Greenwood, Evans, Ortiz and Verschoor saluted as Students of the Month

Perseverance, dedication, hard work and a desire to make a difference in the world were common themes at the Fallbrook Student of the Month breakfast Dec. 1.

Audrey Greenwood of Oasis High School and Isabella Evans, Elizabeth Ortiz and Sarah Verschoor of Fallbrook Union High School were honored as the December Students of the Month in a celebratory event held at the Fallbrook Community Center.

Audrey Greenwood was nominated by Oasis teacher Matthew Parker and was the first to be saluted.

"She is the poster child of what Oasis independent study high school is all about," said Parker. "Audrey represents the best of the best and has done it for four years. She believes there is more to life than school, but school does have its place – just behind her goats."

Parker informed the audience that Greenwood, who has won numerous awards while representing the Fallbrook High School Ag Dept.'s FFA chapter, is currently working on earning her American FFA Degree – an honor that only one percent of all FFA members achieve. He added that Greenwood already owns and manages a small dairy herd, a business she works on while studying at Oasis.

"She produced an economic business proposal to continue to run her goat herd. She researched some governmental environmental proposals that would affect her business aspects moving forward, and in our English classes, we were able to do some writing about how her business plan will come together," said Parker. "So, we've been able to apply real life to her learning on a day-to-day basis."

Greenwood has achieved this success while overcoming learning difficulties that included reading.

"There was a time not too long ago where being selected as the student of the month was not something I considered a possibility," said Greenwood. "I struggled with a learning disability that made school difficult. Thanks to Oasis and especially Mr. Parker, I was able to overcome those difficulties and now I'm thriving in school. I feel like my future is wide open. I'm looking forward to college and achieving my American Dairy Goat Association judging license."

Isabella Evans, another force in Fallbrook FFA, was nominated by longtime Ag teacher Doug Sehnert, who noted that his nominee also has her own business.

"Bella is very determined, and on her own initiative founded her own business constructing and marketing and selling dry flower arrangements," said Sehnert. "She's a tremendously hard worker, dedicated, very responsible and one of the most deserving students to earn this award."

Sehnert informed the audience of a laundry list of FFA awards that Evans has earned and relayed that she is a region and section star winner in agribusiness and a star chapter farmer. Sehnert added that Evans is always eager to do volunteer work.

"Bella is always keeping an eye for what more she can contribute and how she can get involved," said Sehnert. "In our planning meetings we hold each year for our FFA chapter, she proposed that we participate with Habitant for Humanity by doing landscaping. She's always looking beyond what she can do for herself, but rather how she can give back to her community."

Evans said FFA changed her life and that her goal is to share that experience with others through teaching.

"I'm blessed to be a part of the Fallbrook FAA chapter," said Evans. "The program has made me the person I am today. Without this program I would not have found basically my true passion for life. I want to become an agricultural education teacher so I can change a student's life just as my advisors have done for me. My plan is to attend Modesto Junior College and major in agricultural education."

Teacher Alana Milton nominated Elizabeth Ortiz, the president of Fallbrook High's Key Club, a student-led organization whose goal is to encourage leadership through helping others through the local Kiwanis club.

"She has spent at least 150 hours through Key Club helping the Kiwanis help the kids of Fallbrook," said Milton of Ortiz. "Despite putting in countless hours of community service, Elizabeth has maintained a great GPA and continues to challenge herself with AP classes. She’s a huge part of the AVID program at Fallbrook High School."

Milton noted that Ortiz also supports the school's athletic teams as a trainer.

"She will go to college, and is hoping to go to Point Loma to study kinesiology and become a physical therapist," said Milton. "I appreciate her hard work and dedication to making the world a better place."

Ortiz – like all of the students – thanked the student of the month committee and members of the community in attendance. And after thanking Milton, a teary-eyed Ortiz thanked her parents and family.

"My parents, I don’t know what to say, because they struggled so much for my sisters and I so we can get where we are today, and I appreciate it," said Ortiz. "My parents encouraged me to do community service and I have learned to love it. It’s taught me to learn and grow as a leader. I strive to be a really great leader in this world. I am really happy to be here today."

Sarah Verschoor was nominated by student counselor Heather Lampron, who called her nominee "an amazing girl, and an amazing student."

"She wants to make a difference and help others in some way, and I know that’s something she’ll do," said Lampron. "She has 4.47 GPA and is applying to Stanford, Yale, MIT and Princeton. She is hard-working and ambitious, but combined with that, she is humble. She wants to learn and is open to learning. She has overcome adversity in her life and always maintained a positive outlook."

Lampron said Verschoor has been helping her peers since middle school by serving as a Safe School Ambassador. The Safe School Ambassador program is an anti-bullying and violence-prevention program, and Lampron noted that Verschoor is leading the program at Fallbrook High this year.

"Sarah, I am so proud of you because you’re such a good person, and I’m happy for you for your achievements," said Lampron while turning to face Verschoor. "I am happy because you set your goals and you are reaching your goals."

Verschoor said through her studying and research she has come to realize "how much injustice there is in the world" and that she will work to aid others.

"Through my general educational and social experiences, I’ve learned the importance of altruism and how much of a difference one can make," said Verschoor. "In the future, I plan to create something using either the tools of mechanical engineering, political science or some other outlet to help others. I plan to continue my education and use the tools, experience and knowledge that I gained from that education to make a difference in some way.”