November Murrieta Students of the Month Named

Seven Murrieta high school seniors were honored Monday through the Murrieta Chamber of Commerce High School Student of the Month Recognition Program.

The students and their families attended a breakfast sponsored by numerous local businesses. At the monthly event, students shared personal stories of their most important life lesson, how they plan to "pay it forward" when they return from college and stories of victory through challenging life circumstances.  

Students received numerous gift certificates from community businesses along with certificates of recognition, congratulations and accolades from local, county, state and federal dignitaries.

Each student of the month is described below:

Murrieta Valley High School Senior Zackary Fronk is a high honor student with a 4.16 GPA who is enrolled in advanced placement classes and International Baccalaureate. Zackary has been a member of the school's choir for four years and he says being in choir has taught him the value of hard work. He has served in ASB and is a member of California Scholarship Federation and National Honor Society. Zackary has been involved in Boy Scouts since he was 12 and he is described as a solid young man with character, good values and integrity. He plans to attend Brigham Young University where he will major in math or science. Unsure of what career he will follow, Zackary says he wants to make a difference and influence others.

Murrieta Valley High School Senior Eleanor Harvison is a high honor student who is described as a humble leader. Eleanor is known for helping others and she has accumulated morne tha 400 community service hours. After pursuing ballet for 10 years, Eleanor turned her focus to student leadership and she has served in ASB for four years. She is interested in politics and she helped start the school's Young Republican Club and she is also involved in the California Young Republicans Federation. This year she is involved in Mock Trial. She was elected to the California Association of Student Leaders state board and she goes into middle schools to teach leadership skills to younger students. Her goal is to major in journalism and communication at Vanderbilt University and some day she would like to be a political reporter and hold a political office.

Vista Murrieta High School Senior Grace An is best known for her achievements in the fashion world but she is also known at Vista Murrieta High School for the positive impact she has made on students through her involvement in ASB and the school's Interact Club. Grace recently won the grand prize in O'Neill clothing line's third annual "Generation Next" design competition. Along with a design internship at O'Neill, she will receive a $5,000 scholarship and her original dress and bag designs will be a part of O'Neill's Spring collection. Grace is an honor student with a 3.8 GPA and she plans to go to the Parsons School of Fashion in New York. Her goal in life is to make a positive difference and to give back to the community. Grace is an inspiration and positive role model to her peers and she is described as a shining light on campus where she has been overseeing the school's food drive.

Tenaja Canyon Academy Senior Kelsey Mobley is known for her character, integrity and her heart for helping other people. After attending Murrieta Valley High School as a freshman and sophomore, Kelsey underwent spinal surgery and during her recovery she transferred to Tenaja Canyon Academy. Kelsey is a diligent student. She maintains a 3.8 GPA and she plans to go to Cal Baptist University or Point Loma and she plans to become a registered nurse. A trip to Fiji sparked her interest in serving on the mission field. Kelsey has demonstrated her ability to take obstacles and turns them into opportunities and she is a great example of her Christian faith.

Calvary Murrieta Christian High School Senior Madison Tyler said a trip to Haiti was a life-changing experience for her. She said after seeing the poverty and needs there, her life goal is to help the people of Haiti as a missionary when she finishes college. As ASB president at her school, Madison has developed leadership skills and she has demonstrated her ability to organize and motivate others. After returning from Haiti, she organized a fundraiser to send money back to Haiti to send a child to school. She plans to attend Biola University or Cal Baptist University.

Murrieta Mesa High School Senior Carter Rawlings is one of the top 10 students at his school. He has participated in football, basketball, water polo, golf, the school's Interact Club, Model United Nations and he is vice president of National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. Carter is interested in several career paths including medicine and economics. He is interested in attending UCSD, UCLA, John Hopkins University or the University of Washington. He helped his father create the Murrieta Mud Run to raise funds for a drug and alcohol treatment center in Riverside and he said his involvement in community service and leadership in high school have changed his perspective.   Carter said he has learned to live up to his own expectations and that being yourself will make you successful.

Murrieta Mesa High School Senior Tori Parsons has been the editor of her school newspaper and yearbook for two years. Tori is described as a talented, kind and compassionate young woman who is mature beyond her years. Tori has volunteered in PTA for 13 years and she has learned the importance of being involved in PTA through her mother's example. At Murrieta Mesa Tori is in PTSA and she also serves on the Board of Murrieta Valley Council PTA where she handles communications and social media. Tori is described as a positive student who leads by example. She has demonstrated her leadership skills by helping build the journalism program at Murrieta Mesa. She plans to major in journalism at the University of Nebraska or the University of Washington. Tori is patient, loving and kind and has responded to the challenges that have come her way with grace and compassion.

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

If you wish to learn more about sponsoring the Student of the Month program, please contact Margaret Jones, Chair of the Murrieta Student of the Month Program at 951-677-4856. The SOM Program greatly appreciates your support and interest in the lives of our young people.

If you have any additional questions, contact Karen Parris, Murrieta SOM Publicity Coordinator at 951-696-1600 x1022.

--Submitted by Karen Parris, Murrieta Valley Unified School District