The Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce Student of the Month program, honoring students who make a difference in their schools and communities, held its most recent luncheon celebration at the Lakeside High School Lancer Round Table Café on Feb. 10. Lunch was prepared and served by members of the Lakeside Culinary Academy.
Program founder Sally Myers, of BMW Management/Sizzler Restaurants, emceed the event that collaborates with the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce. She welcomed all guests and explained the nonprofit program’s mission that 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.
February’s students of the month are Elsinore High School’s Erik Cardenas and Riley Rivera, Keith McCarthy Academy’s Fernando Coria, Lakeside High School’s Jose Luis Najera and Kyndall Stewart, Ortega High School’s Jared Payne, and Temescal Canyon High School’s Anthony Carmona and Ameera Easton. Evalyss Marquez was also recognized as Ortega High School’s January Student of the Month as she was unable to attend last month.
Elsinore High School
Erik Cardenas was described by his teachers as being resilient, hardworking and someone who goes out of his way not only to succeed, but to help others succeed. Principal Pauline Leavitt said Erik is a competition violinist who has a 4.66 GPA. He plans to attend UC, San Diego to study computer science and cyber security because as technology has a greater impact on everything, he feels it will require a generation to propel the impossible into reality with thoughtfulness and responsibility. “This is why I wish to work for the FBI as either a special agent or scientist,” Erik said. “I’m currently involved in College Club, which is a club that plans events for AVID. My girlfriend and I are participants in Asian Unity Club, which is an all-inclusive club at Elsinore, and I play violin at recitals, nursing homes, and community events.” He said the greatest life lesson he has learned after four years of high school and nearly a decade of playing the violin is that if something is difficult or causes anxiety, then that something should be your new goal and nothing should ever stop you from achieving it. “And to quote (author and pastor) Charles Swindoll, we are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations,” Erik said.
Riley Rivera was introduced by Principal Leavitt as “a savage athlete” who is competitive and fierce on the wrestling mat. “She’s exceptionally intelligent and she’s involved in JROTC,” she said. Riley has been the girls varsity wrestling captain since her sophomore year. She is also vice president of the Asian Unity Club and the editor-in-chief of yearbook. She plans to attend UC Irvine to major in biology and work towards becoming an anesthesiologist. “One of the biggest life lessons I’ve learned at Elsinore High School is to find joy and have fun in everything I do,” Riley said. “I think a lot about the tough times I faced in wrestling where I feel like I’ve hit rock bottom or put too much pressure on myself. And in those moments, I always have to regroup and remind myself that I’m here because I want to be here and I love it. I learned that it’s important to do things not just to be the best, but to do them for myself and for the passions I found behind them.” Graphics and yearbook teacher Reed Steiner said, “Riley has really become an outstanding leader in the CTE digital media program. She goes above and beyond. She leads by example with her work ethic and her attitude. Her leadership sets the standard for our CTE program.”
Keith McCarthy Academy singled out Fernando Coria as February’s honoree. Principal Peter Hopping said, “Fernando’s high school journey has not been an easy one. He had a hard time focusing on academics, finding joy and seeing a future for what he did academically.” After transferring to KMA and finding some improvement in his junior year, Fernando left the district for a while. He chose to return this school year and has been doing very well. “He’s built relationships with adults on campus. He sees a future. It is an amazing transformation to see in this student,” Hopping said. Fernando said, “One of my plans is to join the Air Force and become an aviation mechanic. I believe the military teaches strong values such as discipline, integrity, respect, and service. These moral standards are lessons I want to live by and carry with me into my future. They are values that will guide me not only in my career but throughout my entire life.” He admits to a time when he struggled with earning credits and making good decisions. When he finally realized poor choices would hurt his future and affect his ability to graduate from high school and join the military, he decided to change his mindset. “I took initiative in my academics, advocated for myself, and stayed focused on my goals,” Fernando said.
Lakeside High School
Jose Luis Najera was introduced by Principal Jason Eldridge as being part of AVID and ASB. “Today, I would like to thank myself for getting this far,” Jose said. “I know I continue to grow as a person, a student, a son, and the future of the world.” He thanked his aunt for taking him in at the age of seven after experiencing a rough childhood while living with his biological mother. He had struggled with the effects of violence, alcohol abuse, food insecurity, homelessness, and lack of finances and support. “But I managed to use these scars to lift me up,” he said. “They’re a daily reminder of how far I’ve come. Even though I struggle from time to time, all those countless times I was told I was going to be nothing became my motivation to continue to improve and grow and prove them all wrong.” He plans to attend Cal State Fullerton, where his sister is a student, to major in civil engineering. “We are proof that our hard work paid off,” Jose said. AVID teacher Lisa Ogden shared, “He’s always thankful. He thanks everyone. He’s so polite. He shows gratitude towards his family, his teachers, and anyone who helps him find an opportunity to be successful. He is a success story.”
