The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce Student of the Month program, recognizing and inspiring academic excellence since the 1992-1993 school year, held its recognition breakfasts from September through April. Each honored senior was eligible to apply to be named Student of the Year for their site. The eight students who passed a competitive application process judged by an independent committee were honored at the 33rd annual Student of the Year Scholarship & Recognition Ceremony on May 8 at the Murrieta Sizzler restaurant, 40489 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd.
Holly Wilson, Director of Admissions at Linfield Christian School, served as emcee and welcomed everyone. She shared the mission of the local high school recognition program that was founded by Sally A. Myers of BMW Management Inc. The nonprofit program is designed to honor college or trade school-bound seniors 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.
Each Student of the Year was awarded a $2,000 scholarship. As a reminder that the students are headed away from home to attend college, large plastic laundry baskets were used to hold many gifts and certificates of recognition donated to the award recipients by the program’s sponsors. The volunteer-led program allows for all funds to be used toward the monthly meals, gifts, and scholarships.
Student of the Year honors were presented to Chaparral High School’s Sydney Ford, Great Oak’s Jonathan Tafoya, Linfield Christian’s Ava DeGrave, Rancho Christian’s Nevaeh Berry, Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac Catholic High School’s Julianna Linsalato, Susan H. Nelson’s Mackenzie Von Gerichten, Temecula Preparatory School’s Lily Waterman and Temecula Valley High School’s Brian Tek.
Each one was invited to the podium by their principal, who presented them with a keepsake medal. Students shared how their passions will be integrated into their future plans with a room full of supporters that included principals and family members, as well as school district and community dignitaries.
Sydney Ford
Chaparral High School Principal Tina Miller introduced the ASB president as a leader who is involved with sports and enrolled in highly competitive classes that include taking five Advanced Placement tests in the next two weeks. “She has a kind personality and is so helpful; she never thinks of herself first,” Miller said. While growing up, Sydney said she has always been incredibly passionate about learning, especially the subject of history. “My greatest academic passions have always been related to social science, and those I found intriguing were always history,” she said. “Outside of the classroom, I believe that the biggest value I add to those around me lies in my leadership. I play both varsity basketball and lacrosse for my school, and was the varsity basketball captain this year. One of my favorite parts of playing sports is the relationship I am able to form with my teammates.” Sydney will attend UCLA, majoring in history. She was Student of the Month in February.
Jonathan Tafoya
Great Oak High School Principal Amber Lane described Jonathan as a “lifelong learner with unmatched curiosity and a willingness to persist even when the answer’s not evident.” He said his passion is biology, partly because his father is a medical doctor. “I also fell in love with community service, and I think that is an integral part of my passion as well,” Jonathan said. He was involved in an environmental project with the Temecula Valley Unified School District to help eliminate waste on campus. He also helped launch Teens Teaching Tech at the Temecula Public Library, where local senior citizens can meet with teen volunteers to get answers to any of their technology-related questions. He has declared biology as his major at UCLA, but said he is open to pursuing a degree in public health. “This would allow me to approach healthcare on a global scale and give me a great opportunity to explore and utilize both my passions,” Jonathan said. He was September’s Student of the Month.
Ava DeGrave
Linfield Christian Principal Ty Nichols said when administrators recently met and discussed words that would be used to describe an ideal graduate of Linfield, it would be articulate, intelligent, engaging, warm, passionate, rooted in their faith, well-rounded and diversified, academically aggressive, curious, emotionally intelligent, humble, and confident. He said, “There are some students who fit the mold and there are other students who make the mold, and Ava is a student who makes the mold.” Ava said her greatest passion, above all, is reflecting the love of Jesus in everything she does. “I believe one of the most meaningful ways I can live out this passion is through working with special needs and challenged children,” she said. Ava plans to pursue a career as a pediatric occupational therapist. She will begin by studying kinesiology at Biola University and continue her education to earn her master’s and doctorate degrees. “My goal is to open my own practice where I can create a space where children of all abilities can feel understood and supported,” Ava said. “I believe God has given me this purpose for a reason.” She was Student of the Month in March.
