minor job,” Hazel said. “I’m still with the boy who watched me grow from an arrogant brat to a young woman who’s on the right track.”

San Jacinto Unified School District

Christina Mehlman

San Jacinto High School chose to honor Christina for her courage and willingness to make it her mission to provide hope for others. She is described as being generous, patient, kind, faithful and committed. Nominating teacher Mayra Aldana said she has seen very few people have such a balanced perspective on life. Christina said she first met Aldana in her junior year Math III class. “At the time, I was personally struggling with the loss of my mother six months before the school year started,” Christina said. “She showed me love, kindness, respect and for that I will forever be grateful to have you in my life. She became like a second mom to me. Everyone deserves a support system. After losing my mother unexpectedly, I jumped into a mothering role for my siblings. People ask me why and I said it’s something that needed to be done so I stepped up and did it. I’m sure every student here today has a passion or a dream and on that I commend you all.” Christina plans to attend California Baptist University to study psychology.

Michelle Rodriguez

Mountain Heights Academy’s Michelle was nominated by her independent study teacher Gabrielle Henderson who said her student was always motivated and on task while balancing all the things going on in her personal life. Michelle said she has two older sisters she helps wherever and however she can. She plans to study microbiology before attending medical school with the goal of becoming a forensic pathologist. “I’ve always been amazed at how the human body works and I want to help families understand why loved ones are no longer here,” Michelle said. “Helping people to understand this is very important to me because of my own personal experiences.” In December of 2018, her mother was detained at a checkpoint near the Mexican border and was eventually deported back to her home country. “My mom encouraged me to keep on studying in the United States even though she knew this separation would be a great challenge to us both. This was very difficult for my dad as well for now he had to support two homes, but he was our rock.” Unfortunately, their father died in a traffic accident on Dec. 3, 2020. “Everything turned into a blur,” Michelle said. Enrolling in the online program offered through Mountain Heights Academy allowed her to continue studying at an American school while living with her mother in Mexico. “Hard work really does pay off,” she said. “I promise to use my skills to give back to society and to this community.”

Closing remarks

Zermeno asked all the honored students to stand and be applauded once more. “You all possess something that not many students out there have and that’s the ability to overcome, to thrive and to be leaders,” she told them. “You could have easily said ‘this is too much, I can’t’ but you believed in yourselves and said ‘I can.’” Hemet Unified School District Director of Secondary Education Nereyda Gonzalez said, “What I have learned from the kids today, and what I needed a reminder of, was that it doesn’t matter about your falls or bumps, it’s your response that you can control so thank you for reminding me of that.” San Jacinto Unified School District Superintendent David Pyle said to the students, “Challenges build character and the amount of character that you all have at this stage of your life is probably beyond the vast majority of the adults in this room.”

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

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

The Hemet/San Jacinto Student of the Month program held its most recent recognition breakfast at the Maze Stone at Soboba Springs Golf Course, Jan. 19. Seven local high school seniors were recognized and honored for their character, love of learning and commitment to academics in addition to their involvement in school and community activities and their ability to overcome difficult life challenges. And they do this all in a setting that honors God, America, family, community and free enterprise. Students are nominated by teachers or other school personnel for making a difference in their homes, schools and communities.

Program founder and event facilitator Karena Zermeno also represents one of the sponsors, Altura Credit Union. Backpacks filled with gifts, a Student of the Month award, certificates of recognition and much more were donated by the program’s sponsors to the award recipients. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past 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 schools are Valerie Barajas, Valerie Flores, Angelise Jones, Isabelle Lee and Kaylee Lopez. San Jacinto Unified’s honorees for January are Emily Gates and Grace Truslow.

Hemet Unified School District

Valerie Barajas

Tahquitz High School’s band director Jeremy Pietsch nominated Valerie for being an outstanding student during the four years he has known her. She takes Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses and is one of his strongest musicians. He said she earns the highest place at all festivals the band performs at. As first chair in clarinet last year she participated in virtual concerts and was part of the first jazz album ever produced by the Tahquitz Titan musicians. Valerie is lead saxophone in jazz band this year. She plans to become an elementary school teacher. She has played clarinet for six years and alto sax for three. She wants to attend Mt. San Jacinto Community College before transferring to a University of California school. Valerie said, “A life lesson I plan to carry with me on my journey after high school is to focus on present moments and to not worry about things I cannot control.”

