Perris Union HS District Honors Students of the Month

Pictured left to right: Sally Myers, Founder; Dr. Jonathan Greenberg, Superintendent of Perris Union Valley High School District; Karina Contreras, Heritage High School; Julia Rivera, Paloma Valley High School; Lesley Ayala, Perris High School; Jeffrey Kelton, Perris Lake High School; Perris Mayor Pro Tem Mark Yarbrough; and, Dorothy Wolons, President of Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The Perris Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce announced the recipients for the October Students of the Month.

For Heritage High School, Karina Contreras was named the Student of the Month. She currently takes a number of AP courses and is involved in sports and Relay for Life, where she is event chair. She believes that a good education is the first stop in life. Not only is she a good student, but she is focused on improving those around her. Contreras has applied to various colleges including UC Berkley, UCI, and UCLA where she plans on studying homeopathic medicine and enter the medicine field.

Paloma Valley High School's Student of the Month is Julia Rivera. Described by Paloma Valley Counselor, Pete Lopez, as an outstanding student we well as being polite, persistent, shy, and quiet, Rivera revealed that she was a bit fearful transitioning from private to public education during her middle school years. While playing basketball in her freshman year, she found a support system made up of friends and family. Recovering from her injury, she went on to earn a black belt in martial arts. Julie has applied for colleges such as Stanford, UC Berkley, and UCLA to obtain her degree in environmental engineering.

Perris High School's Student of the Month is Lesley Ayala. Currently ranked first in her class, she is in the running for class valedictorian. Lesley is aware of the value a good education is after growing up in some rough neighborhoods in Los Angeles. After losing her mother to cancer, she has pushed forward as an example to her younger brother and cousins. She is also in the running for the Questbridge Scholarship. Lesley plans on attending the military academy and also applying to several colleges such as Columbia, Cornell, and UCLA to receive an engineering degree.

Jeffrey Kelton was selected as Perris Lake High School's Student of the Month. Initially a shy student, Jeffrey has become one of his school's most respected and admired students. Through his family's support and the guidance of his teachers, he has taken every opportunity placed in front of him and turned it into success. Basketball has become one way he has been able to open up to others. His skills at the game have become a main source of entertainment for everyone at his school. Jeffrey plans on attending Mt. San Jacinto College for graphic design.

Students of the Month are nominated by their teachers and school staff based on character, integrity, love of learning, ability to persevere and overcome challenging circumstances, community service, and how they make a difference on their own campus.

October's students and their families attended a breakfast hosted by Menifee Valley and Perris Chambers of Commerce, along with local businesses and organizations. Principals and teachers told stories about the students and each student received certificates of recognition, numerous gifts, congratulations, and encouragement from local, county, state, and federal dignitaries.