Kyndall Stewart was described by Principal Eldridge as someone who makes the best of her situation every single day. “It speaks volumes about her and the person that she will become,” he said. Kyndall said, “From the very beginning of my life, challenges have been something I’ve always had to overcome. I was born weighing just one pound and 15 ounces. And my early life was filled with obstacles before I even understood what they were.” One of the biggest obstacles she faced was losing her mother during her sophomore year. She said, “I realized that I didn’t want fear or grief to control my life, even though it was uncomfortable. I slowly started pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. I began speaking up more, getting involved, and allowing myself to try new things, even when I was scared.” This led to increased self-confidence. “I learned that growth doesn’t happen all at once; it happens through small steps, courage, and persistence,” Kyndall said. “What once felt impossible slowly became proof of how much I was capable of. Everything I do now is driven by the desire to make my mom proud. I carry her with me in my motivation, my work ethic, and my determination to keep moving forward no matter how hard things get.”
Ortega High School
Jared Payne was welcomed to the podium by Principal Lee Alfred. Jared said his favorite class during all four years of high school has been Annie Tran’s yearbook class. “I’ve met some amazing people, some cool friends and been given a bunch of opportunities,” he said. After graduating, Jared plans to attend Northwest Lineman College, a private vocational technical college in Oroville, to become an electrical lineman. Tran, who also is Jared’s English teacher, said, “He is an absolute light at our school,” she said. “He is engaged, attentive, and curious. He always asks the most thoughtful questions that usually end up benefiting his peers as well. And he’s such a positive influence, reminding his friends to stay on task, which is every teacher’s dream, honestly.” She said Jared has a natural gift for bringing people together and that kind of leadership and heart really can’t be taught. “He helps create an environment where deeper learning and connection can happen every single day,” Tran said. Jared’s mother said despite a tough last year in their family when she lost her mother who was being cared for in their home for the past five years, her son did not lose his focus. He continued to move forward, he persevered and she is very proud of him for all the progress he has made.
Evalyss Marquez, who was unable to attend the ceremony when she was chosen as January’s Student of the Month was introduced by Principal Alfred. “My whole life, I’ve always wanted to have a career in art; preferably one where I get to make artwork for a game,” Evalyss said. “My reasoning for being so interested in a career like this is since I was only three years old, I found a deep love for drawing and playing video games. I’m very excited to start studying all the steps that go into making a game since everything about the process that I’ve seen up to now has seemed very fascinating and engaging.” She said transferring to Ortega changed her life. “Thanks to my school, I got to be involved in some really great groups with my peers, such as yearbook and leadership, both of which just reinstated my love for helping others and contributing to my community. I can’t even begin to describe how important Ortega High School has made my life feel.” Social Science teacher Alexis Flores shared comments on behalf of math teacher Michelle Cain who could not be there. “Evie is a caring and kind student who makes people feel noticed in the smallest, quietest ways. She isn’t loud or attention-seeking, but she’s a quiet leading example through her warmth, patience, and thoughtful presence. Evie has a calm confidence,” Cain wrote.
Temescal Canyon High School
Anthony Carmona was congratulated by Temescal Canyon Principal Joshua Hill for just being named as salutatorian for the 2026 graduating class. “He’s a member of our International Baccalaureate program. He’s the president of the IB club, the National Honor Society, the science club, and the culture club. He’s also the vice president of the California Scholarship Federation chapter that we have on campus.” Anthony volunteers in politics, having worked on Will Rollins’ recent California congressional campaign and in his spare time works with a nonprofit that helps immigrants through the citizenship process. Anthony said, “I could talk about academics, being president of four clubs, participating in the Dream Extreme Future Leaders Program hosted by our city, or winning a NASA Earth Science Award, and I’m proud of all of that. But I’ve learned something important. What good are academic achievements without empathy? In today’s society, we face division, fear, and misunderstandings.” Seeing firsthand how limited access to resources affects everyday life for some people pushed him to help organize humanitarian campaigns and local service projects. “Despite obstacles of inequality, I’ve never let that stop me. I used it as motivation to work hard and create opportunities where they didn’t always exist,” Anthony said. He has received a QuestBridge full-ride scholarship valued at around $400,000 to study at Princeton University.
Ameera Easton was introduced by Principal Hill as a member of Temescal Canyon’s Health and Medical Careers Academy all four years, a member of the varsity dance team for three years, and treasurer for the Black Student Union, which she has been in all four years. “She’s been engaged in a lot of community work as well as part of her program,” Hill said. “She’s been a dental office intern and is part of our sports medicine team that attends games and takes care of our athletes after school.” As of Nov. 13, Ameera was sworn into the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman. She leaves for boot camp July 1. Her goal is to become a labor and delivery nurse after attending medical school when she leaves the military. “Something that I’ve learned is to build self-trust,” Ameera said. “Over the course of my life, others have doubted me and my capabilities based off of their inability to do better. But if there is anything that I have learned it is that it’s important to stay grounded within myself and not let others who think they know me and know who I am demean my capabilities. My experience of working for what I have gives me the ability to be open-minded, optimistic, and not stay complacent with the cards that life has given me.”
For more information on the program, please contact Kim Joseph Cousins at 951-245-8848 or Donna Romo at Donnajromo@aol.com.