Valerie Flores

The Academy of Innovation’s top choice this month is independent study student Valerie. Nominating teacher Linda Olsen described her as an excellent example of self-discipline as she utilizes the fully online option of study. Valerie said one of her greatest contributions to her community has been supporting the Ramona Bowl. She has been involved with the Summer Youth Theater productions, which benefit the nonprofit amphitheater association. She plans to attend California State University, Channel Islands in Camarillo but is undecided about a major or career. “I am interested in the idea of art and see myself likely being associated with it,” Valerie said. Virtual learning has been a good fit for her as she has worked hard to overcome serious sleep problems. Her mother Marie said her daughter is very creative and has a vivid imagination and has been illustrating and writing books and short stories since she was six years old. Valerie said, “A significant life lesson I’ve learned is to rely on myself and trust myself. I want to be a highlight in the life of people, leaving a positive impression and fond memory for them to carry through their day.”

Angelise Jones

West Valley High School singled out Angelise for being a dynamic student who has been singing for the past 13 years. She performed in musical theater at the school for the first time last year, the dance team this year, is part of the Tech Theater team, is a choir member and a Thespian officer for drama. Her nominating teacher Cheri Kehler, who teaches drama and dance, said, “It’s unbelievable that one person can accomplish all these things in one day and Angelise does this with grace and confidence and humility.” Angelise said experiencing bullying and racism while in middle school caused her to become anxious and paranoid and it wasn’t until her junior year of high school when she joined drama that she finally found somewhere she felt like she belonged. She wants to earn her bachelor’s degree in fine arts and return to West Valley. She said her journey has taught her that, “you don’t always have to do things just to satisfy others; sometimes you just need to roll with the punches, pick yourself up and keep moving forward.”

Isabelle Lee

Hamilton High School selected Isabelle for being a very kind, goal-oriented, natural leader. Diana Welty said Isabelle is one of the few students who stepped up to help her when she took over as ASB director and is consistently at every event. Isabelle said moving to California from Minnesota five years ago was a huge culture shock for her. She had attended an all-Hmong school in the past and was the only Asian student when she began attending Hamilton. She said she felt alone and scared but the students were very welcoming and her teachers motivated her to step out of her shell and pushed her to be who she is today. She does a lot of volunteering, especially after school, saying ASB allows her to connect with From the Heart, a nonprofit in Anza. Isabelle said, “My parents are my constant support and will always be there for me no matter how far I go from the nest.” The generosity and kindness she has received from others has motivated her to become an elementary school teacher “and inspire younger kids to be kind to each other, no matter what their situation is.”

Kaylee Lopez

Hemet High School’s Kaylee was introduced by Assistant Principal Zach Taylor as an amazing artist. “I’m really proud and honored to be working in this community but I’m even more proud and honored to present Kaylee today.” Her art teacher Kari Howell said, “How do you talk about someone who is extraordinary? How do you talk about someone who faces adversity head on and keeps going? It is rare to see anyone at any age emerge from aspects of their lives that would normally crumble a person but instead they rise above it and they thrive. It is rare to see someone so young have strength and conviction and to be an advocate for those who are in need and for those who cannot advocate for themselves. She uses her creativity in art to harness the attributes of the Victorian-era style detail and she meshes it with a really amazing modern Gothic edge.” Kaylee said one of her driving motivations since she was very young was to be creative and expressive. “Creating art doesn’t just allow me to become a better artist, but to raise my own self-esteem and to continue to impress myself with my skills,” she said. “I’ve always felt it was important to stay true to my creative passions rather than to acclimate to social norms and traditions. I’m an advocate for disability awareness. My little brother Jacob was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. It is crucial that everyone is treated with dignity and respect and our lives should be centered around unity and compassion for others. Growing up with an emotionally and physically absent father put the weight of parenting on my mom. She encouraged me to be myself and celebrate my uniqueness and go above and beyond when it came to my academic career.” Kaylee plans to attend Riverside Community College in the fall and pursue a career in cosmetology.

San Jacinto Unified School District

Emily Gates

San Jacinto High School Air Force Jr.ROTC is led by Emily, who serves as unit commander to nearly 170 cadets. Lt. Col. Michael Howard prefaced Emily’s time at the podium by saying, “It’s our goal to teach students the Air Force core values of integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do, to develop citizens of character, dedicated to serving our nation and community. Only a select few, like Emily, will rise to the top because they internalize those values and turn them into actions.” Emily said that while all three core values are equally important, it is the second one that has resonated with her the most. “Since the beginning of my Jr.ROTC career, service before self has been at the forefront of who I am as a commander because I believe that in order for my unit to succeed, it needs a leader that’s willing to set personal matters aside and take the time to be there, listen attentively and take action.” Emily plans to attend a private military college in Vermont where she will major in criminology before commissioning into the Air Force as an officer.

