Donoghue, Osuna, Tucker and Velazquez named Students of the Month

The nonprofit organization Fallbrook Student of the Month presented its second recognition breakfast of the 2018-2019 school year on Nov. 1 with Kendra Donoghue, Cassidy Tucker and Ashley Osuna of Fallbrook Union High School and Alejandro Velazquez of Ivy High School being saluted as the Students of the Month for November.

The celebratory breakfast was held at North Coast Church and pastor Greg Coppock of SonRise Christian Fellowship served as emcee of the event, which is sponsored by Angel Society (platinum sponsor), Coldwell Banker Village Properties and Fallbrook Village Rotary (gold sponsors), Fallbrook Republican Women Federated and Fallbrook PTSA (silver sponsors), and Fallbrook Vintage Car Club and Major Market (bronze sponsors).

"When you are celebrating accomplishments and you are really recognizing hard work, families, the great committee that makes this happen, everybody coming together and celebrating, that's awesome," said Fallbrook Union High School District Superintendent Dr. Hugo A. Pedroza. "I brag to my colleagues about this event every time I see them and some of them are a little jealous and some of them are taking notes. So, it's all good."

Dr. Tony Morrow addressed the crowd for coming out to support the students.

"I know we overlook the word community a lot, but it's something that is super important, especially in today's America," Dr. Morrow said. "You guys all coming out, taking the time to support these students is just phenomenal. Thank you to the wonderful community that's supporting these students."

Kendra Donoghue, the first student to be introduced, was nominated by Fallbrook High teacher and Associated Student Body Director Alana Milton from the school's Freedom House.

"Kendra is one of my special students," said Milton. "This year she is our ASB president, and last year we had a contested election for ASB president and it was a very motivated election.

"If you know anything about Kendra, she's not one to go out and brag about herself or promote herself, she's one of those humble beings," Milton said. "I think it took a lot of effort for her to go out and make posters and hang them up and really campaign for a position that she really wanted. Now that she has it, Kendra's done the most that she can do with being ASB president. She's out there talking to people, instituted writing an ASB update for all of the students that she sends out every week.

"She is just a very supportive, friendly, caring person."

Milton said Donoghue is a top swimmer who went to the CIF finals last year, teaches swim lessons, is heavily involved with her church and maintains a very high GPA, despite a school workload that includes AP classes and taking two classes at Palomar College this semester.

"Everything I've seen her try, she's accomplished with gold stars and highest honors," Milton said.

Donoghue was joined on stage by her sisters Madison and Kiera and her parents Brendan and Rosalind.

She said she plans on studying ethics with an interest in political science in hopes of one day becoming a lawyer and possibly a politician.

Her father echoed that prediction.

"This summer on Kendra's birthday we got to meet our congressman in D.C. and I could see the sparkle in Kendra's eyes, she already felt at home, so keep an eye on her, I'm sure she will be there one day," Brendan said.

Next up on the stage was teacher Dr. Stephanie Osowski of Spirit House who nominated Ashley Osuna.

"She is always willing to help out and looking out for her fellow students," Osowski said of Osuna. "She's just a really neat kid and I am really grateful that I got the opportunity to get to know her."

She mentioned that the student is an accomplished speech competitor.

Osuna thanked her teacher and stepped up to the mic to speak on behalf of her mother, who she said was shy, but joined her on stage.

"I hope you don't expect an amazing speech, because for those contests I had to prepare for months and right now I am really nervous," Osuna laughed. "Thank you to the committee, you guys are so wonderful. I want to thank Dr. Osowski and my mom especially because they have always been there for me."

Osuna thanked Dr. Osowski for making the time to help her with anything she needs, including helping her with college applications.

"I just love how Dr. Osowski sees me as an outstanding student and supports me and I love that," she said.

Osuna said she plans to apply to the University of California at San Diego, which she said was her dream school, but will apply to other schools as well.

"I am going to major in biology, more specifically, human biology because I want to be an orthopedic surgeon," Osuna said. "My main goal is to make everyone who supports me proud and most importantly, make myself proud because once I have my career, I will know that I have made it."

Next to be honored was Cassidy Tucker, joined on stage by parents and one of two teachers that nominated her, Dr. Tony Morrow.

Tucker was also nominated by Estay Cazares, who couldn't attend, but sent a note.

"I nominated Cassidy for Student of the Month because she is a person of integrity," Morrow read. "Unbeknownst to many, Cassidy has Type 1 diabetes but never used it as a crutch or an excuse for not getting her work done. Cassidy strives for the highest grades and always has a smile on her face. She also has a deep faith in God, which is evident in how she treats others. She is light for those who are in the dark and an example for other students on how to live your life."

Dr. Morrow then spoke about his experience with Tucker, who he said is a two-sport varsity athlete as a basketball and lacrosse player.

"Everything she does, she ends up being the best or one of the best at," he said. "That's a testament to her work ethic, her intelligence and things like that.

"She doesn't just hang out with athletes, or doesn't just hang out with the smart kids. You'll see her interacting with just about anyone on campus, willing to help anybody that she runs into."

Dr. Morrow said he believes Tucker will always be successful.

"She's going to have to get used to that spotlight," he said. "I don't think it's in her nature, I don't think it's in her DNA to do any less than the best."

Her mother and father talked about all of their daughter's accomplishments throughout high school, both academically and athletically.

"With her diabetes and the fact that she has so much going on, it's hard for her sometimes to get it all in," her father, Bob said. "I don't think we can be any more proud than I am of her right now because of the honors she's attained and the person that she is."

Tucker thanked her teachers for nominating her and her friends and fellow students for helping her through her life. "I was accepted into NAU (Northern Arizona University), which was one of my top schools," she said. "I have applied for communications, so I am going to see where that takes me."

Ivy High School Principal Dr. Narciso Iglesias took the stage to introduce the next honoree, Alejandro Velazquez, who was nominated by his teacher, Sheri Ryan, and joined on stage by Velazquez' family and friends.

"Alejandro is described as soft spoken, has a great willingness, has a positive attitude," Iglesias said. "Getting here today, he has been nothing but dead serious. He is taking notes, he is just laser focused. And that tells me a lot about his character."

Ryan then spoke about the student and why she nominated him.

"Every once in a while a student comes along and they just make it all worthwhile," she said. "At Ivy High School, you know it's a school of second chances, not all students take advantage of that opportunity, but I'm proud to say that Alejandro has taken full advantage of that opportunity."

Ryan said Velazquez has done everything right and said, as a science student, she uses his work as an example for other students.

"Technically, he could return to Fallbrook High School in January if he wanted to," Ryan said. "But I think he's going to stay with us, I hope. But he's totally ready to even graduate early if he wanted to."

Ryan said she's had a garden program with an organic garden at the school for the past 20 years. "He's been the best student I have ever had," she said. "Alejandro just was very interested, he's a student I feel that loves a garden as much as I do. He's totally willing to do hard work."

Alejandro's mother thanked everyone for helping her son and that she loves her son very much and is very proud of him.

"I see potential in him, even though we're in Ivy High School," said Velazquez' friend, Enrique. "I believe he's brilliant and will have a bright future, and he will get to where he needs to go."

Velazquez then thanked the crowd and his teacher for nominating him.

"I'm not really serious, I'm just really nervous," he said. "It's an honor to be here. Being at Ivy has been a great experience for me, I am very grateful for all of the support, which has helped me complete my high school education and go on to college."

He said he plans on attending Mira Costa College and work toward a degree in agriculture management.

"Being a student in Ms. Ryan's science and garden class, as well as her support, has helped me to finalize my decision that agriculture is something enjoyable that I want to do for a living," he said.