INDIO – Soon-to-graduate students from desert-area high schools who have shown unwavering excellence and dedication in the face of individual, family, and academic challenges, will be recognized at the Greater Coachella Valley Student of the Month event on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 9 a.m. at the Fantasy Springs Special Events Center (84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio, CA 92203).
Launched by the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) in December 2023, the event honors seniors from high schools in the three desert-area school districts: Coachella Valley Unified School District, Desert Sands Unified School District, and Palm Springs Unified School District. At the event, each student honoree will share elements of their journey and their future plans. This regional celebration led by RCOE marks the 9th of its kind throughout multiple regions in Riverside County, where a variety of community partners including chambers of commerce and community groups regularly highlight students of the month from individual districts.
“Our Student of the Month scholars embody character, integrity, a passion for learning, active involvement in school life, sports, and community service, and have displayed remarkable resilience in the face of life’s challenges while maintaining a commitment to education,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “Honoring the excellence of these students who are completing their public education in Riverside County, is an extraordinary way to celebrate their accomplishments as they begin to pursue their post-secondary dreams.”
Honoree selection begins with educators and staff members at each high school who carefully select one outstanding student for the unique honor and recognition every October through March. These exceptional students and their families will be celebrated at each event throughout the school year. For the 2023-2024 school year, this is the final Student of the Month event.
Student of the Month recipients can now apply for the prestigious Student of the Year Award by submitting scholarship applications. These awardees are chosen based on their outstanding academic achievements, active participation in high school life, or their inspiring journey of self-improvement and transformation. The Student of the Year for each participating district will be named on April 30, 2024, at The Classic Club (75200 Classic Club Blvd., Palm Desert, CA 92211).
Platinum ($5,000), gold ($3,000), bronze ($1,500), and table ($500) sponsorship opportunities are available for all events. Please contact Natalia T. Gonzalez for additional information at ntgonzalez@rcoe.us.
The honorees at the March event include:
Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD)
- Jesus Inez Arellano-Sepulveda - Coachella Valley High School
- Barbara Hernandez-Rebolledo - Desert Mirage High School
- Nina Acevedo - La Familia High School
- Pablo Mulato-Elias - Nova Academy High School
- David Lopez - West Shores High School
- David Mendiola – Coachella Valley Independent Study
Desert Sands Unified School District (DSUSD)
- Ariana Avalos - Amistad High School
- Carolina Armenta-Ocejo - Horizon High School
- Lorena Parra-Hernandez - Indio High School
- Camron McLaughlin - La Quinta High School
- Jesus Ahumada Valenzuela - Palm Desert High School
- Frida Arriaga - Shadow Hills High School
- Camila Cardoso - Summit High School
Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD)
- Nicholas Chaney - Cathedral City High School
- Gerardo Badilla Alva - Desert Hot Springs High School
- Yoselin Corado Pacheco - Desert Learning Academy
- Eduardo “Lalo” Martinez - Mt. San Jacinto High School
- Vanessa Bitanga - Palm Springs High School
- Isabella Parise - Rancho Mirage High School
Riverside County Office of Education Programs (RCOE)
- Katlynn Terranova – Palm Springs Community School
- Cairo Reyes – Don F. Kenny Regional Learning Center
About the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE)
RCOE is a service agency supporting the county’s 23 school districts and 500+ schools that serve nearly 430,000 students—more than the student population of 17 states. RCOE services include administrative support to districts and charter schools, programs for preschool, special education, pregnant minor, correctional, migrant, and vocational students. In addition, the organization provides professional training, support, and resources for more than 18,000 teachers, administrators, and staff, throughout the 7,000 square miles of Riverside County. Learn more at www.rcoe.us.