Grace Truslow

Mountain View’s Grace was nominated by Mrs. Ochoa who said that teachers at traditional schools get to know their students over time. “I just met Grace in August and I’m already so impressed with her,” she said, adding that Grace is spearheading an art project at the alternative high school and has joined ASB. She recently shared a butterfly tattoo she had gotten on the back of her neck with her teacher who said she found some quotes about butterflies that made her realize that Grace could not have made a better choice. “The butterfly is a beacon of light and hope that comforts and inspires us as we navigate through the complex mix of trials and triumphs that unfold in all of our lives. Just as the butterfly has to undergo different development stages to come out stronger and more beautiful than ever, you too must accept change and lose the parts of yourself that hold you back.” Grace feels her most significant contribution to her school and home has been her creative mind and inquisitiveness. She plans to attend a two-year college and then enlist in the military. She said she has gone through a lot this past year, starting with her and her younger sister being placed into the foster care system. “Although it’s been rough, I’m proud of myself for pushing through. Even though it’s been rough losing friends and family, I plan on making the best of the situation and the opportunities given me,” Grace said. “If there’s anything I’ve learned through the hardships, it’s that despite your shortcomings and disadvantages in life, if you keep pushing through, the end result will be worthwhile.”

Closing remarks

Zermeno asked all the honored students to stand and be applauded once more. “Know that your challenges have formed the amazing human beings you are today,” she told them. Hemet Unified School District Director of Secondary Education Nereyda Gonzalez said a recent school holiday honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “who inspired us to live in service to others. The students we heard from today are living that every day. One of my favorite quotes from Dr. King is ‘darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.’ So, students, thank you for being the light that has inspired us today.”

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

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

The Hemet/San Jacinto Student of the Month program held its most recent recognition event at the Maze Stone restaurant at Soboba Springs Golf Course, Sept. 15. Seven local high school seniors were recognized and honored for their character, love of learning and commitment to academics in addition to their involvement in school and community activities and their ability to overcome difficult life challenges.

And they do this all in a setting that honors God, America, family, community and free enterprise. Students are nominated by teachers or other school personnel for making a difference in their homes, schools and communities. Program founder and event facilitator Karena Zermeno also represents one of the sponsors, Altura Credit Union. Backpacks filled with gifts, a Student of the Month award, certificates of recognition and much more were donated by the program’s sponsors to the award recipients.

Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past challenges and future goals with a room full of supporters that included principals, teachers, peers, family members as well as community and school district dignitaries. September’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District schools are Alyssa Gandara, Xavier Gonzales, Stephanie Martinez Anaya, Owen Newborn and Kylie Wallace. San Jacinto Unified honorees for September are Jonte Cooley and Aro Rodriguez.

Hemet Unified School District Alyssa Gandara from The Academy of Innovation was adopted by her aunt and uncle at the age of five which she said gave her a new and better family to be by her side. She said school was always a challenge for her because she wasn’t motivated. After getting involved in school activities and engaging with teachers and classmates at AOI, she started looking to her future and keeping her mind on the right things.

She volunteers at the San Jacinto Wildlife Refuge and wants to work for a degree in criminal justice and/or psychology at college. Tahquitz High School’s Xavier Gonzales was nominated by his CIF Championship Cheer Squad coach Sarah Peterson. He takes Advanced Placement courses, is on the football and track and field teams and participates in AVID. Peterson said Xavier is an excellent student and superior athlete who selflessly leads by example and is a wonderful mentor for the younger students. “At Tahquitz we have a statement, ‘Always show that Titan Pride’ and pride at our school stands for more than just one’s accomplishments,” he said. “The P stands for passion and I’m passionate about my academics as well as my involvement in all of the extracurriculars outside of school. I also look for the kids that don’t have friends and try to be that for them because at one point, I was that kid that didn’t have friends.

R is for respect and I have profound respect for all of my teachers.” He said I is for integrity, which means not to expect to have anything handed to you and D is for determination, admitting that the past few years have really tested his. His grandmother, who he was very close to and was always in his corner, passed away from COVID-19. After his aunt was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and moved in with his family, Xavier took care of her. Through it all, he maintained his grades and tried to be a good example for his younger siblings. “E is for excellence and I want to be the best that I can be. The last year and a half have been very difficult, but I let pride surround me,” Xavier continued. “I plan to study engineering and business at the University of Hawaii. I want to thank all the sponsors and supporters here today for letting us be a change in this world.” Stephanie Martinez Anaya is Hamilton High’s choice for September.

