6 TVUSD Students Honored For Excellence

Six Temecula high school seniors were honored as Students of the Month on December 12th 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 23rd year the TVCC Student of the Month Program has honored students in the Temecula Valley.

Temecula Valley High School - Parker YocumParker Yocum says, “The power to do good in this world by a single person’s hand and what they can achieve is immeasurable.” He says his parents instilled in him the belief that he should never let anyone tell him what he could or couldn’t become. He says, “This great country was founded on that principal, it didn’t matter who you were. If you were willing to work hard and do the right thing, the world was yours.” 
Parker’s Leadership teacher Eric Burlingham says, “Parker is someone who can always be counted on to get the job done. He is a passionate individual who engages everything with energy, excitement and professionalism.” Parker says he would like to attend Brigham Young University and ultimately obtain a law degree so that he can one day become a judge.
Linfield Christian High School - Katie KosteckaTheater teacher Jennifer Lloyd says Katie Kostecka, “…is the epitome of the Linfield student. She loves the Lord, she works hard and is involved in many areas of opportunity from serving to performing for the school.” Katie says that when she came to Linfield in 8th grade, she became involved in theater as well as the Student Ambassador program. She says the greatest life lesson she has learned so far is, “To use the gifts and talents God has given me.” Katie is undecided on where she would like to attend college, but she plans to double major in english and theater.
Chaparral High School - Rachel BuddSocial Science teacher and swim coach Susan Myers says Rachel Budd is “a model student.” She says, “As a swimmer, Rachel works hard to improve but always has time to help fellow swimmers improve as well.” In addition to the Varsity Swim Team, Rachel is on Varsity Water Polo Team, she has worked as a Special Olympics swim coach, she has completed over 500 hours of community service, and she spent her summer interning in the District Attorney’s Office. Rachel says she would like to ultimately pursue a career in Business Process Management. 
Great Oak High School - Ash Kapur
English teacher January Jones describes Ash Kapur as having, “a fervor and innate passion for learning, for questioning existing principles and for simply knowing more.” Ash, who was born in Mumbai, India moved to the U.S. in 1998 at the age of two. He says, “Watching my parents build their lives in the U.S. has shaped my perspective on hard work and ethics immeasurably.” Ms. King says, “What I love most is that Ash is always ready and willing to consider things from multiple points of view. He is never hesitant to admit that he is wrong or that someone else has a different, but equal perspective.” Ash says that he would like to study foreign relations or public policy and eventually work for the State Department or teach for a top university.
Rancho Christian High School - Paul AmargoAthletic Director Ryan Wikert has had Paul in his Bible class for four years. He says, “Paul has a servant’s spirit and always puts others’ needs before his own. He is an extremely personable young man with a terrific work ethic.” Paul says the greatest lesson he has learned in life is, “Not to worry, not stress, and always have faith.” Mr. Wikert, who has accompanied Paul on mission trips, says Paul is “always the first to volunteer and the last one to stop working. He is an outstanding young man.” Paul says that following graduation, he would like to go on to a four year university and major in science. 

Temecula Preparatory School - Omar KhaledOmar Khaled says that his parents, who are from Bangladesh, taught him to have “compassion for all human beings”. He says the greatest challenge he has faced so far was when at an early age he was faced with “reconciling myself with the world.” He says, “I have learned that I don’t need to justify my identity to anyone, but rather to live my life with a consummate consciousness and desire to help others.” After graduation, Omar says he would like to pursue a career in human biology . He has applied to UC Berkeley, the University of Chicago, Georgetown, and Yale. --Temecula Valley Unified School District