Temecula December Students of the Month Honored

Six Temecula high school seniors were honored as Students of the Month on December 11th by the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce (TVCC). The students were recognized by their families, teachers, principals, the business community, and locally elected officials. This is the 24th year the TVCC Student of the Month Program has honored students in the Temecula Valley.

The students are:

Great Oak High School ~ Anthony Agbay
Anthony Agbay uses his many talents to give back the community. He uses his skills as a musician to perform in the community; he is on the varsity tennis team and uses those skills to volunteer at tennis camps around the city; as an Eagle Scout, he volunteers his time helping other scouts and he tutors students at the library. His nominating teacher, Mr. Burdick-Rutz said as Anthony’s band teacher, he has had the opportunity to be around Anthony all four years of Anthony’s high school years and says Anthony is a maestro in everything he sets out to do. Mr. Burdick-Rutz said Anthony leads by example, is an outstanding student athlete and has a quiet confidence that people respond to. Anthony’s father said the saying “it takes a village to raise a child” is accurate and all the coaches, teachers and scout leaders have made Anthony a better member of society. Anthony is in the process of applying to schools but knows he does want to major in Bio-Engineering in order to pursue his goal of making a positive impact on society.

Temecula Valley High School ~ Katie Kim
Katie Kim has learned that by making yourself proud and the people you love proud, everyone else’s opinion becomes quite irrelevant. Katie is a member of the Science Olympiad, Key Club, California Scholarship Federation and Caltech’s research program. She is the current president of her school’s National Honor Society and Science Olympiad and is taking a sophomore level college course offered at Temecula Valley High School. She has accumulated over 550 hours of community service and has received President Obama’s Volunteer Service Award four times. Nominating teacher Mr. Brannon said she is the finest student he has had in his 18 years of teaching. He said Katie has depth of character and has a smile that others respond to. He said he hopes that his daughter will be as fine an individual as Katie Kim. Katie’s mom said Katie was a fun loving and inquisitive youngster who always asked why, even asking ‘Why did I get a time out?’ Her mom said she is so thankful for the leaders in the community who have played a role in shaping who Katie is. Katie said she is in the process of applying to schools both on the east and west coasts and is not quite sure of her major, although she is interested in investment banking, journalism and computer science.

Rancho Christian High School ~ Victoria Frichner
Victoria Frichner expressed her gratitude to her parents and siblings and said having a love of learning is more important in her family than straight A’s. During a mission trip, Victoria learned that she wants to go into a field where she can help give children in impoverished countries the education they deserve. She has learned life is all about the journey. Her nominating teacher, Mr. Rea said he has known Victoria since she was a young girl and she has become an outstanding student. He said she is more than just about grades; she has great character. He said she is willing to help anyone, even agreeing to a last minute request he had of asking her to play and sing at a retreat at school. Her father said Victoria, who his wife thought was going to be a boy, is that child he doesn’t have to worry about and is such a gift. He said when he saw a picture of Victoria comforting a young girl during one of Victoria’s mission trips, he knew she is the type of person who will make a difference in the world. Victoria plans on receiving a degree in elementary education and wants to pursue teaching in other countries.

Temecula Preparatory School ~ Brennen Scarbrough
Brennen Scarbrough has learned that good can come out of every situation and to believe in yourself. Brennen said he struggles with social anxiety every day and some of his earlier school years were very difficult. Using the coping and time management skills he learned, he has pushed through and hopes that he can show others in a similar situation how to get through obstacles in life. Brennen’s nominating teacher, Mr. Arreola, said Brennen demonstrates all of the four cardinal virtues the school teaches: justice, fortitude, temperance and prudence. Brennen, he said, is hardworking, trustworthy, fun loving and has shown so much growth in character over the past several years. Brennan’s mom said he rarely asks for anything and is quiet and kind. She said although Brennen earned this recognition differently, he gives a voice to other kids on campus that with hard work, you can overcome. Brennen plans on attending Point Loma Nazarene University in the fall where he wants to study Business Management so he can start his own business and serve his community.

Chaparral High School ~ Megan Crain
Megan Crain does a lot of community service and wants to eventually be involved in politics and law so she can continue to help others. She has been in and volunteered in over 20 musical theatre productions, is a tutor for the peer leadership program, and interned in State Senator Joel Anderson’s office. Her principal, Gil Compton said the literary club did an expose on Megan titled “The Incredible Brain of Megan Crain.” Mrs. Baron, Megan’s nominating teacher said Megan is an extraordinary individual, an extremely hard worker, determined and compassionate and will make amazing things happen. Mrs. Baron said Megan, although a quiet leader gets other students wanting to do more and they look up to her. Megan’s mom said she was six and a half months pregnant with Megan when the family moved to Temecula on the promise of great schools and a great community. She said Megan has taken advantage of every opportunity the community has given her and agreed that it takes a village to raise a child. She said living with Megan was like living in a musical because she sang everything. Megan plans on attending a four year college where she will major in political science and then law school. Her dream job is to work as a civic lawyer for the city of San Francisco.

Linfield Christian High School ~ Jessica MacDonald
Jessica MacDonald has learned to work hard at everything she does. She said her parents did not go to college long enough to obtain a degree and that has motivated her to try her best in everything. Principal Holly Wilson said Jessica is ‘others centered’ and has an uncanny quality of a having a quiet spirit who cares for others. Jessica said she likes attending a small school where she is able to participate in many things, such as student government, theatre and being a sports ambassador. Nominating teacher, Ms. Lloyd said Jessica is a brilliant student who is involved in everything. Ms. Lloyd said Jessica is hard working, well rounded and her character makes her who she is. Jessica’s mom said Jessica has always been independent, self driven and puts others before herself and is so proud of her. Jessica is unsure of the university she will attend next fall but does know she wants to study medicine. On a trip to Haiti, Jessica said her heart broke because of how long people had to wait to see a doctor. She hopes to someday use her medical talents in Haiti.

--Information from Temecula Valley Unififed School District