Very active at her school, she serves as class president, is captain of her cross country and track teams among many other activities. She has received two national recognition awards from the College Board. She hasn’t confirmed a career choice but is considering becoming an architect or a math teacher. What she does know is that whatever she chooses, she wants to be successful. “My community at Hamilton and my family play key roles in my life,” Stephanie said. “I feel like being a good friend is the greatest of my achievements and contributions to my community. Being somebody that can be trusted and confided in is what I base my character off of.” She said the most significant life lesson she’s learned is that everyone is going through their own struggles in life so at the end of the day being a decent human being and treating others with respect is the most honorable thing we can do as people. “Knowledge is power and so is one’s voice,” Stephanie said. West Valley High School singled out Owen Newborn to be recognized this month. His English teacher described him as having an incredibly unique personality with a sparkle that fills up a room.

As a student of the arts, he has already read most of classics that have been assigned to the class. He writes poetry and his own plays and exerts a positive energy. “Optimism is the main trait that I’ve always tried to keep,” Owen said. “I want to go to a good college like UCLA. I want to be a part of film and writing and I want to be able to live out my dreams of telling these stories that I write and make.” Like many others, 2020 was a difficult year for Owen and not just because of the pandemic lockdown. He lost two pets, his best friend moved away and his parents got divorced. With all those challenges he felt like giving up but said he knew he had to look at all the positives in his life such as his brother, theater, friends and his connection to the community.

Hemet High’s Kylie Wallace is an outstanding student and a cancer survivor. She was nominated by counselor Dawn Sonnier who described her as the definition of courage, strength, determination and joy. Kylie was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma last year and endured tests and treatments that didn’t deter her from maintaining a 3.9 grade point average. She plans to attend Grand Canyon University’s kinesiology program. “I feel that my greatest contribution to my school and my community is that I love helping people in any way that I can. Seeing people happy makes me happy,” Kylie said. “As of yesterday, I’m six months cancer free. I beat cancer and am now stronger. I’m unable to play sports but I want to be an athletic trainer. I’m going to take to college the life lesson of always having a positive mindset. I love to make people happy and to make people smile and I will continue to do that because I feel a smile can go a long way.”

San Jacinto Unified School District Jonte Cooley from Mountain View High School is a standout student who earned the respect of all the staff and made some great friends on campus. Principal Ken Swanson said the young man always accepts people as they come to him. After a challenging childhood where his parents were in and out of jail and he was raised by grandparents since he was four years old, he said change is possible if you are determined to make a difference. He experienced social anxiety and untreated ADHD throughout elementary school. Once he went to live with his aunt and started attending Mountain View, he began to focus on his studies to make himself proud. “Hard work doesn’t go unrewarded.

I plan to go to Cal Poly and become a civil engineer to change things,” Jonte said. “I plan to give back to the community by building more homes and workplaces in the valley.” San Jacinto High School chose Aro Rodriguez as its outstanding student for September. Their plan is to major in biology with the goal of becoming a medical assistant. Their AP English teacher Richard Burton said, “I have been lucky enough to teach Aro in AP Language and AP Literature. For that, I am grateful and humbled, and here is why. In my teaching career, I have yet to meet a young person with as keen an intellect as Aro, a desire to inaugurate substantial change in their world as Aro and a tireless will to protect and advocate for the most vulnerable of our students as Aro.

To look in the eyes of another and try to discern their response to our conduct is the most accurate way to understand who we are in the world and the impact we make. Aro, I hope you know that we can only respond with deference, awe and admiration. I speak for so many when I say we are better for knowing you as you’ve imparted a portion of your unflagging spirit to each of us; the world is undoubtedly a better place with you in it. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your life.” Aro said, “I started to realize I was trans in the middle of my sophomore year. I felt very confused and had low self-esteem because I didn’t feel sure of myself. When I expressed these feelings to my closest cousins and friends, I was met with validation and open arms.

With their support I felt safe enough to live as my true self and I realized how good it felt to not force myself to be someone I wasn’t. I try to pay it forward by advocating not just for myself but for others as well.” Closing remarks SJUSD superintendent Dave Pyle said at each monthly Student of the Month breakfast, a different theme resonates with him and this month it appears to be the true meaning of friendship, both giving and receiving. “I highly encourage you, after checking with your parents first, to find one another on your social media accounts so you can connect and fill yourself with positive information from one another.

