Temecula Students of the Month Honored

Six Temecula high school seniors were honored as Students of the Month on November 13th 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 include (seated left to right): Bailie Rapaport (Temecula Valley High School), Anthony Deaconn (Chaparral High School), Isis Leon (Rancho Vista High School), Holly Wenzell (Susan H. Nelson School), Rachel Iacoboni (Linfield Christian High School) and India Dove (Great Oak High School). Standing in the back row: Sally Myers, founder/advisor of the Student of the Month Program and Temecula Mayor, Maryann Edwards.

Student of the Month Award Recipients:
Temecula Valley High School ~ Bailie Rapaport
Bailie is involved in many activities and clubs at Temecula Valley High School. She is the Vice President of the
school’s ASB club and is on the varsity basketball team just to name a few. Her nominating teacher, Mr.
Burlingham said Bailie is creative, intelligent and amazingly determined and sets a true standard of excellence.
Principal Allen Williams said he first met Bailie when she was keeping stats for the basketball team. At the time,
he didn’t realize she was a player on the team who happened to be injured and said it shows that she is a team
player. Bailie believes in having a good balance between the mental and physical and likes to do things other than
study such as hiking and watching the Big Bang Theory. She does not know which college she will attend next fall
but does know she will focus her studies on science or math. Bailie’s dad said she makes the world a better place
and he and his wife are so proud of her.

Chaparral High School ~ Anthony Deaconn
Mike Zides, Assistant Principal at Chaparral High School sought some of Anthony’s friends out and asked them to use one word to describe Anthony. Some of the words used were caring, passionate, family and dedication. Anthony said his amazing teachers and school offered programs allowed him to build on his interests. Over the summer, he lived on his own in Pasadena for a six-week internship program at the California Institute of Technology. There, he learned to be self sufficient and got a taste of what it will be like living on his own next year in college. His nominating teacher, Hyrum Andrews, said Anthony does not let problems or hardships stop him and his ambition and drive make him an excellent problem solver and high achiever in every class he takes. On his own, Anthony started a peer physics club where students in physics could get help from other students. He does not yet know what college he will attend but knows he wants to major in Engineering Physics and then work in the growing field of nanotechnology. Anthony’s grandma flew in from Romania to watch him receive Student of the Month and his mom said she is so proud of him and is so thankful for the outstanding teachers and school district in Temecula.

Rancho Vista High School ~ Isis Leon
Isis came to Rancho Vista High School last year behind on credits and now is set to graduate early, her principal
Greg Cooke said. Isis said she didn’t go to school for 1 ½ years and thought she would not graduate from high
school. She has learned it is important to set goals and not to live up to anyone’s expectations but her own. Her
nominating teachers, Laura Cooper and Amber Cunningham said that even though Isis is shy, she is a confident
young woman who is always respectful to both staff and fellow students. She has received straight A’s since
arriving at Rancho Vista High School and is involved in the school’s ASB program as a representative. Isis plans
on attending a culinary school where she wants to receive an Associate’s Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts. Isis’
mom said that the family is there to support her in whatever she wants to do in life.

Susan H. Nelson School ~ Holly Wenzell
Holly grew up in Northern California and her and her family moved to Temecula in June of 2013 so she could
follow her passion of competitively riding horses. Holly is not a typical student. She is a world class equestrian
who rides her horse and works in the mornings and then works on her schooling in the afternoons. She has
learned that following your passion is important and to be grateful, responsible and trust others. Holly’s
nominating teacher, Brian Balaris, said the advantage program is challenging because students have to work
independently and for most students, there is a learning curve on how to do that. He said Holly just knew how to
do that and is even on track to graduate in December. Holly plans on going to a community college for two years
and then transferring to a four-year university where she would eventually love to show people how much a horse
can change your life for the better. Holly’s dad said she is organized, responsible, mature and courageous and
wishes he knew at 17 years of age what she knows at the same age.

Linfield Christian High School ~ Rachel Iacoboni
Holly Wilson, Rachel’s principal, said Rachel is a remarkably quiet servant who serves behind the scenes,
especially as the school’s ASB president. In 8th grade, Rachel ran for and was elected freshman president for
student government. Normally introverted, she had to give a speech in front of the entire school in order to run for
this elected position. She has learned, through this, to step out of your comfort zone and make a difference in
your community. Nominating teacher, Maria Renno, said Rachel is responsible, focused, determined, humble,
and is comfortable in her own skin. As a junior, Rachel, she said, founded the Fashion club at their school. After
graduation, Rachel plans to pursue her passion for fashion design by attending a four year college to major in
Fashion Design and minor in business. Rachel’s dad said he is so proud of her for receiving this honor and to
“remember your roots and all who helped you.”

Great Oak High School ~ India Dove
Principal Keith Moore said India is a person who is going to have an impact on others and that is one of the many
reasons she was chosen as student of the month. Malala Yousafzai, a 17 year old Pakistani activist for female
education and the youngest ever Nobel Prize recipient wrote “when someone takes away your pens you realize
quite how important education is.” India read Malala’s book with this quote in it and realizes how fortunate she is
to earn an education. Her most prevalent life lesson learned so far is to seize every opportunity available to
ensure an enriching educational experience. Amy Irwin, India’s nominating teacher, said India is a very
passionate person, especially for the environment and has a thirst for knowledge. She said India is humble,
sincere, honest and is a fantastic role model, especially for her twin daughters, who she hopes will someday grow
up to be like India. India’s many family weekend visits to the ocean fostered her love and appreciation of the
ocean and all marine life. She intends to pursue a biological or environmental science degree at a private, four
year university next fall. Her goal is to become a marine conservation biologist in order to preserve the integrity of
the oceans. India’s dad said he is really proud of her and knows this is a recognition she will never forget.