Basurto, Castellanos, Gross and Lackey honored as Students of the Month

Kenia Basurto of Oasis High School and Suzetty Castellanos, Michael Gross and Ashlie Lackey of Fallbrook Union High School were honored as the Students of the Month for February at a special recognition breakfast held Feb. 1 at North Coast Church.

Greg Coppock emceed the event, which began with an invocation by Daniel Andrus of St. Peter's Catholic Community. After the Pledge of Allegiance, Marines from Camp Pendleton presented the students with the Lamp Of Knowledge medal.

Lackey, nominated by teacher Adriana Lopez, was the first student to be presented to the audience of family members, friends, school administrators and community leaders.

"It's a great honor to have her in my classes," said Lopez of Lackey. "Ashlie is a successful student with a GPA of 4.6. She excels in many AP courses and has received multiple honors and awards. She is a competitive athlete in field hockey and lacrosse with an MVP title."

Lopez said that Lackey participates in FFA, is on the FHS Academic Team, tutors youth in mathematics and has helped coach boys and girls field hockey.

"She's accomplished many great things," said Lopez of Lackey. "She gives 120 percent in everything that she does, and it's going to be a great honor to see where she goes."

Lackey said it was "an honor" to be nominated by Lopez, a person she sees as a role model.

"She's just been a great example to me of what being a go-getter is," said Lackey of Lopez. "She's been in the military and worked so hard for everything she's got. As I prepare for my future, it's nice knowing that if I really want something, I can go get that."

Lackey, a fourth generation FHS student, wants to be a biomedical engineer and has narrowed her college choices to Purdue, University of Houston and Baylor. She said FHS will always have a special place in her heart.

"My great-grandparents met at Fallbrook High School, so it's just a really, really special place," said Lackey.

Gross was nominated by math teacher Debbie Berg, who was unable to attend the breakfast. English teacher Connie Fellios, who coaches Gross on the Academic Team, pinch hit for Berg.

"Michael is one of the strongest players on the (Academic) team," said Fellios. "What makes him stand out more than anything is his respect toward everyone."

Fellios then read comments that Berg had penned about Gross. The comments included:

"Michael is one of the five students who skipped over AP calculus AB and entered directly into AP calculus BC. This has not affected his progress this year, in fact, he is near the top of the class. Michael is truly excited to solve difficult math problems. There are times in my lecture that he is many steps ahead of me and is able to predict accurately how the mathematics is related to past topics.

"He is well respected by both his peers and his teachers. He is honest, trustworthy and has a good moral compass. Michael has also played varsity baseball all four years and manages to balance both academics and sports quite nicely. He has a 4.2 GPA for grades 10 to 12 and is a strong overall student. I know he will be successful at the next level of education."

Gross said he wants to study aerospace engineering and is considering many prestigious schools, including Purdue, Stanford and MIT. He thanked both Berg and Fellios as well as those in attendance.

"I'd like to thank all the community members that came out to support us," said Gross. "It means a lot that people outside the high school care about people in the high school so much."

Fellios remained at the podium to introduce her nominee, Castellanos, a young lady who has managed to excel in school while simultaneously caring for her ailing mother and younger siblings. Fellios explained that she first met Castellanos four years ago when the student enrolled in AVID (advancement via individual determination) at FHS.

"Today, I am more amazed than ever at her strength of character and resiliency," said Fellios of Castellanos. "An advanced placement student, Suzetty is an inquisitive and reflective individual who participates effectively in class discussions and debates, especially on topics when she can defend the rights of all human beings."

Fellios relayed that Castellanos has won many awards at speech competitions and is an active leader on campus, where she serves as co-president of California Scholarship Federation and secretary of the AVID student council. Castellanos also is a member of Club Futuro and dances with Club Folklorico.

"Remarkably, in spite of serious challenges that no one should be forced to experienced at any age, Suzetty wears a vibrant smile and reflects a positive spirit throughout the school day every day," said Fellios, adding that Castellanos stays on top of her studies and makes up work when she must miss school in order to help her mother.

"Suzetty is determined to never give up on her dream to attend university and excel, so that after graduation, she will be a productive citizen and still support her family," said Fellios. "She understands the sacrifices that her parents have made for their children."

Castellanos thanked Fellios, her mentors at AAUW (American Association of University Women), her family, the community and Andrus from St. Peter's. She also expressed great gratitude for the AVID program.

"I just really love AVID because it shaped me and made me a better person," said Castellanos. "(AVID) instills values in you that are very important in life,"

Castellanos said she would like to attend UC Berkeley and then step out in the business world.

"I hope to be accepted to UC Berkeley and I hope to pursue marketing," said Castellanos. "That's my No. 1 thing – or just go into the business world because I do feel that women are misrepresented in the business world. I'd like to change that along with the other wonderful women who are out in the business world. I'd like to be one of them and make a name for myself."

Due to the flu bug, Basurto and her family were unable to make the Student of the Month celebration, however, the standout Oasis student was still recognized. Oasis principal Dr. Narcisco Iglesias read comments about Basurto that were written by teacher Kevin Kent, who was also unable to attend the breakfast.

Comments by Kent that were relayed by Iglesias included:

"Kenia Basurto is such an excellent choice for Student of the Month from Oasis High School. Academically, she does excellent work. She has earned no less than a 3.25 GPA or higher every semester since coming to Oasis High School at the start of her sophomore year and as a senior she has earned a 4.0 GPA from her first semester this year. She is meticulous, organized and thorough with her assignments. When she is assigned something to do, you can trust that it will be completed on time, and with care and concern.

"She is a very diligent student that is concerned about the learning process as well as the content. Kenia is a very bright, cheerful and thoughtful young lady. She always has a smile on her face and displays a very kind demeanor. She is such a positive person, always speaking well of others and putting other's needs and interests ahead of hers. She represents all that is best about Oasis High School."

The awards breakfast is presented by Fallbrook Student of the Month, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring outstanding students in the Fallbrook Union High School District.