The Hemet/San Jacinto Student of the Month program kicked off the latest school year with its recognition breakfast at the Maze Stone at Soboba Springs Golf Course on September 4. Eight local high school seniors were recognized and honored for their character, love of learning, and commitment to academics, as well as their involvement in school and community activities and their ability and resilience in overcoming difficult life challenges. And they do this all in a setting that honors God, country, family, community, and free enterprise. Students are nominated by teachers or other school personnel for making a difference in their homes, schools, and communities.
Student of the Month Committee member Lakshman Koka emceed the event. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past and current challenges, and future goals with a room full of supporters, including principals, teachers, peers, family members, as well as community and school district dignitaries.
September’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District are Jaysen Arreola, Nevaeh Gray, Charlee Horton, Isaac Montes, and Lily Snow. San Jacinto Unified honorees for September are Monique Merendon and Raven Volrie. Edgar Gladin from Noli Indian School was also honored.
Hemet Unified School District
Jaysen Arreola
Hemet High School chose to honor Jaysen as its first Student of the Month. Teacher Laura Brown said after having Jaysen in Honors English as a sophomore, she encouraged him to take AP Research, the highest class offered by the College Board and “he is thriving.” Less than two years ago, Jaysen was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative autoimmune disease that has no cure. He has to deal with doctors’ appointments for checkups, infusions, medications, tests and much more. “I have to take pills every day and there are times when I feel exhausted and sick and anxious, almost to the point of being completely debilitated,” Jaysen said. “However, above all that I feel in a lot of ways my life is so much better. My grades have never been higher, and I feel so involved with my community, my school and family.” He volunteers at the Western Science Center and is treasurer for the Breakfast Club at his school. Jaysen said the accomplishment he is most proud of is the ability to care for her younger brother who is disabled. “The most important thing that I’ve probably learned from all these hardships and responsibilities and my fight to be healthy and happy is this: adaptation to and recovery from difficult situations comes one step at a time, which is kind of cliché but it is very true. He hopes to attend UC Berkeley to major in geology.
Nevaeh Gray
Hamilton High School Principal Kari Sanchez said Nevaeh reminds her of one of her favorite quotes: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Former teacher and current varsity volleyball coach Lance Fogle said Nevaeh has always been a conscientious learner, cares for the people around her and is very confident in a leadership role. “She prefers to be unnoticed in her serving others but can also step up and out when needed; this is a rare quality,” he said. Nevaeh said she always worked hard in school, not for the rewards but for the knowledge she gained and the pride she gave to her grandparents who raised her. “Their love has been my greatest motivation but what truly defines me is not only academic—it is kindness,” Nevaeh said. “My kindness is not quiet or hidden; it is loud, visible and meant to be shared. I believe kindness has the power to change the atmosphere of a school and even the course of somebody’s life.” She plans to pursue a career in medicine as a traveling nurse to combine her passion for helping people with her dream of seeing the world.
Charlee Horton
Western Center Academy teacher Melanie Thornburg introduced Charlee as a leader on campus who excels academically and as a varsity athlete at her home school, which brings its own challenges because she has to travel. “The hardest thing I ever faced was my dad passing away,” Charlee said. “At first, I didn’t know how to move forward. I had to keep showing up for myself and everyone around me. I had to learn how to balance the grief of my dad’s passing away and the fragility of my grades. I had to learn how to stay focused on a future I couldn’t even see at the time.” She said her support system got her through it and taught her to reach out and support others. She plans to attend UC Irvine to study criminology to eventually become a lawyer. “A lesson that I will take with me to college, through my career and the rest of my life is to keep moving, even when I think I can’t,” Charlee said.
