Schools

LEUSD Seniors Honored

Check out these outstanding students.

Seven high school seniors from the Lake Elsinore Unified School District have been honored as Student of the Month award winners, under the auspices of the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Lake Elsinore Sizzler Restaurant.

Students are individually selected by teachers and school staff for their character, love of learning, leadership, community service, and their ability to persevere through challenging circumstances. 

November "Student of the Month" Honorees:

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Elsinore High School

Piseth Chea is a top student in all subjects and a math whiz, according to his teachers. A Valedictorian candidate, Piseth is active in AVID, NHS, Rotary Interact, and College Club. Piseth’s passion for math and science has fueled an interest in Electrical Engineering. His college preferences include UCSD, CSU Fullerton, and UC Irvine. According to Piseth, one life lesson taken to heart is that one’s battles shape one’s character. Though he works hard in all aspects of school life, his teachers are quick to acknowledge his humanistic side, not just his curiosity and intellectual competitiveness. For example, he has spent Saturdays as a volunteer tutor for students who are prepping for the CAHSEE test. He has also been a United Way Day of Caring volunteer, dedicated to doing his part to make our community a better place.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Pauline Madduma is described by her teachers as being involved, brilliant, articulate, and athletic. She aspires to attend UCSD to become a physician. Pauline values giving back to community as a volunteer, and discovered her calling through the annual Relay for Life cancer walk and fundraiser. An avid tennis player, Pauline says her biggest lesson learned is to never give up. On that score, she has been a four year varsity and letter winner. Pauline has demonstrated leadership as team captain through her willingness to encourage and inspire her teammates. All agree that she is a star with a bright future.

Temescal Canyon High School

Logan Allen is a student who cares about others more than himself, according to Principal Errol Garnett. Logan is always there for others, keeping one step ahead of their needs, as demonstrated by his loyal service as ASB Speaker of the House. Logan plans to attend UCSD, pursuing studies in chemical engineering. He says that his chemistry teacher inspired him to discover new things, and to innovate. As a servant leader, Logan feels that belief in one’s self is how people learn to value and recognize the highest potential in others. Logan’s consideration for others has made him a role model. Though shy, Logan leads by example, showing that determination and kindness are unbeatable traits for success.

Brianne Cassidy was the unanimous staff pick for this honor, according to her AVID advisor. Though Brianne considers herself an average student who has enjoyed school success by working hard, her teachers say there is nothing average about her. She is an excellent writer, and has been involved in clubs and rebuilding the Titan newsletter. She regularly contributes a column for the college bound student, furthering Temescal Canyon High School’s culture of making college attainable for all. Brianne’s sights are set on UCSB, which she fell in love with during an AVID college road trip. Her goal is to attend law school and to pass the bar, specializing in environmental law. Her dream is to make change in the world as an environment advocate. According to her mother, as a writer, Brianne has blossomed and found her voice; she has the necessary drive and intellect to take a strong stand and argue any case that she believes in.

Lakeside High School

Lucas Meinke is successful in both athletics and academics. Outside of school, he has found ways to give back to the community through his involvement in Boy Scouts, recently completing his Eagle Scout project. Lucas plans to attend Cal State Long Beach our UCSB, and hopes his hard work qualifies him for a Presidential scholarship. His interests include biology, medicine and eventually veterinary medicine. While athleticism hasn’t come naturally or easily for Lucas, he has played varsity basketball all four years. Dedication and hard work are lesson learned, or as he puts it, “Committing to being the best I can be.” Teachers value Lucas’s strength of character and well-rounded success. He is known for asking probing and challenging questions in class. His maturity in conversation is highly respected. According to Lucas’s mother, success for Lucas is the product of all the nurturing and caring adults in his life.

Cassandra Hansen is described by her advisors as a complete person and complete student, having mastered the art of balancing school, varsity cheer, and church involvement. Cassandra feels UCSB is where she’d like to study environmental science, learning how to preserve the planet by developing policies of sustainability and allocation of increasingly limited resources, such as clean drinking water. As a varsity cheer captain, the homework lesson she knows best is: never be less than what one is capable of being. Cassandra’s cheer coach cites her hard work ethic and love of school as the foundation of Cassy’s natural leadership abilities during her years as a cheer captain.

Keith McCarthy Academy

Amanda Rodriguez is looking forward to a career in the Marine Corps. She thanks her father, a police officer, for always wanting the best for her, especially in supporting her and encouraging her through a sometimes rocky journey through high school. Describing herself as the rebellious type, she says it took several setbacks to open her eyes to the importance of an education. But perseverance has paid off: her stature in the academy is amazing, according to teachers who admire how much Amanda has done to help other students who have also come into to the program with low enthusiasm for learning, at first. Amanda has turned things around at KMA for other students, as well as for herself. As part of her USMC service career, she plans to pursue an education in law. Her parents could not be more proud. --Lake Elsinore Unified School District


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here