The Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce Student of the Month program held its most recent recognition breakfast at the Murrieta Valley USD Early Learning Center on Nov. 20. Emcee Mary Walters welcomed everyone to the breakfast and explained that the program, founded by Sally Myers of BMW Management/Sizzler restaurants, celebrates and honors outstanding students who make a significant difference in their schools and community.
The organization’s mission is to 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 and/or their ability to persevere and overcome difficult life circumstances in a setting that honors God, country, family, community and free enterprise.
Large tote 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.
November’s students of the month are Murrieta Canyon Academy’s Amora Ovalles, Murrieta Mesa High School’s Fionn Strath, Murrieta Valley High School’s Thomas Hao, Oak Grove School’s Desiree Page, Springs Charter School’s Ashenett Castro Sanchez and Vista Murrieta High School’s Nomaan Maqbool.
Amora Ovalles
Murrieta Canyon Academy Principal Matt Bean said he was honored to recognize Amora. After a medical condition necessitated her having to be homeschooled during her freshman year, she enrolled at MCA at the end of her sophomore year, determined to get her social and academic life back on track. “She maintains an optimistic attitude and approaches each day as an opportunity for personal growth, inspiring those around her with a positive mindset,” Bean said. Amora is involved with Leadership and is co-president of the Bring Change to Mind club. She is on the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council and has represented MCA at community events. Amora said treatment for the rare bone disease she was diagnosed with as a freshman put her significantly behind at school and completely lost about which steps to take next. “My family and I made the decision to try Murrieta Canyon Academy because of its small supportive environment,” Amora said. “I immediately knew this school was the perfect fit for me and my particular needs.” When she initially enrolled at MCA, she was told she might need a fifth year of high school to complete all her graduation requirements, but she worked hard and was highly motivated and is on track to graduate on time. She plans to pursue a career in rheumatology. “I want to help kids like me get diagnosed and bring direction back to their lives,” Amora said.
Fionn Strath
Murrieta Mesa High School Principal Scott Richards introduced Fionn as someone who “might love school more than any other student I have personally met in my life, and I don’t say that lightly.” He is one of the leaders in the school’s medical pathway, planning to major in biochemistry and hopefully go into internal medicine after medical school. He is in the top five of his senior class, serves as Model UN co-president, Interact Club president, is a member of National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation, is founder of the Chess Club and is a member of the Principal’s Advisory Council. He plays on the varsity tennis and soccer teams and attends Japanese school every Saturday in San Diego. Since the age of five, he has attended summer school in Japan to continue his cultural awareness. “The biggest lesson I have learned is the importance of exploring interests and pursuing passions,” Fionn said. He said trying to find fun things to do when he was younger led him to playing video games and scrolling on TikTok. “Excessiveness in these things took me away from exploring things,” he said. When he returned to sports, it led to him doing well in everything he pursued. “I learned that I don’t do the things that I do because I am Fionn Strath but that I am Fionn Strath because of the things that I decided to do,” he said. Teacher Stephen Chitaroff said, “Fionn has helped me to find confidence in this generation of students through his daily commitment to living an exceptional life.”
Thomas Hao
Murrieta Valley High School Principal Stephen Diephouse said, “Thomas’ accomplishments are nothing short of extraordinary.” Academically, he is among the most elite students at MVHS and is pursuing a full IB Diploma. He has completed the CTE engineering pathway and is just one course shy of completing the CTE computer science pathway. He has taken numerous AP courses and Mt. San Jacinto College courses. He is a dedicated athlete currently on the varsity tennis team and previously on the cross-country team. He is also a standout member of the school’s competitive robotics team. Thomas said a key takeaway from his high school career happened this year when he was searching for a robotics team project. He discovered that education isn’t just about getting the transcript that helps you get to college to earn a degree. “Education is about the impact that we have on the world,” he said. That led to him choosing a project he called Bottles for Brilliance where he recycled plastic drinking water bottles found on campus and used the money to fund the education of a girl in Uganda. He said turning trash into treasure that would affect someone’s life forever was very rewarding. “If you put your mind to something, you can make unseemingly impossible things happen,” Thomas said.
Desiree Page
Oak Grove School Director of Education Athene Banche said Desiree has come a long way in the short time she has been in the program. “She has put in so much effort and really focuses on being a strong leader and is truly deserving of this award,” Banche said. She said fellow staff members and teachers talk about the impact Desiree has on students and peers and that when she commits to something she sticks with it and follows through, always giving it her all. Although she’s faced struggles in her life, Desiree has learned there is a strength in independence and has persevered. She plans to pursue a career in the healthcare field. “I’ve been through a lot in my 18 years of life and it’s an honor to be standing here before you today,” Desiree said. She explained there was a time when she thought things would not get better but learned that “everything happens for a reason, but you can recover.” Struggling with depression for the past five years, Desiree said she is just beginning to see that not everything is gray and gloomy. “Now I can see that everything has a color,” she said. Her homeroom and math teacher Jason Lagardere recalled that when he was Desiree’s English teacher during summer school she shared some emotional, passionate poems and excelled in the study of Greek mythology.
Ashenett Castro Sanchez
Springs Charter School’s Temecula Student Center Principal Valerie Walker said Ashenett, who has attended the school since kindergarten, was her second-grade student. Walker said the outstanding senior describes herself as the oldest of four and someone who holds herself to high standards as the daughter of hard-working parents who have always encouraged her to pursue opportunities. She plans to attend San Diego Mesa College to earn a certificate in fashion design and hopes to build a career as a tailor or seamstress, using her creativity, skills and love of handcraft work. Ashenett is a proud Jehovah’s Witness. “I had some struggles when I was growing up,” she said. After negative comments about being overly extroverted when she was young, she retreated into her shell and started skipping recess and lunch, preferring to stay inside with her teacher during those times. Teacher Kristina Valencia said, “Being a K-12 campus, we have had the honor of watching Ashenett grow from a curious child into the remarkable and responsible senior we celebrate today. Ashenett is the kind of student every teacher hopes to have—responsible, grounded, and guided by a strong sense of morals and values. In our classroom she is often the voice of reason among her peers. She is dependable and she represents our school with grace and authenticity.”
Nomaan Maqbool
Vista Murrieta High School Principal Celeste Scallion explained that Nomaan was unable to attend the ceremony because he is currently participating in a clinical trial aimed at improving treatment options for individuals with impaired vision in Philadelphia. “His involvement in this important work speaks to his courage, his hope and his unwavering commitment to helping others,” Scallion said. “While certain limitations kept him from participating in traditional activities, he chose instead to redefine what is possible. With creativity, motivation and intellect, he has found meaningful ways to lead, serve and inspire on campus.” Nomaan has been a dedicated member of concert band for three years as a clarinetist. He serves as president of the Healthy Eating Club and has served as a special education tutor, offering both academic guidance and genuine encouragement. Beyond VMHS, Nomaan serves on Vanderbilt University’s student advisory panel, working to create equitable spaces for blind and low-vision students nationwide. He also contributes locally as a student for the Riverside County Office of Education’s Community Engagement Initiative, helping to strengthen partnerships and to improve special education curriculum. Teacher Sarah Hartman said of Nomaan, “His empathy, his insight, remind us all, students and educators alike, that accessibility is not simply an accommodation—it is a shared responsibility. He has been a leader in showing us what that truly means.”
For more information or to participate in the program, please contact Rhonda LaVigne at 951-696-1600, ext. 1026 or rlavigne@murrieta.k12.ca.us.
