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 final luncheon celebration for the 2025-2026 school year at the Lakeside High School Lancer Round Table Café on April 7. Lunch was prepared and served by members of the Lakeside Culinary Academy. Guests were greeted by ASB students upon arrival.
Program founder Sally Myers, of BMW Management/Sizzler Restaurants, emceed the event that partners with the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Lake Elsinore Unified School District. 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.
April’s students of the month are Elsinore High School’s Cedrych Garvey and Nicole Villa, Keith McCarthy Academy’s Leah Albert, Lakeside High School’s Vicente Ceasar Aranda and Reagan Ingram, Ortega High School’s Christian Leyva, and Temescal Canyon High School’s Carson Gray and Madison Romain.
Elsinore High School
Cedrych Garvey was introduced by Principal Pauline Leavitt as a talented artist who is vice president for the drawing and painting club and participates in afterschool art workshops. He will either attend Cal State Long Beach or the University of Anchorage to participate in their Alaskan Native Science and Engineering program. “I strive for renewables and want to be an electrical engineer,” Cedrych said. His summer job, installing solar panels as an electrician apprentice, has been very rewarding. “Every single time I put one up, I just am so happy that I get to do something for those communities,” he said. “I am captain of a volleyball team, and I am also president of my sports leadership on campus. I’ve gone to schools to promote reading at elementary schools and middle schools to try to stop drug use as early as possible.” English teacher Craig Edmunds said, “Cedrych has an intellectual curiosity and a desire to learn that I rarely see and it’s really impressive. For his argumentative essays, he almost always chose the most difficult and complex argument just to push himself and see if he could do it.”
Nicole Villa is also an outstanding artist and Principal Leavitt said she goes out of her way and strives to help others because she doesn’t want to leave anyone behind. She is part of AVID and plans to become a child psychologist. “Ever since I can remember, my life has never really been just about me,” Nicole said. “I grew up in a Spanish-speaking household where at a young age, I became my mom’s voice, translating at doctor’s appointments, school meetings, and even everyday conversations. Without realizing it, I was learning responsibility and how to show up for others.” She became an advocate for her younger brother who has autism and life-threatening allergies. “I learned patience, empathy, and how to understand someone without words,” Nicole said. She is president of Save the Children club and volunteers at her church. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that challenges don’t break you, they build you. Every obstacle I faced shaped who I am today. When I go to college, I’m not just bringing my goals, I’m bringing my resilience, my purpose, and my story.”
Keith McCarthy Academy singled out Leah Albert as April’s honoree. Principal Peter Hopping read her speech since she was unable to attend the ceremony. “When I think back on my contributions to my family, community, and school, I think about determination, perseverance, and growth,” Leah wrote. “By continuously improving and showing up for those around me, I’ve been able to contribute in a way that shows resilience and determination.” When she transferred to KMA in her junior year, she was ready to give up on school. But things started to change for the better. “I finally found an environment that I felt supported and focused in,” she wrote. “I started to put in actual effort and focus on my assignments and believe that I could do better.” She said the teachers at KMA are kind, understanding, and made sure she didn’t feel stupid if she didn’t understand a topic or question, for which she is grateful. “KMA showed me that growth is always possible and to never give up on yourself,” Leah wrote. She plans to continue her education in animal science and work towards a career as a veterinarian.
Lakeside High School
Vicente “Ceasar” Aranda was introduced by Principal Jason Eldridge as a student who set his goals and ambitions early in his high school career and has continued to work on them. Having been accepted to Cal State, Long Beach, he wanted to study political science because of his interest in politics and history. But his passion for education has made him decide to return to Lakeside as a teacher and eventually become a college professor. “I want to be in a position where I can mentor and support the students in the same environment that I learned and grew in,” Ceasar said. His involvement in AVID helped him learn that school isn’t just about learning a specific subject. “It’s more about the community you create and the people around you,” Ceasar said. He serves as secretary of PLUS (Peer Leaders Uniting Students), which he said helped him learn to get out of his social bubble. Being founder and president of the debate club helped him learn to create something from the ground up and to force himself out of his own comfort zone.
