The Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce Student of the Month program, honoring students who make a difference in their schools and communities, had to reschedule it’s first ceremony of the new school year due to the recent Airport Fire that affected the area and closed schools for nearly a week. A luncheon to recognize those students was held at the Lakeside High School Lancer Round Table Café on Oct. 8. Lunch was prepared and served by members of the Lakeside Culinary Academy.
Kim Joseph Cousins, CEO of the Chamber, thanked all public safety personnel for keeping everyone safe as he welcomed guests to the event. Founded by Sally A. Myers, the nonprofit program acknowledges and honors college or trade school bound seniors for their character, love of learning and commitment to academics, in addition to participation in athletics, school activities and community service. It also commends those who have persevered through challenging life circumstances, all in a setting that honors God, country, family, community and free enterprise.
Large tote bags filled with gifts, certificates of recognition and much more donated by the program’s sponsors were given to the award recipients. Each student received a commemorative medallion and 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 Elsinore High School’s Asher Coogan and Katelynn Klopp, Keith McCarthy Academy’s Widad Goldstein, Lakeside High School’s Ella Sheldon and Gabe Trias, Ortega High School’s Gabriela Perez Figueroa and Temescal Canyon High School’s Cheyenne Greenberg and Lincoln Kingdon.
Elsinore High School
Asher Coogan was introduced by Principal Pauline Leavitt as a talented musician who has been a successful member of the Academic Decathlon team. Asher hopes to attend MIT or UC, Santa Cruz to study physics, specifically quantum or particle physics. “I’ve always been interested in mathematics. I also love the philosophy behind it all; the fundamental parts of the universe and what makes up everything,” he said. “It’s a very interesting subject that has a lot more gray area than you might think.” Asher has been in the band program all four years of high school and a member of the Academic Decathlon team for two. He joined the Equality for All club this year and serves as its treasurer. “I think one of the most important things I learned is to talk to people and get involved,” he said, adding that doing this gave him a social sphere he would not have had otherwise. Teacher and Decathlon coach Ryan Klopp said, “Asher is the kind of student who learns not for a grade or to impress colleges but rather for the pursuit of knowledge and the experiences.”
Katelynn Klopp said all her teachers have inspired her love of English, leading her to pursue a career in creative writing. She is part of the varsity volleyball team, School Site Council, Academic Decathlon team and Yearbook. “Through all of these, I have made so many connections,” Katelynn said. “One of my mottos to live by is to just treat people with kindness.” English teacher Dana Coogan has known Katelynn since she was in preschool and said they reconnected when she a freshman and Coogan was helping students with the speech portion of the Academic Decathlon competition. “Her speech (about the environment and climate change) really told me what a compassionate person she had become,” Coogan said. “She was so young and had such conviction. I was really impressed that she was not only doing this for the competition, but you could tell she had a personal stake in it and was willing to make personal sacrifices to help save the planet.” Now enrolled in her AP Literature class, Katelynn is also in her Mt. San Jacinto College dual enrollment English 101 class and Coogan said she feels privileged to be her teacher.
Keith McCarthy Academy
Keith McCarthy Academy singled out Widad Goldstein as September’s honoree. Principal Peter Hopping said, “Widad is a positive peer example on campus. She excels academically and has a relentless commitment to her goals.” Widad wants to study science and nursing at college to become a travel nurse and eventually a neurosurgeon. “A valuable life lesson I have learned is to not let failure define you but to redirect you,” Widad said. “During my sophomore year I faced several challenges and setbacks in my academics. Instead of letting these academic failures discourage me, I sought support from my teachers and my counselor who provided me with guidance and encouragement. With their help I was able to turn my failures into opportunities for growth and improvement. This experience has taught me that setbacks are not the end but are rather a chance to learn and become way stronger.” Her counselor, Franklin Fravel, shared that Widad is a member of the Lakeside culinary program, a founding member of the school’s student council and started an art club. “Widad has made a lasting impact on our campus,” he said.
Lakeside High School
Ella Sheldon was not able to attend the event due to health issues, but Principal Jason Eldridge assured everyone that she will receive her gifts and be celebrated on campus. Gabe Trias was then introduced by Eldridge, who said the best way to describe Gabe is to say he is “authentic” and someone who is always able to adjust to his surroundings. He is on the school’s basketball and football teams and an active participant in his AVID and Advanced Placement classes. “He is very true to himself,” Eldridge said. Gabe plans to study engineering and business at college. “I’ve learned a few life lessons growing up; one is that mom is always right and second is that the effort you give defines who you are and how much you care, whether it’s in school, sports, relationships, jobs; it’s the little things that make a difference to people,” Gabe said. His teacher, Polly Jones, said the young man is a leader in the classroom, on the court and field, and among his peers.
Ortega High School
Ortega High School chose to recognize Gabriela Perez Figueroa. Principal Greg Cleave said, “Most of the students I serve are students that have struggled in school and need a new start or a different opportunity but Gabriela is not one of those students.” After coming to America two years ago, she is proud to say she has As in all her classes and a GPA of 4.2. “This school has made me get the best out of myself,” Gabriela said. “Arriving here opened many doors for me, but I had to sacrifice the life I had in Mexico where there was a lot of violence in the streets.” Speaking in Spanish, she thanked several of her teachers, saying, “I want to thank you for always being with me. They were also my voice when I couldn’t communicate with any other teacher. I will always remember them and carry all their teachings with me.” Her English teacher, Lucia Ruvalcaba, said, “I was an English learner myself, so I have a soft spot for those that came to a new country, a new school and are thrown into a new world.”
Temescal Canyon High School
Cheyenne Greenberg was described by Temescal Canyon Principal Joshua Hill as an active student who is a member of the school’s Health and Medical Careers Academy, ASB, National Honor Society and the Titan TV program. “I’ve wanted to become a nurse for as long as I can remember,” said Cheyenne, who wants to focus on women’s health. She said an important life lesson she has learned stems from the fact she has always been a busy person. “I’ve never been one to sit down and take a break and I work best under stress,” she said. “But being involved with so many programs and leading so many people, I’ve had to learn to slow down because I can’t do it all. Learning the importance of balance and delegating has been a challenge for me but I think I’m finally starting to get the hang of it. I’m now a leader who teaches others how to become one themselves.”
Lincoln Kingdon was introduced by Principal Hill who said he has been part of the school’s culinary program all four years and is on the football and track and field teams. Lincoln plans to attend San Joaquin Valley College in Ontario to pursue a career in HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning). “The biggest life lesson I’ve learned is from Coach (Derek) Hill when he got me to play football in my sophomore years,” Lincoln said. “He taught me how to become a role model and a leader. Sports helps guide you and keep you out of trouble.” During the off season, the outstanding senior volunteers with the Helping Hands Group of Canyon Lake, a faith-based nonprofit that provides care packages and meals to neighbors in need. As head football coach this year, Hill said Lincoln was named MVP of the varsity football in his junior year. Although he doesn’t have team captains, Hill said everyone knows that Lincoln is his unofficial captain. “He is the guy I go to first,” Hill said.
For more information on the program, please contact Kim Joseph Cousins at 951-245-8848 or Donna Romo at Donnajromo@aol.com.
