TVUSD Honors January Students of the Month

PHOTO: (seated left to right): Tessa Buono (Linfield Christian High School), Shannon Que (Great Oak High School), Joshua Brooks (Rancho Vista High School), Mikayla Sutton (Susan H. Nelson High School), Evan Schreiber (Temecula Valley High School) and Jordan Hartman (Chaparral High School).

The following is a news release from Temecula Valley Unified School District:

Six Temecula high school seniors were honored as Students of the Month on January 15th 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 24 th year the TVCC Student of the Month Program has honored students in the Temecula Valley.

Month Award Recipients:

Linfield Christian High School ~ Tessa Buono

At the beginning of high school, Tessa was involved in only volleyball but realized she wanted to become a more active participant at Linfield. With the encouragement of a friend, she joined ASB as a spirit coordinator. She later accepted the position as secretary of the school’s ASB club and has enjoyed being involved ‘behind the scenes’ at school activities. Her nominating teacher, Ms. Schwankl, was Tessa’s biology teacher and says Tessa is “one of the most reliable, dependable, and responsible students many of the staff and faculty have known in our collective years of working with high schoolers.” Ms. Schwankl said Tessa has a servant’s heart and will do the jobs most students don’t want, never seeking recognition. Tessa plans to attend Boise State in the fall where she will major in political science and pursue a law degree. She said all she has learned about becoming involved at school, she will take with her to college. Her mom said as a 2 year old, Tessa organized her brother’s Legos and knows Tessa will achieve all her goals. She said she is so proud of Tessa.

Great Oak High School ~ Shannon Que

Shannon has a cousin with special needs and wants to eventually become an occupational therapist or a speech/language pathologist. She said her cousin has a beautiful smile and heart and wants to be an advocate for special needs children. She said her hope is to someday work for or own her own clinic to help families with children with special needs. Ms. Casady, Shannon’s nominating teacher, said she has had the privilege of having Shannon as a student all four years of Shannon’s high school career and said Shannon has grown from a timid freshman to becoming a true leader on the Great Oak High School campus. Ms. Casady attributes Shannon’s growth to her constant desire for improvement. Ms. Casady encouraged Shannon to join yearbook staff and for the past two years, she has been co-editor-in-chief. Shannon plans to attend Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas in the fall. Shannon’s father said Shannon has amazed them since she was born and said he is so proud of her for being selected for this honor.

Rancho Vista High School ~ Joshua Brooks

The life lesson Joshua said he has learned is perseverance and the ability to not give up. He said Rancho Vista High School has been good to him. Assistant principal, Dr. Tood Reed, said Joshua had some stumbles in life but quickly found success at Rancho Vista and now is just days away from graduating high school. Joshua’s nominating teacher, Ms. Cerny said Joshua is a quiet and introspective student who is polite and on task. She said he had to double up on English classes in order to graduate early. Joshua plans on attending film school in Los Angeles where he wants to make a career in film making. Joshua’s mom said he is quiet and shy but has persevered and is so proud of him.

Susan H. Nelson High School ~ Mikayla Sutton

Makayla said she has overcome anxiety and has learned to embrace life’s opportunities. She loves working with the Green Acres Interactive Therapy program which extends “the benefits of horseback riding and animal interaction to children and adults with physical and/or mental disabilities.” Makayla also competes in the California High School Rodeo and works independently in her studies at Susan H. Nelson High School. She plans on attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the fall and would like to major in dairy science with a double major in English. Nominating teacher, Mr. Balaris, said Mikayla became a student at the virtual school during the school’s first year of existence and has become an avid participant in school activities. Makayla, he said, currently holds three positions in the school’s first ever ASB class. Mikayla’s dad said she is one of the most driven people he has met, is passionate, and has enthusiasm.

Temecula Valley High School ~ Evan Schreiber

Evan feels it is important to have great support behind you, which he said he has from his family and teachers, and that the real value in life comes from mistakes. He said he believes the path to one’s own success comes in the form of perseverance. Evan participates in the school’s National Honor Society and likes to help fellow students through times when they doubt themselves. Ms. Chiuminatta said Evan was nominated for this recognition because of his amazing character, his class work, volunteer work, and participation in mock trial. She said Evan, from across campus, saw her pushing a computer cart one day and came up to her to ask if he could push it for her. Ms. Chiuminatta said she hopes her children grow up to be like Evan. Evan plans on attending a university where he will study engineering and science. Evan’s mom said Evan pushes through any kind of struggle and he brings so much to their family.

Chaparral High School ~ Jordan Hartman

Jordan said he feels he is not the most intelligent or most deserving student for this recognition but is honored and says he has been blessed in life. The life lesson he has learned so far is that “You don’t owe it to yourself to excel and succeed; you owe it to all the people who could benefit from your abilities and potential to make a difference in the world.”He wants to use his abilities to improve the lives of others. He plans on attending college in the fall and will major in engineering with the hope of working in the environmental field. Mr. Wells, Jordan’s nominating teacher, said there is such brilliance to Jordan’s originality and engaging sarcasm. Mr. Wells said Jordan is a brilliant writer and analyzer of English literature and has an original take on issues that fellow students talk about for days. Jordan’s dad said he and his wife are blessed to have Jordan as a son and hopes that Jordan never loses his heart and the ability to serve others because that is what gives a person purpose.