The Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce Student of the Month program held a recognition breakfast at the Murrieta Valley USD Early Learning Center on Feb. 19. Emcee Mary Walters welcomed everyone to the breakfast and explained that the long-standing program, founded by Sally Myers of BMW Management/Sizzler restaurants, celebrates and honors outstanding students who make significant differences 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.
February’s students of the month are Murrieta Canyon Academy’s Audrina Varela, Murrieta Mesa High School’s Stephanie Wu, Murrieta Valley High School’s Micah Smith, Oak Grove Center Jack Weaver School’s Lilith “Lennox” Esquivel, Springs Charter Schools’ Camaria Young, and Vista Murrieta High School’s Ariana DeLaCruz.
Audrina Varela
Murrieta Canyon Academy Principal Matt Bean said that although Audrina was hesitant to change schools after two years of high school, she quickly realized that the MCA campus was an ideal fit for her academic and social-emotional needs. “Through her hard work and on-campus involvement, she has developed into a mature and confident leader,” he said. Audrina is a member of the Leadership class and supports her classmates as a peer counselor. She serves as secretary of the Bring Change to Mind club. She is an accomplished writer who was recognized at the county level for her poetry. “My sophomore year was one of my hardest experiences of my life,” Audrina said. “I became a victim of cyberbullying, and I lost trust in people who I once considered my closest friends.” Enrolling at MCA became the turning point of her life. “My dream is to become a magazine journalist,” Audrina said. “I want to write stories that inspire and help people feel understood.”
Stephanie Wu
Murrieta Mesa High School Principal Scott Richards said Stephanie leads with perseverance, initiative, and intention. “She is the founder and president of the Yes Club USA, a nonprofit focused on youth empowerment and community service, a commitment she has maintained for five years.” On campus, Stephanie serves as vice president of the chamber choir, treasurer of the Model United Nations Club, and founder and president of the Chinese Culture Club. She’s a four-year varsity golf athlete and team captain, finishing her senior year competing in league finals. “One of my biggest challenges I have overcome was my language barrier and confidence,” Stephanie said. “Although I was born in the States, I spent seven years of my childhood in China, where Mandarin was my first language.” Through support and encouragement from teachers, she was able to excel. At college she plans to major in business management. “I hope to build a career that combines leadership, communication, and service and use those skills to give back to my community in meaningful ways,” Stephanie said.
Micah Smith
Murrieta Valley High School Principal Stephen Diephouse said, “Micah stands out as an extraordinary scholar athlete, a leader among his peers, and a young man whose character reflects the best of what it means to be a Nighthawk. With an exceptional 4.71 GPA, Micah has excelled in one of the most demanding academic pathways at our school.” He has been on the basketball team all four years and spent two years on the track team. Micah feels his greatest contribution to his community and school is helping others grow through his leadership roles. “I’ve also started a small-scale tutoring business,” he said. “I feel like a lot of things, especially school, get easier when someone explains it to you in a way that makes sense,” Micah said learning discipline and time management really helped him grow and become better not only as a student but as a person. He wants to pursue a career in business, specifically finance.
Lilith “Lennox” Esquivel
Oak Grove Center Jack Weaver School Principal Athene Banche introduced Lennox as a “super creative student who has shown strengths in writing and art.” Although life hasn’t always been easy, Lennox has remained focused on their goals and has been adaptable to overcoming obstacles or challenges encountered along the way. “Not all students are able to take on adult responsibility super young,” Banche said. “Lennox has plans to attend college after graduation with the goal of becoming a mortuary assistant. And when I asked why they would make this career choice, Lennox responded that they would want to do the job in a peaceful and respectful way and felt that everyone deserved that level of dignity during death.” Science teacher Tamara Wilson said, “When you’re able to be resilient through trials by no creation of your own, that’s certainly something to be acknowledged and praised.” Clinical social worker and executive director at Oak Grove Billie Gengler praised Lennox for showing incredible courage and resiliency in overcoming generational adversity and hardship. “Lennox has an innate sense of self, resiliency, values, morals, and is an extremely loyal friend.”
Camaria Young
Springs Charter Schools’ Temecula Student Center Principal Valerie Walker said, “What makes Camaria stand out is not just her academic drive, but it’s that she’s embraced a full experience of being a part of our school and our community.” Camaria said one of the most significant lessons she has learned in life is to stay positive. “When faced with learning new things, managing deadlines, and navigating challenges in school, being positive always gave me the strength I needed to overcome difficulties. Being optimistic gives me a chance to see things from a different perspective,” she said. “Another key component to this lesson is self-motivation. It’s been the reason I’ve been able to achieve all of my academic goals.” Camaria plans to attend either Stanford University or UC Berkeley for her bachelor’s in legal studies and eventually become an attorney. “My passion has always been to advocate for those who can’t speak up for themselves,” she said.
Ariana DeLaCruz
Vista Murrieta High School Principal Celeste Scallion described Ariana as being deeply involved in the campus community through Senate leadership and Air Force JrROTC, where she consistently demonstrates responsibility, collaboration, and care for those around her. “Ariana does not seek the spotlight; she seeks impact,” Scallion said. Ariana plans to attend UC San Diego, where she will pursue a degree in biology with the goal of becoming an oncologist. “A life lesson that I’ve learned is to take opportunities as they come because you never know where they’ll lead,” Ariana said. “As the commissioner of community service for CSF, the president of our Filipino American Club, and a leader in the Senate, I’ve learned that if you take what you have, you can help others grow. I want to continue to be the person who supports others. Whether they’re quiet or loud, people have an untapped potential, and I think highlighting that is what I do best.”
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.
