Chambers of Commerce honor March Students of the Month

Pictured from left are Brady LeBlanc, of Les Schwab Tire Center; Matt Johnson, of the Perris Valley Chamber of Commerce; Councilman Greg August, City of Menifee; Nathan Hartford, of the California Military Institute; Cynthia Lopez, of Paloma Valley High School; Miranda Bell, of Heritage High School; Azreal Sanchez, of Perris High School; Timothy Dalton, of the Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce; and Grant Bennett, Superintendent of the Perris Union High School District.

The Perris Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce kicked off the 2016-2017 Student of the Month program in September 2016. The students are nominated by teachers and staff at their respective school sites and are chosen for their character, integrity, love of learning, ability to persevere and overcome challenging circumstances, community service, and how they make a difference on their high school campus.

March’s students and their families attended a breakfast sponsored by the Perris and Menifee Chambers of Commerce along with local businesses and organizations. Principals and teachers from each high school shared stories about the students and they each received certificates of recognition, numerous gifts, congratulations and encouragement from local, county, state and federal dignitaries.

Heritage High School’s Student of the Month is Miranda Bell. Bell is involved in a number of activities, including National Honor Society, CSF, tennis, and is the founder of the Legacy Club at Heritage. She is also an advanced level-four French student. “She is an exemplary young woman who challenges herself by taking rigorous coursework and AP classes,” Principal Frank Arce said. She has displayed a dedication and commitment to her education and attributes her academic success to her mom. Coming from a single-parent home can be challenging, but Bell’s mom has always supported her, teaching her to strive for a good education and to always see the silver lining in life. Bell has been accepted to five colleges so far but would like to attend UC San Diego to major in nano-technology and go on to work in research and development.

California Military Institute’s (CMI) Nathan Hartford is March’s Student of the Month. He is the school's Link Crew Commissioner and as a leader in this capacity, he has organized sessions in tutoring, as well as organization and decision-making skills for freshman. As a result, Algebra l scores have risen at CMI. Principal Michael Rhodes described Hartford as a great role model and mentor to younger students. “He is always putting others before himself and is unbelievably humble,” Rhodes said. Hartford shared that when he first came to CMI he felt out of place. However, he decided at that point that he didn’t want to be average and instead strived to excel to the fullest leadership potential he could and he has achieved that at CMI. Hartford has not decided if he will attend college or go into the military, but he is sure to succeed in whatever he chooses.

Azreal Sanchez is Perris High School’s Student of the Month. Principal Nick Hilton explained that there are a lot of moving parts within ASB and Sanchez is the student who makes sure that all the parts are moving in the right direction. His ASB instructor, Mr. Rodriguez, shared that Sanchez is a young man who is driven and demonstrates grit and determination in everything he does. “He is a very gifted and academically talented student who remains one of the top 10 at Perris High,” Rodriguez said. However, even with all of his academic accomplishments and accolades, Sanchez remains humble. He shared that his family has been his foundation and what has gotten him through high school. Although he has not yet chosen which college he will attend, he plans to major in pharmaceutical sciences to become a pharmacist; a dream his father gave up to support his family.

Paloma Valley High School’s Student of the Month is Cynthia Lopez. Lopez is an amazing student who will be the first in her family to not only graduate from high school but to attend college as well. She is a four-year AVID student and is in the top two percent at her school. According to her teacher, Mr. Walsh, Lopez is a calming influence in his classroom as a teacher’s assistant. She is always either tutoring other students or studying herself. She has an innate ability to focus, and when she comes to school everyday she has a purpose and pursues it with a passion. Lopez shared that she holds the belief that hard work really pays off and has received inspiration from her own teachers. She has been
accepted to a number of colleges but has not decided which one she will attend. She is also deciding whether to major in microbiology to work in research, or to study to become a teacher.

All of these students demonstrated a desire to work hard and have the drive to exceed others' as well as their own expectations. The Perris Valley Chamber and the Menifee Valley Chamber wish them the best in their endeavors. If you wish to learn more about the Student of the Month Program, please contact founder Sally Myers at 951-506-8024.