Reagan Ingram plans to attend Riverside Community College and then transfer to Sacramento State to study business, with hopes of owning a bakery in the future. She is involved with AVID, yearbook, and varsity and stunt cheer on campus. “My biggest life lesson I’ve learned from my surroundings is that discomfort is good,” Reagan said. “Branching out with taking unfamiliar classes and experiencing and experimenting in different school activities can create good change. And doing so has helped me become the person I am today. Accepting discomfort has allowed me to persevere through difficult times. I believe I will utilize this skill throughout the rest of my life, and it will continue to allow me to experience and explore new things and become familiar with what is beneficial to me.” Her AVID teacher Michelle Henricks read a message from English teacher Courtney Gonzalez, who could not attend the event. She said Reagan truly represents what it means to be a dedicated and well-rounded student. “Balancing academics and athletics at that level takes discipline, focus, and resilience, and Reagan exemplifies all three,” Gonzalez wrote.
Ortega High School
Christian Leyva was welcomed to the podium by Principal Lee Alfred. “An obstacle that I faced for a long time was challenges with mental health,” Christian shared. “I struggled to see a future for myself. For the first three years of high school, I dealt with many, many mental health challenges that led me to miss many days of school and many assignments. It was a rough time, and it got to a point where I never thought I would graduate, let alone have a plan for what came after high school.” Enrolling at Ortega High School gave him a new outlook and hope for his future. Christian’s interest in technology has led him to explore the career field of cybersecurity. His English teacher Annie Tran was unable to attend but sent a message read by Principal Alfred that described Christian as observant, thoughtful, and a true critical thinker, especially in his writing. “Christian has the ability to draw from his own personal experiences and connect them to bigger ideas, creating work that is insightful and genuine. He doesn’t just complete assignments, he is intentional about his learning,” Tran wrote.
Temescal Canyon High School
Carson Gray was described by Temescal Canyon Principal Josh Hill as a member of the Titan Engineering & Technology Academy, captain of the cross country and swim teams, and a varsity basketball player. He is also an Eagle Scout. In July, Carson will begin serving a two-year mission in Argentina and plans to attend Brigham Young University and pursue a degree in business upon his return. After a torn ACL at the start of his junior year, Carson was unable to participate in any of the sports he loved. A few months into his recovery he was released to start swimming and that became a new sport he loved and excelled at. The experience taught him that when things get frustrating and seem to be beyond control, looking past those problems and working hard in new directions could help him overcome them. Director Robert Parks said Carson is in the advanced studies group in the engineering academy where he’s earned a 4.426 GPA. “He’s taken our hardest classes we offer,” Parks said. “He’s earned every single certification we offer in the program, including ones reserved only for college students.”
Madison Romain was introduced by Principal Hill as part of the school’s leadership program. She currently serves as ASB vice president and is a varsity dance team member. She belongs to the Titans for Christ club. Madison said it isn’t easy balancing academics, early morning practices, ASB events after school, and spending hours at her dance studio every day. “It definitely comes with challenges, but those challenges are worth it because they allow me to be part of what makes this school so special and to do what I love,” she said. She will attend Cal State Fullerton with plans to become an elementary school teacher. “I’ve always had a passion for working with kids and helping them grow both academically and personally,” she said. Dance team coach Colleen Stevens said that while Madison is an incredibly talented dancer, what truly sets her apart is the kind of teammate and person she is. “She brings a sense of warmth and positivity to our team that makes a lasting impact. She has a way of making people feel welcome, valued, and like they belong, and that’s something that you can’t teach.”
For more information on the program, please contact Kim Joseph Cousins at 951-245-8848 or Donna Romo at Donnajromo@aol.com.
