Calhoun, Lopez, Puerta and Evans honored as students of the month

Fallbrook Union High School's Kate Calhoun, Alan Lopez and Stefanie Puerta, along with Oasis High School's Taylor Evans, were honored at the Student of the Month breakfast Thursday, Feb. 6, at North Coast Church.

Calhoun was nominated by Alana Milton and Marin Pinnell.

"She is an amazing student, she has a super high GPA," Pinnell said. "She earned an AP honors award from the college board for passing four AP tests. She's also taken advantage of our dual enrollment program and she's taken five additional college courses at Palomar."

Pinnell said Calhoun, who is an intern at the Village News and writes for the school newspaper, wants to be a journalist one day.

"Everything Marin said is true, Kate is amazing in the classroom," Milton said. "She has served on our basketball team for the last four years. She has been co-captain for those four years. She has really worked hard to take really challenging classes and get that GPA up."

Calhoun said she is undecided on whether she will attend the University of Southern California or the University of Santa Barbara and will study journalism with an emphasis in sports media.

"Because I love basketball that much," she said. "I also want to study business as a minor in hopes of becoming a reporter and a real estate manager."

Lopez was nominated by Pinnell, who talked about Lopez's compassion for his fellow students who are struggling with school.

"Teenagers, they're kind of in their own bubble," Pinnell said. "But Alan, he knows that there's a world around him and he cares so much about those around him and he's such an inspiration to me and to everybody."

Pinnell said Lopez gets great grades and almost scored a perfect score on the SAT. She said he also plans on being a clinical psychologist.

"I hope that he can go on to be a really amazing psychologist and help so many people out there," Pinnell said. "I know he will, he's Alan, he's amazing."

His brother and mother both thanked the committee for honoring him and expressed pride for all that he has accomplished.

"I've been through a lot of emotional problems in the past," Lopez said. "I have everything figured out now. I understand that my classmates are also going through those emotional problems and I just want to be that force of good for them and to show them that they have support. Because I have support, I have all these people in this room supporting me.

"That's really all I hope to do in life," he said. "To be that inspiration, to be that force of good for other people. Because that's the best thing you can do in this world is to encourage others. To do better than you, to soar higher than you."

Puerta was nominated by Cindy Jimenez and Kathy Beal. Principal Dr. Narciso Iglesias read a note from Jimenez.

"Stephanie is very deserving of this recognition," Jimenez wrote. "Stephanie is an extremely focused, motivated and resilient person. She has taken many impactful leadership roles in our school and in our community."

Jimenez wrote of Puerta's involvement in FFA and other organizations as well as her role as Miss Fallbrook.

"Stephanie would be an asset to any college and it leaves me no doubt she will be successful in any career she chooses to proceed with after graduation," Jimenez wrote.

Beal talked about Puerta's involvement in the community as well as school and congratulated her student for the human being she has become.

"She has the poise and the dignity of a true leader, really a person of royalty," Beal said. "I would just say that Stephanie has really earned her crown.

"She just works tirelessly and I just want to thank her family for providing such a wonderful opportunity to her."

Puerta thanked her teachers for their support.

"I think it's important that we build relationships with our teachers," she said. "As students, we tend to dose off and not pay attention. Once you have that connection with your teacher you're able to get more engaged to what they are trying to teach you and get a deeper understanding."

Puerta also thanked her family and Fallbrook High for supporting her. She said she is waiting to hear back from colleges.

Evans was nominated by Kevin Kent.

"Academically, she does excellent work ... she's meticulous, she's thorough with her assignments, she shows great dedication and takes pride in everything she does," Evans said. "Be it her daily assignments, her tasks at home, or her involvement in multiple athletic teams, she just seizes everything she does.

"She's bright, cheerful and a thoughtful young lady and displays a very kind demeanor," he said. "She represents the best about Oasis and she's been one of the brightest we've ever had."

Evans' mother thanked the committee and her teachers and expressed pride in her daughter and for her future.

"Transferring to Oasis has been one of the best decisions that I have made for my academics and for myself," Evans said. "Oasis High School has given me the opportunity to learn how to be more independent and to learn better time management.

"Those skills that I have learned have undoubtedly benefited me as I leave high school and prepare for college."

She said she will study child development at Cal State San Marcos and later move into the nursing program.

Jeff Pack can be reached by email at [email protected].