Temecula Valley students honored in September

Recipients of the Temecula Valley Student of the Month award for September. From left, AJ Matheson, Kayla Latscha, Joseph Cox, Elisha Bareh, Mursal Danish, Emilia Compton and Moriah Williams. Valley News/John P. Hess photo

The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce Student of the Month program, recognizing and inspiring academic excellence since 1993, held its first monthly recognition breakfast of the 2023-2024 school year on September 21 at the Murrieta Sizzler restaurant, 40489 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd. Holly Wilson, Director of Admissions at Linfield Christian School, stood in for Sally Myers, founder of the nonprofit program, by welcoming everyone and sharing the mission of the local high school recognition program which sets the criteria for the students who are chosen. “We are all here to celebrate you,” she told the young men and women.

College or trade school bound seniors are honored for their character, their love of learning and their willingness to participate in numerous activities such as campus events, athletics and community service as well as how they have persevered through challenging life circumstances. They accomplish all this in a setting that honors God, country, community, family and free enterprise.

Backpacks filled with gifts, 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.

September’s students of the month are Chaparral High School’s AJ Matheson, Great Oak’s Moriah Williams, Linfield Christian’s Joseph “Joey” Cox, Rancho Christian’s Elisha Bareh, Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac Catholic High School’s Kayla Latscha, Temecula Preparatory School’s Mursal Danish and Temecula Valley High School’s Emilia “Mia” Compton.

AJ Matheson

Chaparral High School Assistant Principal Chris Morel introduced highly decorated Jr.ROTC cadet AJ Matheson who shared his appreciation for all those involved with the Student of the Month program. “Our unit knows how much it truly means to have sponsorships and no one can ever thank you enough for your support,” he said. AJ believes he was chosen to be honored because of how passionate he is. He said that after all the very long nights, every morning the cadets in his unit remind him why it’s worth it and that keeps him energized. “As a leader, it’s all on you but it’s not about you,” AJ said. Life lessons he has learned while at Chaparral are to “expect nothing, appreciate everything” and that “the world will step aside for any man who knows where he is going.” He said he also learned to “show that you always care about the people and organizations around you.”

Moriah Williams

Great Oak High School Principal Aimee Ricken said Moriah is a full International Baccalaureate student who is very active in many clubs on campus. “The kindness and empathy she exudes everyday is a game changer in the classroom, on the sidelines and amongst her peers in really rigorous courses where competing ideas often come to the surface; she finds a way to bring a balance to all of that.” Moriah said growing up her life was extremely different from what it is today. Born in California, her family lived overseas for eight years and then lived in Tennessee before moving back to California in 2017. Moriah said the small school she attended while living overseas made it difficult to transition socially to large public schools. “I often felt lost in this environment, which led me to be scared to initiate new relationships and immerse myself into a brand-new community,” she said. “Learning the value of cooperation and unity is something I’ve been able to further develop in high school and I’ve been able to learn the beauty of community.” At Great Oak, Moriah has varsity letters in track and cheerleading and maintains straight As.

Joseph “Joey” Cox

Linfield Christian School Principal Carrie Washburn said Joey is “greatly loved on our campus.” The summer before his sophomore year he partnered with the local nonprofit Help Heal Veterans founded Students for Veterans. Joey said, “We started with 27 members and had 72 at the end of the last school year. Our club members’ efforts as well as our school community’s generosity has been phenomenal.” The students assist the nonprofit in its mission of providing craft kits and letters of encouragement to local veterans. “I see our efforts as lives that are being touched and possibly transformed,” Joey said. “Through my club we have intentionally worked to make a difference in people’s lives, both at home and beyond. At our school we are encouraging patriotism, a thankful spirit for our American freedoms and most importantly, a thankful heart for our brave veterans.”

Elisha Bareh

Rancho Christian Principal Doris Jackson said Elisha has a true passion for people. After a visit to Africa where he learned that residents lost their land and therefore their businesses/income due to droughts, he established The Harvest Insurance Company to help protect them. This has taught him a lot, but Elisha said the greatest life lesson he has learned so far is that he has come to understand the importance of striving for leadership. “Pushing myself to be the best I can be and above all, honoring God through the gifts that he’s given me,” he said. He plans to study business and law at the university level while continuing to run his insurance company. His academic counselor Tina Roy said, “I’m most impressed by the fact Elisha can take an idea, become laser-focused and get it done.” He also started an Interact club on campus after meeting with a local Rotary Club and researching what was needed. “He epitomizes service above self and is a delight to work with,” Roy said.

Kayla Latscha

Kayla was described by Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac Catholic High School administrator Annette Zaleski as someone who has the ability to include those students that others may walk past in community events and activities. Kayla, who has attended the school since kindergarten, said she knows that God will never give her more than she can handle so she leaves her worries in God’s hands. “I hope to impact others’ lives with what I bring with my faith,” she said. English teacher Jodie Brown, who nominated her, said that Kayla is a strong woman of faith who is also filled with cultural pride for her Native American heritage. She is also a scholar athlete with a 4.3 GPA who is active in ASB, National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. She plans to pursue a career in nursing.

Mursal Danish

Temecula Preparatory School Upper School Dean Breanna Brossman introduced Mursal as a student who is active with ASB on campus. Mursal admitted it was really hard and awkward for her to talk about herself and her many accomplishments. She began to question why it was so difficult and reflected on everything she’s gone through and where she is now. Mursal said COVID took a horrible toll on her mental health in 2020, as it did for many others. “But I got closer to my religion and started to gain a sense of identity,” she said. “Every day I can understand myself better; so much can be learned through these tough times.” Latin teacher Shoh Ueno, who nominated her, said, “Mursal is sweet, giving and selfless. She is committed to showing respect and kindness toward people, even to those who do anything but deserve it.”

Emilia “Mia” Compton

Temecula Valley High School Principal Donna Leone said Mia is very active in ASB and drama. She hopes to attend UCLA to study film and political science. Leone asked Mia to provide three words her friends would use to describe her, and she replied with “busy, dedicated and light-hearted.” Mia said she wanted to do two things in high school, which was be part of ASB and cheerleading. In her junior year she switched to focusing on ASB and drama. “I learned that following what makes you happy is worth all the time and effort you may have to put into it,” Mia said. She is the Senior Captain of the Improv Team, is co-directing a play, is co-president of the Drama Club and portrayed Lady Macbeth in the school’s fall Shakespeare production. Her father said, “Drama, theater and the arts are a gift and Mia is our gift as we are excited to share her with the world and all the amazing things yet to come.”

In closing, emcee Holly Wilson said the underlying theme of this month’s breakfast was that of passion and servant leadership. “All our students exhibited that,” she said.

For more information, please contact Program Chair Amber Poncy at 951-676-5090 or http://temecula.org/student-of-the-month.

Diane A. Rhodes