Isaac Montes
Tahquitz High School Digital Media Academy head Omar Ali has known Isaac since his freshman year, and said it took a while before he came out of his shell. The following year, Ali was asked to recruit 30 students for the new Academy and he immediately knew that Isaac would be the best fit for that. He was looking for him to become a leader and ultimately he took to the position. “He controls all media coming out of our school, leading over 100 students in the digital media academy,” Ali said. Isaac said he suffers from hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating, which necessitates him to wear gloves all the time. “But that isn’t necessarily my biggest challenge, which has mostly been communication,” he said. “I’ve struggled with being more open about that.” Isaac said stepping into the leadership role has given him the opportunity to face that and forced him, in a good way, to be more open with everybody. “The biggest lesson is there will always be opportunities,” he said. He said even if you think you missed it, even if you regret not taking advantage of an opportunity, there will always be another chance for that; it’s just a matter of time.
Lily Snow
The Academy of Innovation is an independent study school that chose to honor Lily for September. Math teacher Julie Hoye said Lily was the unanimous nomination among all teachers and is a great representation of the school and what it can offer students. Lily explained that she came to this school by necessity, having suffered a serious ATV accident the summer before she was to begin her freshman year at Hemet High School. Throughout her freshman and sophomore years, she underwent 10 surgeries, and nine of them were performed on her face, which had taken the brunt of the damage. “It was brutal, and it wasn’t just about the surgeries and doctors’ appointments; it was about coming to terms with seeing a different face in the mirror,” Lily said. “It challenged me in ways I didn’t think were possible.” She said that being involved with ASB all four years and serving as president this year has taught her to always lead with purpose.
San Jacinto Unified School District
Monique Merendon
Mountain View High School selected Monique as its Student of the Month. CTE film and media teacher Ron DeGenova explained that as part of an alternative education school, his class is unique in that it emphasizes project-based learning, group project work and collaboration. He said Monique became a role model and leader for other students in the class. “One of the main lessons I’ve learned over time is that there’s always room for improvement no matter the struggles or mistakes you’ve made,” Monique said. “Always be kind, loving and respectful to others and God will be by your side.” She explained that she moved around a lot when she was younger and lived for a while with a mother who was addicted to drugs. She lost her older brother to an overdose, and she and her other siblings were removed from the home. Monique started using drugs herself and ended up in a juvenile detention facility. She has plans to graduate early and do a film production internship at Mt. San Jacinto College. Eventually, she hopes to start her own real estate business. “Always have faith in yourself,” she said.
Raven Volrie
San Jacinto High School chose to honor Raven, and English teacher Marissa Jensen said the young woman has faced obstacles that could have knocked her off her course, but didn’t. She is the manager of the football team and helps with the yearbook. “She is someone who proves that obstacles don’t define us; how we respond to them does,” Jensen said. Raven explained that shortly after her father kicked her out of the house, he died. She was a sophomore at the time. “It was a pain that could’ve broken me, but instead it taught me strength and resilience and the importance of never giving up,” Raven said. “I found joy being involved with the school, whether it was through clubs, activities or sports. Each opportunity gave me a chance to grow, not only as a student but as a person.” After high school, she plans to move to Texas to live with her grandfather and pursue her studies to become a medical laboratory technician. “This career path is not just a profession to me—it’s a way to give back to help others and to use my skills to make a real difference in people’s lives,” Raven said. “Every step I have taken has been guided by my faith. Without God in my life, I don’t know if I would have had the strength to keep pushing forward.”
Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians
Edgar Gladin was chosen to represent Noli Indian School as Student of the Month. Principal Donovan Post said the school offers middle and high school courses for any student from a federally recognized Tribe within about an 85–90-mile radius. He said he feels honored when students such as Edgar make the choice to attend Noli and not a local school closer to their homes. Teacher Jacquelin Phillips has been at Noli for almost two decades and described Edgar as a student who is always striving for success and is very inquisitive, which pushes her as a teacher. After graduation, Edgar plans to take EMT courses and then enter the fire academy. One of the biggest obstacles he has had to overcome is the loss of his dear cousin earlier this year. “A life lesson I will take with me everywhere I go is to never give up—always walk with your head up and your chest out,” Edgar said. “I plan to give back to my community every chance I get, whether that’s by teaching my culture or lending a hand to someone in need.”
For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.