Nevaeh Berry
Rancho Christian High School Principal Doris Jackson said, “In a world that often celebrates self-promotion, Nevaeh reminds us of the power of humility.” She told the honored senior, “Your heart for others, your relentless curiosity in your academics, and your bold dreams for the future embody what it means to be a Christ-like leader.” Nevaeh said serving others has always been at the heart of who she is. “I found that giving back not only strengthens our community but is builds something lasting inside of us,” she said. “What sets me apart, I think, is my drive and my energy. I plan to study abroad next summer to stretch my comfort zone and to learn in a completely new environment. I will also be taking on internships in sales and business because I believe real growth comes from when we step into new and unfamiliar challenges.” Nevaeh will begin her higher education at San Marcos and then transfer to USC to major in business finance and minor in marketing. “It’s a path I’m incredibly excited about because it blends my passion for leadership, service and a future of opportunity to create a lasting change,” she said. Nevaeh was chosen as Student of the Month in January.
Julianna Linsalato
Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac Catholic School’s November Student of the Month was Julianna, who was introduced by President Sister Ernestine Velarde and Vice Principal Lincoln Nguyen. “Julianna learned that serving others and helping others is what’s natural to her, and our students, teachers, and community have seen that,” Nguyen said. “There hasn’t been a community service event or project that she hasn’t been involved with.” Julianna is ASB president, Cheer captain, and a member of the California Scholarship Federation and National Honor Society. She has attended the school since pre-kindergarten. “Saint Jeanne’s is a special community that focuses not only on academics but on developing the whole person,” Julianna said. “Next time you are going through a rough patch in life or even just a bad day, give it to God. Just sit in silence and try to listen and be in the presence of God and he will do amazing things.” Her passion is psychology, and her father is a professor in the subject. She will attend San Diego State University to major in psychology with a focus on education and child development. Julianna plans to become a school psychologist in the future.
Mackenzie Von Gerichten
Susan H. Nelson High School Principal David Schlottman shared that Mackenzie is an early graduate who benefited from the school’s structure of independent study, learning personal responsibility, and other important life skills. She learned how to give grace to herself when things don’t always go well. Schlottman said these are mature thoughts and lessons that she is lucky to have learned while she is young. “My greatest passion is getting to serve and help others,” Mackenzie said. “I do it to demonstrate the love of Christ, be a light for Christ, and point all that I am back to the cross. I differentiate myself from other people with this passion because I do it to bring glory to the Lord. I believe I am noticed for this passion because of my joy, love, peace, patience, and kindness when doing it.” Mackenzie will be attending Oklahoma Christian University. She was recognized as Student of the Month for December.
Lily Waterman
Temecula Preparatory School Lead Counselor Rachel Lemkau, herself a former Student of the Month, said Lily is an All Star academically and will serve as Valedictorian for the graduating class. She also earned the State Seal of Biliteracy in Latin. Lemkau explained that each school year, all the faculty get together to choose one person in each grade level who has most demonstrated fortitude, one who has demonstrated temperance, another student for prudence, and another for justice. “Then we choose an All-Star and that’s the student for that grade level who most demonstrates all of those virtues.” Lily is the first student in the school’s history to win the All-Star Award all four years. “I hope to add value to my community through art,” Lily said. “In my life, art has been single-handedly responsible for my peace and joy. I can only hope to provide this to others. I began musical theater at seven years old. Art, no matter the form, is so deeply entrenched in the human experience and theater itself creates an outlet for emotion.” Lily will attend UCLA to major in neuroscience on a pre-med track. She was honored as Student of the Month in September.
Brian Tek
Temecula Valley High School Principal Donna Lione described Brian as “the total package.” She said his journey in high school has been the study of physics after taking an Advanced Placement course in his sophomore year. “He was also influenced by his AP Literature teacher,” Lione said. Brian said, “Serving my community was something that was learned rather than innate. I didn’t realize how much of an impact I could have until someone lit a candle for me.” He credits his AP Physics teacher with doing that and said it taught him to give his all in everything he does. “It pushed me to join clubs and eventually earn leadership positions in Science Olympiad and the Physics Club,” Brian said. He hopes to become a professor and be the spark for generations to come. “Knowledge is a gift that’s meant to be shared,” he said. “Thank you to everyone who helped me discover this and for giving me the chance to keep that flame alive.” Brian will be attending UC, San Diego, to study electrical engineering. He was chosen as Student of the Month in January.
For more information, please contact Program Chair Amber Poncy at 951-676-5090 or http://temecula.org/student-of-the-month.