Make this group and continue this group and encourage each other, as you’re all part of this same stage of life.” For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

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Program founder and event facilitator Karena Zermeno also represents one of the sponsors, Altura Credit Union. Backpacks filled with gifts, a Student of the Month award, certificates of recognition and much more were donated by the program’s sponsors to the award recipients. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past challenges and future goals with a room full of supporters that included principals, teachers, peers, family members and community and school district dignitaries.

February’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District schools are Kasey Aguilar, Aaliyah Cruz, Erica Gutierrez, Amari Hill and Cynthia Jauregui. San Jacinto Unified honorees for February are Freddy Boyd and Abigail Lazarrus.

Hemet Unified School District

Kasey Aguilar from Tahquitz High School is the class of 2022 valedictorian and Principal Kari McGowan said she is the “epitome of Titan Pride.” Being on ASB all four years and serving as its current president are among her numerous accolades and accomplishments. A past soccer player for the school, she joined the football team this year as its field goal kicker and made 27 of 30 point after kicks and was named Varsity Special Teams Player of the Year. Kasey said her father was in the Navy for 22 years and was deployed for much of her childhood. She, her mother and her three siblings found it hard to have him gone so much. In 2015, a close family friend died and left behind four teenagers that Kasey’s family took in, completely changing their family dynamic. Kasey has volunteered 100-plus hours to AYSO and became Tahquitz’s first female kicker to play in a game and score a field goal. She said through her hard work she achieved a goal she set for herself in sixth grade which was to be the valedictorian for her graduating class. She plans a career in the surgical field and hopes to attend UCLA to major in biology.

Hemet High School’s Aaliyah Cruz was nominated by her ASB teacher Lindsay Brown who said she has had the joy of knowing Aaliyah all four years and watching her grow throughout her high school career. “She goes over and beyond to be kind and include everyone and truly leads by example,” Brown said. Born and raised in Hemet, Aaliyah will be a fourth-generation Hemet High School graduate. “School was difficult for me,” she said. She worked to overcome dyslexia by committing herself to new challenging roles and getting involved in ASB, yearbook and softball. Aaliyah said her teachers have taught her more than what can be learned from reading a book such as responsibility, teamwork, accountability and leadership. “It is because of these amazing educators that I want to be a teacher myself,” she said.

Erica Gutierrez was Hamilton High School’s choice for February. Her twin brother, Christian, received the Student of the Month award in January. Her art teacher started off with a quote from Irish artist Stacia Tauscher: “We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.” Erica said online learning during the pandemic proved to be a challenge for her but with the help of teachers and staff she was able to get back on track and she is thankful for their support. Erica aspires to be a wildlife biologist and has always been big on volunteerism and wildlife conservation.

Alessandro High School singled out Amari Hill to be recognized this month. She serves as her school’s representative for the Board of Trustees and only needs to complete 15 more credits to graduate. She is a member of ASB and plans to take after her mother and pursue a career in psychology. She said during middle school she suffered with depression and anxiety but one thing she learned that she will take to college and onward is that “I can’t let my off days turn into my every day.” Her mother said Amari has faced many health challenges and to see how far she has come is amazing. “As for the future, I know Amari is going to rock it out,” her mother said.

West Valley’s Cynthia Jauregui could not attend but Principal Shannyn Cahoon said the senior is a four-year cadet with the school’s Navy JRTOC and very active with the program. She’s also on the soccer team and is “honest and dedicated and believes in service to country and stands firm on her beliefs.” Cynthia plans to either attend college or enlist in the U.S. Navy as a step in accomplishing her lifelong goal of being “financially independent.” San Jacinto Unified School District

Freddy Boyd transferred to San Jacinto High School two years ago and has excelled on and off the football field since he arrived. Principal Courtney Hall said he is one of the best ambassadors for the school by possessing the skill to talk to people that takes most people many years to develop, if ever. “You can tell he genuinely cares about what you have to say,” Hall said. Football coach and Tiger University teacher/mentor Aric Galliano said Freddy is a born leader and has made first team All-League both seasons and team MVP this past year. Freddy started off by saying, “This community offers nothing but the best so I feel it deserves nothing but the best in return. I believe my greatest contribution to my community, my school and my family is the way I motivate others and bring joy into people’s lives whether I know them or not.” His passion for sharing knowledge and helping others is what has led him to aspire to three careers simultaneously: a football coach, a personal trainer and a high school math teacher, all to help further develop the next generation of society. He said his mother’s ability to maintain a positive outlook despite what is going on around her is one of the many lessons he will carry throughout his future journey. “Because my mom is my role model, my hero and most of all, my best friend,” Freddy said.

Mountain Heights Academy chose Abigail Lazarrus as its outstanding student for February. Principal Ken Swanson met her when she first moved to San Jacinto as a fifth-grade student at Megan Cope Elementary where he was principal at the time. Abigail said her parents divorced at that time but that her father started sexually abusing her at the age of 3 and it continued when he had visitations. She said she was sexually abused by her boyfriend at the age of 13 and “lost myself.” She started hanging out with the wrong crowd, drinking, doing drugs and fighting which led to her being kicked out of school. “I was a toxic person and hard to be around,” Abigail said. “I tried to take my own life.” She said the ensuing trauma led to physical problems and she was full of pain. Now four months clean and sober, she finished high school in early February. “I found hope and I want to inspire others,” she said. She is working as a respite caregiver for adults with special needs and plans to attend college and start her own business. “My goal is to make people feel beautiful and empowered and feel good about themselves,” she said.

Jasmine McKenna of Mountain View High School, who couldn’t attend the recognition ceremony when she was honored in January, was given the opportunity to share her story at this month’s event. The school’s ASB director said when in-person learning resumed in August students were isolated and disconnected but when Jasmine joined ASB she brought many students with her and improved school morale. She serves as her school’s Board of Trustees representative and even though she officially graduated in January and works two jobs, she has committed to continuing her role of reporting at monthly school board meetings. “One thing I learned while being here at Mountain View is that even if you don’t believe in yourself when things get really difficult there are people that are there for you and they are there to help you,” Jasmine said. “When I was younger, my mom and dad split up and not having my mom around was very difficult for me and caused a lot of personal problems for me and it also affected my schoolwork,” Jasmine said. “But I decided I didn’t want it to affect me in the long run so I started focusing more and putting myself out there.” She hopes to follow her dad’s creative path as a tattoo artist and open her own shop. Her ultimate goal is to work in the dental field as a dental assistant or a hygienist. Closing remarks

Zermeno applauded the students for sharing their personal stories and for being great examples of being able to persevere through difficult times and situations. She encouraged everyone to forgive the past and to “forgive the person who did you wrong because when we forgive, we do something very powerful, not for them but for ourselves.” She said it gives us the ability to move on and look forward and added, “Don’t give up on your dreams. Don’t be a victim, be a victor.”

HUSD Superintendent Christi Barrett said some of the students’ speeches brought to mind the importance of family and what that means. “Many of us have a very distinct definition and mental model of what a family is,” she said, adding that the critical takeaway from this event is that everyone has the ability to be someone’s family. “Family means to love and to support without judgment and to love unconditionally.”

SJUSD superintendent Dave Pyle said he was inspired and impressed by the fact that so many of this month’s honored students have played a strong leadership roles at their schools, with ASB and other programs. For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

Diane A. Rhodes | Contributed

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The Hemet/San Jacinto Student of the Month program held its most recent recognition event at the Maze Stone restaurant at Soboba Springs Golf Course, Jan. 27. Seven local high school seniors were recognized and honored for their character, love of learning and commitment to academics in addition to their involvement in school and community activities and their ability to overcome difficult life challenges. And they do this all in a setting that honors God, America, family, community and free enterprise. Students are nominated by teachers or other school personnel for making a difference in their homes, schools and communities.

Program founder and event hostess Karena Zermeno also represents one of the sponsors, Altura Credit Union. Backpacks filled with gifts, a Student of the Month plaque, certificates of recognition and much more were donated by the program’s sponsors to the award recipients. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past challenges and future goals with a room full of supporters that included principals, teachers, peers, family members and community and school district dignitaries.

Prayer sponsor Pastor Jeff Johnson of the San Jacinto Assembly of God said that as the newness of the new year is starting to wear off, it’s important to realize that the students are just getting started on a new path which is life after high school. Zermeno reminded them that this program also awards scholarships to those who have been honored throughout the school year.

January’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District schools are Cloe Cadenhead, Kaylie Cox, Emily Guerrero, Christian Gutierrez and Karina McQueen. San Jacinto Unified honorees are Jasmine McKenna and Paris Robinson.

Hemet High School’s Cloe Cadenhead was recognized for all of her hard work and passion. Principal Kimberly Romeril said she has a natural gift of having this bright light about her and has very positive energy. Theater teacher Bret Cherland nominated her for stepping up in many different ways throughout her four years with the theater program.

He said during the many months of online learning, he was able to see how strongly Cloe felt about theater; she participated in literally everything made available to her online. When restrictions began to lift and students were headed back to campus, Cloe aspired to become Thespian Club President, which she has achieved. She spends about four hours of her day inside the theater building with her many activities.

“She sets the bar for professionalism,” Cherland said. “One of the things that we lost to COVID was a momentum and a sense of institutional memory that is handed down student to student over the years. In the theater, we have a lot of things going on all the time and some of that information just gets translated from student to student.”

He said Cloe came in this year knowing exactly what needed to be done, especially for students who had not yet had an opportunity to be inside a theater because of the closures. Cherland said she set the bar high and brought everyone else up with her.

“As a child, my parents struggled with addiction and that brought up feelings that were more than I could cope with as a child so I didn’t convey them with normal words,” Cloe said. She turned to writing and performing songs.

“I’m older now and my mom has recovered but my love for performance has stayed,” she said. “When I get on stage it is cathartic. When I perform, I try my hardest to do it with a little girl who wanted nothing more than to be on stage.”

Cloe will be the first in her family to attend college where she intends to major in theater to continue to spread the joy it has brought to her and others.

Kaylie Cox from Tahquitz High School was nominated by her counselor who was not able to attend the breakfast but sent a speech for Principal Kari McGowan to read on her behalf. It began with a quote by Melissa Hughes that she felt described Kylie perfectly, “When you’re passionate about doing something, you become unstoppable, even in the face of resistance.”

With her love for animals and volunteer work at animal shelters providing day-to-day care, Kaylie found her calling to become a veterinarian. After much research, she applied to the top veterinary colleges and said the challenges of all the hard work she put in to be successful in her AP and dual enrollment classes, especially during the pandemic, was worth it as she knows what she wants to do in the future.

The Academy of Innovation recognized Emily Guerrero who was not able to attend the event. John Bradshaw is principal of the independent study school and said Emily exemplifies why there is a need for this type of school. She became a student there in ninth grade due to health issues and has been able to thrive. Her plans are to attend Northern Arizona State to pursue a degree in nursing. He said Emily’s inspiration to become a pediatric nurse stems from the great medical attention she received as a young child. Despite her lifelong struggle with Type 1 diabetes she has been able to stay focused on her studies and is known by her teachers as a hard worker with a kind heart and great work ethic who is a “master at prioritizing and organization.”

Christian Gutierrez was Hamilton High School’s choice for January. The outstanding wrestler qualified for CIF in his first year on the team. As a team player who supports those around him, he credits a mentor teacher he met in his sophomore year for giving him confidence to work harder. Although the teacher has since passed away, Christian said he continues to always put his best foot forward because of this teacher’s guidance and support.

“I think the most important thing I will take forward with me is that when things get difficult, just keep going,” he said. “Determination and perseverance are two traits that will carry you through.”

Christian said he will use these traits when he attends college to major in biology with an ultimate career goal of being a zoologist.

West Valley selected Karina McQueen but she was unable to attend the breakfast. Principal Shannyn Cahoon shared a bit about Karina’s future plans and goals. She was nominated by her performing arts department teacher and hopes to be at next month’s breakfast. Jasmine McKenna from Mountain View High School was singled out for this month’s honor but also was unable to attend.

San Jacinto High School’s Paris Robinson turned her life around with the support of office secretary Samantha Martinez who helped her rebuild her confidence and surround herself with the right people.

“Four years ago, I never would have thought I would be here today receiving Student of the Month because I didn’t care about my future and I had no plans for myself,” Paris wrote in a speech read by her mother. “I surrounded myself with people who also didn’t care about me or themselves. I had no desire of going to class and I didn’t care about the affect that it had on me, my education or even my parents.”

Paris plans to attend cosmetology school. She is maintaining a 3.6 grade point average while working a full-time job and being a student mentor on campus.

Zermeno asked all the students to stand and be applauded for their accomplishments. “All of you have the desire to help others. I wish I could stand here and say the challenges you have faced are over but unfortunately there will be more to come. But remember, have more love for success than you have fear for failure,” she said. “Failure is going to teach all of us to be the better version of ourselves than we can possibly be.”

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

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Program founder and event hostess Karena Zermeno also represents one of the sponsors, Altura Credit Union. Backpacks filled with gifts, a Student of the Month plaque, certificates of recognition and much more were donated by the program’s sponsors to the award recipients. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past challenges and future goals with a room full of supporters that included principals, teachers, peers, family members and community and school district dignitaries.

