The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce Student of the Month program, recognizing and inspiring academic excellence since the 1992-1993 school year, held its most recent awards breakfast on Oct. 10 at the Murrieta Sizzler restaurant, 40489 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd.
Sally Myers, founder of the nonprofit program that partners with the Chamber, welcomed everyone and shared the mission of the local high school recognition program, which sets the criteria for the students who are chosen.
Supported by the community, college or vocational/trade school-bound seniors are acknowledged and honored for their character, their love of learning, and their willingness to participate in numerous activities such as campus events, athletics, and community service or the ability to persevere and overcome difficult 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.
October’s students of the month are Chaparral High School’s Zachary Weeg, Great Oak’s Sophia Shams, Linfield Christian’s Ryan Casey, Rancho Vista’s Gena Amanonce, Saint Jeanne De Lestonnac High School’s Natalie Park, Susan H. Nelson High’s Kaden Gonzalez, and Temecula Valley’s Cooper Steele.
Zachary Weeg
Chaparral High School Principal Tina Miller said Zachary is an outstanding leader as co-president of the PLUS program, which stands for Puma Leaders Uniting Students. He is also a member of ASB and captain of the varsity volleyball team. Zachary shared that when he was six years old, his cousin Tyler died, and this taught him a life lesson. “He taught me that what matters to me on this planet is that there should be no neglect of mental health in our society,” he said. “We want to provide every student with a sense of belonging; we don’t want anyone to feel like an outcast.” He noted that having the highest GPA or the most awards “won’t save a kid from suicide.” Zachary is grateful for the lessons he has learned from his past and present PLUS advisors. Tiana Fox said Zachary is a natural leader with emotional intelligence. “He understands when to lock in and focus and he listens with his entire heart,” she said.
Sophia Shams
Great Oak High School Principal Amber Lee said Sophia is a full diploma International Baccalaureate candidate, student body president and Academic Decathlon team captain for the past three years. “Sophia leads with integrity, always standing up for others, and she models reflection by constantly striving to improve,” Lee said. Beyond campus, she supports refugee families. Sophia said, “I am a first-generation Afghan American and while I was given so many gifts and opportunities like access to clean drinking water, free education and healthcare, I’ll never quite understand why there are young girls across the world right now sitting in refugee camps in war-torn countries.” A life lesson she has learned is to never give up and she plans to major in International Relations at college. “I never let my opportunities go to waste, whether it’s bettering myself or helping others,” Sophia said. Leadership teacher Don Skaggs met Sophia as a freshman and said she offered to recruit students to the program. “We have 14 freshmen and sophomores who have stayed on because of her,” he said.
Ryan Casey
Linfield Christian High School chose to honor Ryan as its October Student of the Month. Principal Ty Nichols said the outstanding senior is the mold for what they want a Linfield Christian graduate to look like. “We want them to be full of character, well-rounded, developed men and women of faith, and Ryan literally checks every box,” Nichols said. He is super talented on the stage, he’s a multisport athlete, and hopes to be accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy. Ryan said, “A life lesson I’ve learned is to have the mindset that if you want good results, you need to put in 110% effort.” He wants to serve his country, “not only to honor those who served before me but also for my loved ones in a country that has been so great to them and myself; that’s how I want to pay it forward.” Spanish teacher and mentor Nicholas Ortega told Ryan, “Be excellent in your conduct, leadership, and character wherever God takes you.”
Gena Amanonce
Rancho Vista High School Principal David Schlottman said Gena enrolled at the alternate school in her junior year and joined ASB. “You can teach a lot of things but kindness, compassion and a desire to serve are natural,” he said. Gena said an obstacle she had to overcome was getting involved with the wrong crowd in her freshman year. “I was angry all the time,” she said. “I was in the most negative headspace ever; I hated school and I hated being at home.” Things turned around when she enrolled at Rancho Vista. “I have positive energy and attitude now,” she said. Gena is grateful for the teachers, staff, family, and new friends who have supported her and helped her become a better person and the best version of herself. “They have also inspired me to know what I want to do after high school,” she said. Gena plans to attend Mt. San Jacinto College’s nursing program. “I will be doing something that makes me happy and makes others feel better,” she said.
Natalie Park
Saint Jeanne De Lestonnac High School Assistant Principal Jodi Brown introduced Natalie as a member of the FFA program, currently serving as Vice President, as well as being a varsity athlete. Natalie said she is proud of being able to bring senior parking spaces to her school because everyone has a story to share. Being able to personalize a parking space gives seniors a perk that helps them feel like they earned a place in the campus community. Natalie’s future goal is to go into the field of medicine. Timothy Jenkins was her World History teacher and required all his students to participate in National History Day. He was proud that Natalie was chosen to represent Riverside County and advanced to the state finals in Sacramento in her sophomore year. She chose to do a documentary on a visionary mathematician from the 1800s who is considered the world’s first computer programmer. Natalie’s award-winning project was titled “Ada Lovelace: A Love for Changing History, One Algorithm at a Time.”
Kaden Gonzalez
Susan H. Nelson High School Principal David Schlottman said Kaden is on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout and lives the values of the Boy Scouts of America, always looking for opportunities to serve. He is dedicated to his academic goals, and he’s also a peacemaker who brings people together. “He does the right things the right way,” Schlottman said. Kaden said being enrolled in an independent study program since his freshman year taught him self-discipline, time management, and responsibility. “I realize that my choices directly affect my success,” Kaden said. “These lessons have not only helped me through school, but they’ve also prepared me for the future.” Outside of school, the Boy Scouts has been a place where he has learned other important lessons. “In Scouts, I’ve learned leadership, teamwork, and service,” he said. He plans to enlist in the U.S. Army to pay forward the guidance and support he’s received. He shared a quote from Jane Goodall: “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what difference you want to make.”
Cooper Steele
Temecula Valley High School Principal Donna Lione introduced Cooper as a four-year varsity tennis player and captain, an AFJROTC cadet captain who has accumulated hundreds of community service hours, and a member of the National Technical Honor Society. She said Cooper exudes optimism and kindness, and he is a yo-yo aficionado. Cooper thanked his sister, who was also a Student of the Month two years ago, for supporting him through all his struggles and journey. “My biggest struggle today is being diagnosed with ADHD,” Cooper said. “It’s difficult for me to write, read, and oftentimes focus. I struggle with doing simple things.” He said big challenges can make him feel overwhelmed and very frustrated. But on the plus side, it gives him the ability to hyperfocus. As part of the Golden Guys LINK crew, he assists younger students in adapting to school. His mother, Emily, said, “Cooper forges his own path. He is intensely positive about the process and has a wild belief in himself that is unparalleled.”
For more information, please contact Program Chair Liz Schuch at 951-676-5090 or liz@temecula.org.
