The Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce Student of the Month program held its Thursday, Dec. 7, recognition breakfast at the Murrieta Sizzler restaurant, 40489 Murrieta Hot Springs Road. Mary Walters, assistant superintendent of educational services at Murrieta Valley Unified School District, welcomed everyone to the event and invited program founder Sally A. Myers to explain the nonprofit’s purpose. Myers said the four local Student of the Month programs partner with community organizations such as Chambers of Commerce and school districts to celebrate and honor outstanding students who make a significant difference in their schools and community.
She said students are selected based on the mission statement to provide a local high school recognition program which will acknowledge college and trade school bound seniors for their character, their love of learning and their commitment to academics in addition to their participation in athletics, school activities, community service or their ability to persevere and overcome difficult life circumstances in a setting that honors God, country, family, community and free enterprise.
“We have celebrated over 9,000 students in our 32 years,” Myers said. “We have raised over $750,000 from our scholarship sponsors. Seven other communities are now doing Student of the Month programs which shows the legacy and respect for this program.”
Gift bags filled with gifts, certificates of recognition and 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.
December’s students of the month are Murrieta Canyon Academy’s Ezra Oneill, Murrieta Mesa High School’s Ulises Velarde, Murrieta Valley High’s Anna Barba Lopez, Springs Charter School’s Danica Chavez and Vista Murrieta High School’s Brycen Ruud.
Ezra Oneill
Murrieta Canyon Academy principal Matt Bean introduced Oneill as “an amazing young man who has found his stride while attending MCA the past two years.”
He shared that the senior has experienced a tumultuous upbringing which impacted his educational and personal life.
“During middle school he lost his father who was navigating life in a wheelchair after a motorcycle accident,” Bean said. “Naturally, this impacted Ezra’s emotional wellbeing.”
Further, he witnessed the deterioration of his mother due to her addiction and eventual passing at the end of his sophomore year.
Bean said, “As a testament to that extreme resiliency, he faced this unique situation head-on with grit and determination.”
Ezra said, “Out of tragedy, I found an opportunity. I was fortunate to move in with my aunt and uncle after the death of my mom. Beyond the necessities of life they provided me such as food, shelter and love, they also provided me with much-needed support and structure. They provided me with positivity and pushed me to do my best. More importantly they’ve taught me life lessons and accountability. With their support and the help of MCA, my mindset completely changed. I want to continue the momentum I have built.”
Ulises Velarde
Murrieta Mesa Principal Scott Richards said, “Ulises is a professional at overcoming life’s obstacles. The smile you see on his face has not always been there. He’s had his ups and downs with motivation, mental health, discipline and academics. He will tell you that ‘school is not my thing’ and from an early age his home life was in turmoil.”
Velarde said being part of the Unified program at the school changed his purpose in life. He wants to earn his teaching credential and return to Murrieta Mesa.
“If you had told me three years ago that my passion would be education, specifically special education, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Velarde said. “I now know my purpose is to help students with special needs.”
Unified Leadership and special ed science teacher Natalee Boggs said Velarde has been involved with Unified PE the past four years and Unified Leadership for the past year.
“A characteristic that really stands out to me about him is that when working with any special needs student, whether on or off the field and no matter what school they’re from, he’s always checking on everyone,” she said.
Anna Barba Lopez
Murrieta Valley Principal Ryan Tukua explained that Lopez grew up in Tijuana, Mexico and moved to Murrieta in 2021, enrolling at the school as a sophomore.
“She was a 15-year-old girl who spoke little to no English, had never gone to school in America and was taking on an entirely new world,” he said. “Anna took this challenge as an opportunity to do what others believed was impossible.”
Lopez was in the English Language program and took advantage of tutoring that was offered. Her senior class schedule now includes AP English Literature and Composition, IB Economics, AP Psychology, AP stats and Anatomy and Physiology. She is part of the AVID Leadership Team and is a member of the Latino Student Union and the Chinese Student Union due to friendships she has developed.
Her AP literature teacher said, “If Anna has a question she asks it, if she has a problem she solves it and if she has a bright idea she shares it.”
Lopez said after she grew closer to God, she put her focus on being the greatest version of herself.
“I know when you sacrifice your time to accomplish a goal, it is bound to happen no matter what,” Lopez said.
In the future, she hopes to become a psychologist to help others.
Danica Chavez
Springs Charter School Principal Jackie Dee said Chavez completed 12 college courses, has a 4.46 GPA, desires to become a speech pathologist and volunteers at the local library and for vacation Bible school through her church.
Chavez said, “School has always been a top priority. I have received straight As my entire life on every report card and I worked hard to never receive anything less. I’ve also taken 12 college courses and earned an A in each one. By the time I graduate high school, I will have completed 15 college courses. My goal has always been to go straight to a four-year Christian college and I have achieved that goal. I got accepted to Biola University. Helping children has always been something I love to do.”
As part of Biola University’s accelerated program, Chavez plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders and a master’s degree in speech language pathology in just five years instead of six.
“I will also graduate with a minor in Biblical and theological studies,” Chavez said. “I’m hoping then to work at Biola’s speech language clinic where they offer free therapy to the community.”
Brycen Ruud
Vista Murrieta High School Principal Celeste Scallion said, “Brycen’s journey is peppered with remarkable academic achievements and unwavering dedication to our motto of (CLASS): character, leadership, attitude, scholarship and service that shines throughout his every endeavor.”
She said his proficiency in math and science reflects his academic prowess and aspirations to attend Cornell University’s S.C. Johnson College of Business and that he is a “shining example of what it means to embody excellence.”
Ruud holds many leadership positions on campus.
“I’ve been part of ASB for four years and part of football for four years and captain this past year,” he said. “I’m also part of lacrosse and some other things on campus but with those successes there has been some adversities.”
The most recent was when Ruud suffered a broken leg during a football game which ended his high school playing. He said the adversity was not so much the injury as it was losing part of his identity because football has been such a large part of his life since he was very young.
“I think going from a fast-paced life and so many commitments that I’m balancing to relying on other people and being left in my bed for three weeks was a big adjustment,” he said.
Ruud said he overcame this setback by developing skills that will continue to help him throughout life: adaptability, accountability and optimism.
For more information or to participate in the program, contact LouEllen Ficke at 951-415-2250 or Sally Myers at 951-775-0520.
