Murrieta's October Students of the Month Named

On October 4th the Murrieta Valley Chamber of Commerce High School Student of the Month Recognition Program was held and the five students shown in the attached photo were recognized. 

The Murrieta students and their families attended a breakfast sponsored by numerous local businesses. Students received numerous gift certificates from community businesses along with certificates of recognition, congratulations and encouragement from local, county, state and federal dignitaries.

At the monthly event students share 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. 

The October Students of the Month are:

Tenaja Canyon Academy Senior Haley Cressler brightens up any room she enters! Haley is determined to achieve her goals and she is self-motivated and disciplined in her studies; qualities which make her an ideal independent study student. Haley truly cares about other people. She volunteers at the community food pantry and she has the ability to relate to all kinds of people and bring out the best in them. Haley plans to go to San Francisco State University and major in psychology. Her wants to become a psychiatrist so she can help people overcome problems in their lives.

Vista Murrieta High School Senior Madison Hudkins is a fierce competitor in and out of the classroom. She has a 4.4 GPA and she has completed four college-level classes. Madison is known for her maturity, wisdom, compassion and service to the school. She is involved in Student Senate, National Honor Society, and she is Captain of the Varsity Swim and Dive Club. Madison competes at the national level in club diving where she is a three-time All-American Diver. Madison plans to pursue a career in medicine and she would like to be an orthopedic surgeon. She is currently narrowing down her college choices between Virginia Tech, Texas A & M and Georgia Tech and University of Arizona. 

Oak Grove Center Senior Tatjana Ilich has worked very hard to overcome obstacles in her life and she is on track to graduate early in January. Following graduation Tatjana wants to work with animals. She currently volunteers at Lake Elsinore Animal Friends and she also volunteers to help feed the elderly.  In addition, Tatjana holds down a job at Smart and Final. Tatjana is known for her friendly and kind nature. Her teachers at Oak Grove said she is also eager to learn and diligent.  

Murrieta Mesa High School Senior Casey Joe plans to attend either Stanford, USC, UC Berkeley or UCLA and pursue a degree in journalism, communications and public relations. Casey has taken five AP classes and this year she is USB President. She has also been involved in drama, the Pink Ribbon Club, Key Club, California Honor Society and National Honor Society.   Attending the Hugh O'Brien youth leadership conference inspired her to get involved and run for USB President. As a young child she lead her neighborhood friends in an effort to collect donations for the food pantry and the homeless.  This year Casey will be involved in organizing the school's Share the Harvest which fed 1,500 people last year. 

Murrieta Valley High School Senior Caitlin Jomoc is second in her class and she has a 4.5 GPA. Caitlin is in the International Baccalaureate diploma program and this year she is President of the National Honor Society.  Caitlin has served in ASB for two years, this year as Commissioner of Cultural Awareness. Caitlin plans to attend either UCLA or UC Irvine as a pre-med major and after obtaining her medical degree, she would like to serve with Doctors without Borders. Caitlin said her parents left their native countries because of the political unrest in the Philippines and Vietnam and Caitlin said their experiences have inspired her to serve people in other countries.  

To learn more about the Student of the Month Program, please contact Sally A. Myers, founder at 951-506-8024.

For information about sponsoring the Student of the Month program, please contact Margaret D. Jones, chair of the Murrieta Student of the Month Program at 951-677-4856.

Any additional questions can be directed to Karen Parris, Murrieta SOM publicity coordinator at 951-696-1600, ext. 1022.   

The SOM Program greatly appreciates your support and interest in the lives of our young people.

—Submitted by Karen Parris, spokesperson, Murrieta Valley Unified School District