Emotional gathering honors Students of Month

Rick Monroe

Special to the Village News

Recognition. Emotion. Beauty. Brains. Athletes. Language. Community.

Those words were used during the April 7 meeting to honor the Students of the Month in the Fallbrook Union High School District. Each of the four students – Jacqueline Ceja, Reyli Cuellar, Michael Perez and Emily Schmierer – is a senior at Fallbrook High School.

The recognition and words of encouragement came from teachers, administrators, parents and others in the community.

Emotions? You bet. Students thanking their parents; parents not able to complete their sentences; plenty of love and hugs. One younger sister couldn't move beyond saying "You're the best sister ever"– four times. There were plenty of tissues pulled out of the boxes placed on the podium and on each table.

"I think Kleenex should be our sponsors," quipped Greg Coppock, master of ceremonies.

Beauty? