Local program founder and Student of the Month Committee member Karena Zermeno-Leon emceed the event. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past and/or current challenges and future goals with a room full of supporters that included principals, teachers, peers and family members, as well as community and school district dignitaries.

December’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District are Jose Barajas, Kinsley Draganza Dialio, Lola Elzy, Savannah Garcia and Blessing Sele. Shawna Rivera from Noli Indian School was also honored.

Hemet Unified School District

Jose Barajas

Hamilton High School Principal Kari Sanchez introduced Jose as mature beyond his years. The school’s Mental Health Professional Conrad Akins said, “I proudly nominated Jose because he’s an incredible young man who has overcome great challenges with unwavering resilience. No matter what life throws at him, he remains one of the most polite, well-mannered and positive students I have ever met.” Jose said the responsibilities of living and working on a 10-acre ranch can be exhausting but the experience has taught him leadership, discipline and hard work. He plans to work in the construction industry, earn his contractor’s license and have his own business one day. “One of the hardest obstacles I had to overcome was growing up with a drug-addicted mother,” Jose said. He and his younger brother were very young when they were taken away from her and placed in the foster care system. His biological father was in jail. “Because of all that was going on, I didn’t learn how to read and write until almost fifth grade and later I found out I had a learning disability,” he said. Eventually, his aunt and uncle took the boys in and adopted them. “Moving from Los Angeles to a ranch full of animals was a huge adjustment but I immediately fell in love with the life,” Jose said. “That ranch became more than a home; it was a place where I learned responsibility, work ethic and the importance of family. The most important lesson I’ve learned in life is that it’s not what you go through that defines you but how you grow from it. I could have chosen anger or giving up but instead I chose to keep going.”

Kinsley Draganza Dialio

Academy of Innovation Principal John Bradshaw and nominating teacher April Boggess were pleased to recognize Kinsley as Student of the Month for December. “When I switched to AOI, it was probably the best choice I ever made,” the outstanding senior said. “I went to a few schools before this, and it was nothing like where I’m at now. I wasn’t able to be myself and I was always anxious about going to school. My grades would be slipping, and I didn’t like to talk.” She said things were really hard and she didn’t think there was going to be a way that she would ever look forward to going to school, especially with her poor grades. Kinsley didn’t feel like there was any way she could recover from her grades slipping so far, plus her attendance was not the best. Then she enrolled at the Academy of Innovation. “I feel really supported here and can do my best,” she said. “They gave me a reason to keep going and help people.” Kinsley plans to pursue a career in either children’s behavioral health or as a dermatology nurse practitioner. Her mother thanked the organizers and sponsors of the Student of the Month program. “Any support we can give our kids is one of the most valuable things we can do in our community,” she said.

Lola Elzy

Hemet High School Principal Jeff Franks said Lola is an outstanding student who is a leader in the AVID program and a multisport athlete. “Her hard work, dedication and perseverance in everything she does is absolutely amazing and helped us win a League title for our very first girls flag football team,” Franks said. College and Career Counselor Lauren Lloyd said Lola has been through some difficult things but instead of making excuses she chose to propel herself forward. “She just radiates positivity and is always kind,” Lloyd said. Lola was only nine years old when her father died and she saw the toll it took on her mother who fell back into substance abuse. Child Protective Services removed her from the home, and she went to live with her grandmother. Three years later she moved in with her aunt and uncle. A few months later, her grandmother passed away. “As I began high school, I started to rebel and had no care for my academics anymore and overall, I turned into someone that I wasn’t,” Lola said. She was able to turn her life around in her sophomore year and continued to grow in her junior year by joining clubs and sports. “I came to the realization that academics would be what healed me,” she said. “My academic journey provided me with a newfound happiness and faith in myself.” She plans to major in biology with the goal of pursuing a career in women’s health, research and psychology or possibly as a surgical technician.

Savannah Garcia

Tahquitz High School Principal Andrew Holmes said Savannah is a talented singer and writer.  Choral Director Christyl Thiessen said Savannah is one of a kind. She is part of the Polynesian dance team, a member of the Chamber singers and is in choir. “I believe that my greatest contribution to my school is when I help guide my peers, clarify their questions and help them achieve their goals whether it be school related or personal,” Savannah said. Her grandfather passed away when she was in 7^th grade and he was the one person she looked up to the most. “He was the strongest and smartest person I’d ever known,” she said. “After my grandpa passed, I fell into a deep depression. All my grades turned to Fs and I watched the world pass me by. I felt stuck in a hole that just kept digging itself deeper when more family members were passing away every two months.” Savannah was able to get back on track at the end of her freshman year but at the start of her junior year, her favorite teacher at the time, her choir teacher died. “She was my biggest encouragement to follow my dreams and then she was gone. I was angry at the world and didn’t want anyone to get close to me in case I got my heart broken by that pain again.” When the new choir teacher came, she said she wanted to help. “So, I thank you Mrs. Thiessen for helping to heal my heart.” Savannah said the most significant lesson she has learned is that even if the sky is falling and your whole world is crumbling beneath your feet it is you who has the power of how to react to it and choose to overcome it.

Blessing Sele

West Valley High School Principal Cynthia Leon said, “Blessing is involved in sports, clubs and all types of events. She does everything with grace and is a true role model.” Math teacher Brock Blair has known the outstanding senior since her freshman year and said, “She is exactly how her name is—she is a blessing to everyone.” Blessing said she contributes to her school through her extracurricular activities. She is editor-in-chief of yearbook, part of the Leadership team for Mustang Empire, is serving her second year as Christian Club president and is captain of the golf team. She is also part of the competitive dance team, theater, sewing club, basketball and was on the debate team last year. A personal goal she has is to become a real estate agent and go to school to major in business and finance. “I want to find something that I’m passionate about that also provides for myself and my family,” Blessing said. “There is more to college than just a major.” She said her parents came to this country from Nigeria and have worked hard to get her to where she is today. “I grew up in a Christian home so the morals to be a decent person were already built into my life,” she said. “A significant life lesson I will take with me to college is that the way I treat others can have a lasting impact, even when I don’t realize it. Small actions, offering kindness, listening without judgment, or showing respect can make someone feel valued and supported, especially in a new and stressful environment like college. I’ve learned that my words and behavior can either uplift others or discourage them; responsibility matters.”

Noli Indian School

Shawna Rivera

Noli Indian School Principal Donovan Post said Shawna is “an outstanding young woman and a joy to have in the school.” Her mother, Tanya Briones-Rivera is an employee of the school and Post praised her for hard work. He said Shawna is one of many students he has been lucky enough to have where children from the same family come through the Noli school system. “I’ve had four from her family so far,” Post said. “You get to see the differences between the siblings—how they become their own person. Shawna is on her way to becoming this year’s valedictorian.” Andrea Duran teaches Spanish and AVID at the school and has known Shawna since she started at the school in sixth grade and joined AVID in seventh. “I’ve watched her grow into a role model with strong values, responsibilities and determination,” Duran said. “In addition to her academic achievements, she has been actively involved in ASB, serving as president for the past two years where she leads with confidence, an open mind and responsibility. She inspires others and has become a strong role model for younger students.” Shawna said some of the most challenging times she has faced throughout her high school career were when she lost three close family members within two years. “During this time, I found it was very difficult to stay focused on my education or even be motivated to stay in school,” Shawna said. “It was a constant struggle to deal with grief year after year. I felt like school was irrelevant and my goals weren’t important.” With support her parents provided, she was able to learn how to process her grief and more than anything she wants to concentrate on making her parents proud and being a strong role model for her younger siblings. “Giving back to my community is important,” Shawna said. “As a Native woman, I was taught to honor our traditions and pass them on to the next generation.” She plans to study nursing, focusing on diagnostic medical sonography.

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

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Elijah was part of a team of 16 who worked together to confront mission scenarios that require problem solving and critical thinking skills. The six-day camp found young people, aged 9-11, immersed in astronaut training techniques using equipment adapted from NASA’s astronaut program.

“We were busy all day long,” he said. “We woke up at 6:30 a.m. every morning and went to bed around 9:15 p.m. each night. Some days we were able to have recess for 10 minutes and they would allow us to hang out with our teammates for an hour before bed.”

Some of his favorite STEM activities were building and launching cardboard rockets and experiencing the Five Degrees of Freedom simulator. “It turned five degrees in each direction,” Elijah said. “The chair simulated how it would feel to be in space with zero gravity.”

Delesia Silva told her son about the camp, and he thought it sounded like it would be a lot of fun. “We looked up YouTube videos and I decided I wanted to try it,” Elijah said. “I enjoy learning about space and space travel.”

“I knew this camp would be a good fit for Elijah because he loves everything related to STEM,” Silva said. “When he was just 18 months old, he could name all seven planets in our Solar System. His love for science kept growing, especially his interest in space exploration. I’ve taken him to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory twice, and each time he was in awe. Space Camp felt like the natural next step.”

Silva said that as a parent, it was hard to spend a week away from Elijah. “This was his first sleepover, and I wasn’t sure how he would handle it. I was mostly thinking about whether he would be comfortable. We flew to Alabama, and I booked a hotel right next to the camp, just a short walk away. The camp also allowed the kids to call their guardians every night before bedtime, which helped.”

Also helpful was the fact his 11-year-old cousin Izaiah Silva was there, and they got to be on the same team. Of the seven teams that were at the camp during the same week as them, they were on Dorado, named for a fish constellation in the far southern sky. Only two teams were singled out for recognition on graduation day.

“My team won an award for being an Outstanding Team because we demonstrated communication, trust, problem solving, critical thinking and teamwork,” he said. “There was one other team that won best mission patch for their patch design.”

Elijah said an unexpected highlight was being picked as one of the three cadets to be on the art team to create his team’s patch. “We did not win, but winning Outstanding Team seemed better,” he said.

Some of the camp-wide Challenge night activities included building a cube as a team while in the water and speaking in double talk to ensure messages were being delivered appropriately.

“Staff added additional challenges such as hopping on one leg while building the cube under water,” Elijah said. “We had to have one hand on our head while building the cube. This challenge was a lot of fun. We also experienced Jeopardy! (game show), space edition. We were split into two teams to answer trivia questions about space.”

After his Space Camp graduation on July 4, Elijah stayed in the area and enjoyed some other adventures. “My family and I visited the MidCity District and watched the fireworks show put on by the city,” he said. “The next day we visited Alabama A&M University’s campus, an HBCU in Huntsville. I enjoyed visiting the campus. I was able to see the engineering building and the football field.”

They also visited the famous convenience store/gas station Buc-ee’s. “That was exciting to see because of all of the Buc-ee’s merchandise and different foods to choose from. I tried the beaver chips, apple pie, and the blue cream soda. I also enjoyed visiting the Waffle House. My mom explained that we don’t have this franchise available in California. She grew up visiting this place often and it brought back great memories. The food was delicious. I had steak, scrambled eggs and grits.”

Delesia Silva grew up in Mt. Gilead, North Carolina, and this was her first time visiting Alabama. “It reminded me a lot of home,” she said. “The Southern cooking, familiar places like Waffle House, the humid weather, the green landscape, and the warm hospitality all brought back memories of my hometown. It was refreshing and comforting.”

Elijah’s summer has also been filled with his ongoing entrepreneurial and philanthropic pursuits. He has six gumball machines located in area businesses that he checks and refills every two months. His newest one was installed at Destination Smokehouse BBQ in Murrieta. He also hosted his popular lemonade stand for several weeks again this summer. He is saving his earnings for a car.

“I decided to take the money out of the bank and invest it in cryptocurrency,” he said. “I know this is a long-term investment. I am hoping it pays off. It’s been up and down but no significant losses.”

Elijah serves as CEO for Elijah Cares, the family’s nonprofit organization that was established to educate, build networks and strengthen communities. The Silva family believes that educating kids involves teaching them the knowledge, skills, and values that will help them grow into responsible and successful adults. They organize events and activities to make connections to those that can collaborate on projects and initiatives and share resources and information.

“Recently, Elijah Cares participated in Black Voices of the Valley’s Juneteenth celebration,” he said. “We ran the craft corner. Kids were able to create their own bracelets, paint canvases and ceramics, make soap, candles, and bedazzle Africa inspired keychains. I had an awesome time.”

The busy young man has also stayed focused on his academic studies. Having been chosen to attend the Western Center Academy through its lottery system of enrollment, Elijah has already been given some math schoolwork to complete before classes begin on Aug. 11. The charter school serves grades 6-12.

“I have wanted to attend WCA since 3rd grade,” said Elijah, who was able to skip fourth grade. He is looking forward to studying chemistry with his future career sights set on becoming a nuclear physicist.

“When Elijah is exposed to something he loves, he holds on to the information and takes it upon himself to learn more,” Silva said. “He learned about Alyssa Carson, the young woman who dreams of going to Mars and never returning. After camp, Elijah and I talked about how he might one day design a spacecraft to bring her back to Earth or find a way to turn a natural resource on Mars into fuel so she could return. This experience helped him grow in critical thinking and problem-solving. His passion for science, combined with the right exposure and resources, will continue to encourage innovative thinking and may one day contribute to the advancement of our society.”

Launched in 1982, Space Camp has inspired and motivated young people from around the country, and later the world, with attendees from all 50 states, U.S. territories, and 150 foreign countries. It offers a one-of-a-kind educational experience that illuminates real-world applications of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

For more information, www.rocketcenter.com/SpaceCamp.

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The applicant pool is competitive; twelve Scholars represent seven states this year. Scholars are chosen based on commitment to their education, demonstrated leadership abilities, willingness to embrace challenges, and the desire to create positive change in their communities.

The program begins with community building before embarking on an all-expenses-paid trip to the Aspen Ideas Festival, where students engage in leadership training, exclusive conversations with acclaimed global leaders and build lasting friendships with their fellow Scholars. This experience sets the stage for the challenge ahead: launching sustainable Community Change Projects to transform their communities.

“These student leaders and educator advocates are exactly who the world needs right now. We are honored to support and learn from such a brilliant, energized cohort.” said Molly Pencke, Senior Program Manager at the Bezos Family Foundation.

Projects are as diverse as the Scholars themselves and are designed to align Scholars’ passions with an existing community need. Many projects address the climate crisis, education, financial literacy and lack of access to opportunities. Since the program’s inception, Scholars have launched 218 projects; there are more than 527 alums in the network.

The Bezos Scholars Program is a year-long leadership development program for rising high school seniors and educators from across the United States and Africa. It begins with an opportunity to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival and continues through the following school year when Bezos Scholars return home, participate in virtual trainings, and launch sustainable community change projects that transform their schools and communities. For 21 years, Scholar teams have mobilized communities around various critical issues. To see full Scholar biographies and photos, please visit the Meet the Scholars page of the BSP website.

The Bezos Scholars Program is a year-long leadership development program for rising high school seniors and educators from across the United States and Africa. It begins with an opportunity to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival and continues through the following school year when Bezos Scholars return home, participate in virtual trainings, and launch sustainable community change projects that transform their schools and communities. For 21 years, Scholar teams have mobilized communities around various critical issues. To see full Scholar biographies and photos, please visit the Meet the Scholars page of the BSP website.

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On Thursday, May 23, about a dozen youths placed more than 50 flags at the gravesites of veterans who are buried at the cemetery. Many are relatives of the youths who were there that day, bringing another level of meaning to the task at hand. They were reminded how important to the community and to all those who served in the military to have them remembered in this way and that they should be proud of their involvement.

While there, the young men and women also tidied up the sites by removing debris and straightening overturned vases and more. Four members of the Soboba Fire Department took rakes and other tools to the parking area where guests would gather for the ceremony the following Monday, May 27. They raked up debris from shade trees and leveled out the surfaces.

Capt. Frank Martinez, who is part of the Wildland Urban Interface crew, made sure everyone had the proper tools to take care of the cleanup. Fire Apparatus Engineer Glenn Lindsey said the cemetery is a special project for the fire department, always keeping it clean and looking nice.

“It’s personal for me; I have family buried here and I want to make sure they are taken care of,” he said. “Me and my family come up here all the time to clean up and throw out dead flowers and things like that; it’s something you grow up doing around here.”

Soboba Tribal Youth Council membership is open to youth from 12-18 who are Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Tribal members and those who are of Native American descent. Along with providing an understanding of the functions and responsibilities of Tribal government, participation provides leadership development and spiritual, mental, physical and social growth, as well as opportunities to attend cultural events. They host many fundraisers to cover expenses for the group’s activities.

In between the monthly in-person meetings, members and the Advisory Board stay connected through a group chat app where they can share information about upcoming events and make collective decisions. Officers are Chairwoman Rhianna Salgado, 16, Vice Chairwoman Raya Salgado, 14, Secretary Akwaalimay Resvaloso, 15, Treasurer Aniyah Brittian, 12, and Member-at-Large Nowaniiki Resvaloso, 13.

Advisory Board members include Parks and Recreation Director Andy Silvas and other department staff, Tribal Council Vice Chairwoman Geneva Mojado and Secretary Monica Herrera and parents of youth council members. The youth-led council, under the guidance of its Advisory Board, is affiliated with the United National Tribal Youth network, also known as UNITY.

The Soboba Tribal Youth Council constitution and bylaws outline the objectives of the group, which is to provide a collective voice and represent the Tribal youth in all matters that concern them; to serve as a means of mobilizing and coordinating the actions of the youth, other community members and organize them towards positive goals; to promote the development of future Tribal leaders; and to complete community service projects and provide opportunities for the youth to interact with the community for fun and fellowship.

The Memorial Day ceremony began at dawn when Gabe Herrera from Soboba Fire quickly raised the American flag to full-staff position and then slowly lowered it to half-staff to honor the fallen service men and women of this country. Veteran Richard VanDyke-Parker raised it back to full staff at 11 a.m. in recognition of living military veterans who served the country and it remained at full staff until sunset. Richard served in the U.S. Navy from 1975-1996. This action marked the end of the ceremony that had started with prayer from St. Joseph Catholic Church Reverend Earl Henley. A morning mass had been held at the church before parishioners joined him at the veterans’ memorial, a permanent fixture at the east end of the cemetery that is “dedicated to the memory of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians and non-Tribal Members who gave their all for us.” Father Henley also called for a moment of silence for the fallen.

After a blessing of the marker, members of Soboba Tribal Youth Council took turns reading names in memory and honor of those who served in the military. Alphabetically, honored Soboba Tribal Veterans whose names were read during the roll call were M.J. Apapas,  Daniel Arres, Gordon Arres, Norbit Arres, Theodore P. Arres, Leonard Arrietta Sr., Ralph C. Arrietta, Robert Arrietta, Anderson Begay, Robert Bentiste, Larry C. Boniface, Paul Boniface, , Gabriel Castello, Peter F. Castello,  Gloria Cozart, Jessie M. Gilmore,  Benny C. Helms Sr., Reginald P. Helms, Romaldo A. Helms, Martin Hurtado, Joe John Lala, Tiefielo Francis Lugo, Kenneth Mathers, Marcus E. Mojado, Danny Navarro, David Navarro, Paul A. Resvaloso, Prudencio Resvaloso, Ernest Salgado Sr., Richard Salgado Sr., Albert Silvas, Allynn Silvas, Daniel Silvas, Frank “Chico” Silvas, Joe “Jody” Silvas, Eloy Soza, Frank E. Soza, Michael Soza, William P. Soza, John Vincent Valdez, Carmel Paul Valenzuella and Louis Vivanco.

Non-Tribal veterans, whose names were included in the roll call, were Eugene F. Arenas, Tony D. Basquez Sr., Bruce Cozart, Miguel R. Briones, Refugio R. Garcia Jr., Orvin D. Gilmore, Foster Hurtado Sr., Andrew Jackson, Ben Largo, Arthur R. Lopez Sr., Mariano Steven Largo,  Leonard Lubo, Senon Lubo, Richard Patrick Macy, Fred Miranda Sr., Peter D. Morillo Sr., Pio Morillo,  James Paul Navarro,  Phillip Rodriguez, Mariano Tortez and James Walker.

Soboba Tribal Council Chairman Isaiah Vivanco, who was invited to the microphone to say a few words, said it was great to see the turnout that seems to increase each year.

“I think it’s important that we come out and not only say thanks to our veterans but also to memorialize and remember those that have served and are no longer here with us. It’s important to make sure that we pay that tribute to keep their history and names alive.”

He introduced fellow Tribal Council members Geneva Mojado, Mike Bentiste, Monica Herrera and Daniel Valdez. “I also want to thank the fire department, Sports Complex staff Andy (Silvas) and Steve (Lopez) and youth council. Our youth council has been working to make sure the flags get out to those that need remembrance, making sure that all the graves of all our lost heroes are marked and remembered. It’s important that we continue that tradition and I think with the youth learning where these markers are at, that tradition will be carried on and that’s something we need to be thankful for.”

He said that under the tutelage of elder Marian Chacon, the youth are learning how to continue the traditions that are so important to the people of Soboba. Guests at the Memorial Day event were invited to a brunch at the Soboba Sports Complex after the ceremony and enjoyed delicious food served by members of the Soboba Youth Council who hosted the meal.

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