Flores, Brown, Donoghue, Ruiz recognized as Students of the Month

Fallbrook Union High School District's January Students of the Month are, from left, Jesus Flores, Jacqueline Ruiz, Cedric Brown, and Kiera Donoghue.

Lucette Moramarco photo

Jesus Flores of Ivy High School and Cedric Brown, Kiera Donoghue and Jacqueline Ruiz of Fallbrook Union High School were named January Students of the Month for the Fallbrook Union High School District (FUHSD) and honored at a special breakfast held Jan. 8 at the Fallbrook Community Center.

Before the acknowledgements began, two adults were honored at the breakfast. Event emcee Greg Coppock said that Karl Fekete, who presented the Lamp of Knowledge medals to Students of the Month for years, passed away Jan. 1. Coppock asked for a posthumous round of applause for Fekete. He then announced that Gordon Stone has retired as the director of the Fallbrook Community Center after 30 years. Another round of applause was given for Stone who was at the breakfast representing Fallbrook Village Rotary.

Next up, FUHSD superintendent Hugo Pedroza said that each student in the district has the potential to be a student of the month and the mission of the district is to recognize them. “Challenges do not define us, but the commitment to surpass them,” he added.

For a student to be selected for the honor of Student of the Month, he or she must be nominated by a teacher, staff, or community member, have significant academic achievements, admirable behavior, be a positive example, and involved in community volunteerism.

Jesus Flores was recommended for the honor by Ivy High teacher Sheri Ryan. Flores has been at Ivy since August and has completed 10 online classes since then, Ryan said. “He is motivated to graduate,” she said, adding “he is a fitness fanatic, works out at the gym, eats right – no junk food (unlike the other kids).”

Flores said he has recently discovered multiple passions including guitars and weight training. “I want to motivate and inspire others;” by becoming a certified trainer he will “help people to get the body of their dreams,” he said. He thanked Ms. Ryan for “expanding my desire for an education.”

Cedric Brown was nominated for the student of the month honor by Fallbrook High coaches Pat Walker and Marty Camacho.

Walker said, “We have seen a great change in character , building character and integrity which translates into leadership on the baseball field.” As the catcher, Brown is a vocal leader; in class, he has focus and a game plan for his life, Walker added.

Camacho commented on Brown’s work ethic, “He leads by example, takes younger kids under his wing, shows them how to do things; he is a great student and excels on the field.”

Brown said he has always wanted to go into the Navy but learned about the Merchant Marine Academy last summer and has received a nomination from Duncan Hunter for that academy. He is waiting to hear if he has been accepted.

Kiera Donoghue was recommended for the student of the month award by Fallbrook High choir teacher Heather Smith.

Smith said of Donoghue, “She is a great student, great athlete but doesn’t tell you about it.” She medaled at the league cross country meet, volunteers at the hospital, her church, and at Potter [Junior High] in the summer. “She is a good person, kind to her peers, always a smile on her face... a treasure,” Smith added.

Donoghue, who has been in choir for four years, said she will sing in choir in college, but does not know where she is going yet. She applied to several schools, including Notre Dame. She plans to major in science, pre-med, and become an emergency room doctor.

Jacqueline Ruiz was nominated for the student of the month honor by Fallbrook High teacher Kate Paragone, an autism support specialist. Paragone told how she asked for math tutors for her students and Ruiz volunteered, spending fourth period in her class all semester. “Everything about her [Ruiz] impresses me, her demeanor, smile, kindness, patience.” When Ruiz even stayed during lunch to help a student, Paragone decided she deserved special recognition, recommending her for this award.

Ruiz, an AVID student, said she struggled in school until a teacher asked her if she needed help, then helped her. So, her goal is to become a teacher, “one of the most important jobs... to be there and help students.”

Of the January honorees, Fallbrook High School principal Rod King said, besides the obvious parental support and the students’ usual characteristics, “I noticed today the gift in their hearts to serve one another.”

At the breakfast event, each of the students was awarded a Lamp of Knowledge medal by active duty military representatives LCpl Jacob H. Streitel, LCpl John A. Ingle, and LCpl Jose J. Carvajal. In addition, the students received many certificates of recognition and gifts from local organizations and businesses for their accomplishments.

The Fallbrook Student of the Month breakfast is funded by generous local businesses and organizations, including Major Market, Fallbrook PTSA, Law Offices of Faunce, Singer & Oatman, Fallbrook Village Rotary Club, Coldwell Banker Village Properties, Fallbrook Vintage Car Club, Fallbrook Republican Women Federated, and Sheri’s Flowers.

To nominate an FUHSD high school student for this honor, email [email protected].