Lake Elsinore Unified Honors 7 Students

The following is a press release from the Lake Elsinore Unified School District:

Lake Elsinore, CA—Seven high school seniors from the Lake Elsinore Unified School District were recently honored by the Student of the Month program, under the auspices of the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce and BMW Management, which owns and manages Sizzler restaurants. Students are individually selected by teachers and school staff for their character, love of learning, leadership, community service, and their ability to persevere through life’s challenges.

January ‘Student of the Month’ Honorees:

ELSINORE HIGH SCHOOL

Lyle Brewer is on a mission to become a better person with each passing day. True to his quest, he has applied to BYU Provo, but won’t start until after he’s ventured into the world on a two-year mission assignment through his church. School life includes band, serving as ASB president, and leading the student cheer section at pep rallies and games. His philosophy of life is to focus on one’s own race, not the race against others. “Creating a better generation” is the measure of that race, according to Lyle. Teachers describe Lyle as a servant leader. He is also a talented musician and piano teacher.

Heather Zermeno is a soft-spoken student athlete with a big heart. Basketball has helped to center her school life, and her integrity has helped to steady her teammates, playing better as a result. She plans to attend Pepperdine University, where she will study pre-law and international relations. The life lesson she embodies is to “give 100% and never to give up.” Adversities in life have taught her to be non-judgmental, which she attributes admiringly to her twin sister, whose life example has taught Heather the gift of accepting everyone just as they are.

LAKESIDE HIGH SCHOOL

Diego Aguilar thinks about a future in space exploration. He has been accepted at SDSU, where he will study Aerospace Engineering. School life includes varsity basketball, and dual enrollment, which enables him to earn college credit through college coursework at Lakeside. Outside activities include service to his church, which has taught him leadership skills and the virtue of humility, or as he says, “you don’t always have to be the best, just be the hardest working.”

Deja Stockdale has strength of character to endure the burden of terminal illness in her own family, while finding hope and renewal as the co-founder of a campus club that supports students when cancer strikes a loved one. She has applied to UCLA, UCR and UCSD, among others, so she can study bio-psychology, a field of interest inspired by her Stanford-educated aunt. Deja’s school life includes Calculus club and band. Her insatiable curiosity and strong work ethic have propelled her to leadership roles in all she does.

TEMESCAL CANYON HIGH SCHOOL

Jeffrey Ibarra has been characterized as a model TCHS student. This is his first year in the AVID program, which has taught him the value of being true to his discerning, insightful self. He has been accepted at CSU San Marcos, but has also applied to UCR, UCI and UCLA. The life lesson he loves most is “building happiness into life’s pursuits-anything less is not worth pursuing.” School life includes academics and being a dance member of the hip hop crew. Teachers appreciate his analytical mind and the effect he has upon his peers: when Jeffrey speaks, people listen.

Anaielly Velasco has a passion for broadcast journalism and public speaking. She has applied to CSU Long Beach, Fullerton, UCR, and USC. She founded the Rotary Interact Club at her school and edits the sports news for the school newspaper. She is president of AVID, which has helped her maintain high grades and high aspirations. She has played volleyball all four years at TCHS, but still finds time to volunteer with the elderly and shut-ins. Her ability to set the bar high rests in the belief that “anything is possible.”

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ONLINE ACADEMY

Alyssa De Moraes has applied to CSU San Marcos and plans to major in Liberal Studies, with the goal of becoming a 5th grade teacher. She especially enjoys language and social studies, but feels she will be an effective instructor because of her love of learning. The Southern California Online Academy has enabled her to take electives at Elsinore High, where she’s been cast in the spring production of Beauty and the Beast. Teachers describe Alyssa as a calming presence among her peers, but a powerhouse with kids, which shows she has what it takes to become an elementary school teacher!