Chambers honor PUHSD Students of the Month

From left to right: Mayor Pro Tem Lesa Sobek, City of Menifee; Tim Moore, Perris Valley Chamber of Commerce and VFW Post 888 Commander; Connor Gibson, Paloma Valley High School; Wendy Alvarez, Perris Lake High School; Evelyn Sicairos, Perris High School; Katelyn Thomas, Heritage High School; Grant Bennett, Superintendent, Perris Union High School District; Bardy Leblanc, Les Schwab Tire Centers, Perris; and Mayor Pro Tem Malcolm Corona, City of Perris.

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The Perris Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce recently honored April Students of the Month in the Perris Union High School District. The students are nominated by their 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.

The 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 Katelyn Thomas. Katelyn currently holds a 4.08 GPA and is a scholar athlete. Her passion for swimming is evident in that she became the first Heritage High student to qualify for the CIF State championship meet. Katelyn began swimming competitively at the age of 5. She has held a number of national records and strives to improve her time. However, these goals have not come without its setbacks having to deal with a number of injuries.

Through these experiences, Katelyn has become stronger both physically and mentally. The one thing that Katelyn will take with her throughout life is that every person goes through their fair share of lows. Obstacles don’t have to stop anyone. Katelyn has received a full scholarship to Concordia University, where she will be pursuing a career as a physical therapist.

Paloma Valley High School’s Student of the Month is Conner Gibson. Conner is leader of the NJROTC Battlecats. It is a smaller unit within the NJROTC equivalent to what the Seals are to the Navy and the Green Berets are to the Army. There is a higher standard with this group and Conner models, and is the example, for all other cadets. Not only is he a leader in NJROTC but he has also earned his Eagle Scout this year.

With Conner’s leadership abilities, the Paloma Valley NJROTC was able to place second in the nation at a recent military competition in Florida. Conner shared that NJROTC has been one of the most influential experiences in his life and plans to take the many lessons he’s learned with him to college and beyond. He will be attending Auburn University, where he will major in business marketing and will pursue a career in professional MMA fighting within the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Perris Lake High School’s Wendy Alvarez was also honored. Wendy is described as a quiet fighter, according to Principal Dean Hauser. She also happens to be Perris Lake’s Valedictorian. This is quite an accomplishment as Wendy admitted struggling with her academics. However, as she has matured and has done some soul searching, she has worked hard to become successful in school and coming to the place she is now.

This has not come without its struggles, though. During her senior year, Wendy’s mother was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. Throughout this experience, Wendy has continually maintained her grades while helping to take care of her mom. As a result, she is not only class valedictorian but was recognized as a Top Scholar by Dr. Judy White, Superintendent of the Riverside County Office of Education. Wendy shared that she feels blessed and is forever grateful for the love and support of her family. She plans to continue her education seeking a career in veterinary medicine.

Evelyn Sicairos is Perris High School’s Student of the Month. Perseverance and determination would be two of most apt words to describe Evelyn. Although she was born in the United States, her family decided to move to Mexico. Evelyn stated there until she completed the eighth grade. Wanting to seek the best education possible, she chose, on her own, to come back to the United States to attend high school.

She had to work twice as hard and take additional English classes to keep up with her academics. Now she has accomplished this without having her parents with her as they remained in Mexico and Evelyn lived with an aunt. All of her hard work has now paid off and she has not only been accepted to UC San Diego but also to university in Mexico. Evelyn plans to enter the medical field and pursue a career in pediatrics.

If you wish to learn more about the Student of the Month Program, please contact founder Sally Myers at 951-506-8024.