December’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District schools are Lanaya Contreras, Aaron Holaway, David Lieras and Kimberly Montanez Quintanilla. San Jacinto Unified honorees are Adanesne Carrasco Soto and Derin Ramos.

Hamilton High School’s Lanaya Contreras was recognized for all of her hard work and passion. Principal Jeff Franks said she is a leader on the basketball team with drive and passion that carries over into the classroom. Her teacher, Preston Brimhall, said the reasons he selected Lanaya for this honor is because she is all heart and determination, she has the qualities of a resilient person and she possesses forgiveness. “An important thing about me that I take full pride in is being Native American from the Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians as well as the San Pasqual Band of Diegueño Mission Indians also known as Kumeyaay people,” Lanaya, of Mountain Center, said. “Growing up on a reservation has taught me so much. It wasn’t always easy, but it made me the person I am today. I have stayed true to myself and the people I love.” Her plans are to attend Cal State San Marcos to major in psychology with a career goal of becoming a counselor for her tribe.

Aaron Holaway from West Valley High School was introduced by biology and chemistry teacher Mary Grace Padron, who said she has been fortunate to have Aaron in her classes since he was a freshman. She described him as passionate, humble and caring. Aaron wants to major in biology and eventually have a career in scientific research. He admits to entering high school with low self-worth but was able to find his way through biology thanks to Padron’s motivation. He said that was a lesson that he will take to college as it helped him realize he could turn things around with the right positive mindset. “One of the things that impresses me about Aaron is his ability at helping other people,” his father said.

Tahquitz High School recognized David Lieras for December. His English teacher Molly Otis shared one of his quotes, which she says David writes to help motivate others. “You can do anything you put your mind to. Whatever you want you can get it. Work hard. Never give up. Set goals and live up to them.” Otis said, “This young man totally represents Tahquitz Pride.” David said some of his contributions to his school and community have been demonstrating good citizenship to his peers and being an active student. He is looking forward to becoming an electrician and plans to attend San Joaquin Valley College to pursue that goal. “There have always been many obstacles that have shaped my life,” David said. “However, one that has challenged me day by day was losing my beautiful mom. And though she may not be here today, it makes me more determined to keep pushing and pursuing for her.”

Kimberly Montanez Quintanilla was Hemet High School’s choice for December. An active member of the school’s vet science program and FFA, she feels the greatest contribution she has given to her community, school and family is her inclination to help and her empathy. “Everywhere I go, I never hesitate to agree to help,” Kimberly said. “I plan on giving back to my community by volunteering at animal shelters.” Her career plan is to be admitted to the animal science program at Cal Poly Pomona followed by admission to UC, Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine to earn her doctorate degree, with the goal of becoming a small animal veterinarian.

Adanesne Carrasco Soto from San Jacinto High School was singled out for this month’s honor. She could not be present at the event as she was in the hospital undergoing a week long chemo treatment for Ewing’s Sarcoma, which she was diagnosed with in September. She was able to attend via Zoom and said, “I was given life-changing news,” Ada said. “After a while I accepted my new path, the path that would be taking me away from everything I knew and was known for: school and sports.” Principal Courtney Hall said Ada has had to face incredible obstacles throughout her life that would be crippling to most people. “She, however, persists and she does it with a smile and optimism like none I have ever experienced before.” That persistence has allowed Ada to continue to achieve academically and earn her high school diploma early. “One of Ada’s goals is to inspire people and we all want her to know that she has far exceeded that goal and that she inspires us every day,” Hall said. With aspirations of becoming a registered nurse, Ada shared her favorite quote which she said has kept her going since she first heard it while in middle school: “She believed she could and so she did.”

Mountain View High School selected Derin Ramos for being involved in his school through ASB. His future plan is to enlist in the United States Army after graduation. He wants to work in the medical field while serving in the military and then pursue that as a career after he returns to civilian life. He also has an interest in engineering and starting his own business someday. Derin said an important life lesson he has learned is to make smart choices as to who you have around you as they can be negative or positive influences. He credits his stepfather with showing him the right way to live. Derin also gave “a big thank you to all the sponsors for giving me this opportunity and helping me let my name be known.” Principal Ken Swanson said Derin is a great role model for the other students on campus as he is “very friendly and accepts people the way they come.”

Zermeno asked all the students to stand and be applauded for their accomplishments. “I think many components make us who we are and the most important is what’s in here, our hearts, and every student here today shares that,” she said. “Education’s important and our health is important but having a heart and helping others makes a huge difference.”

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

Diane A. Rhodes

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

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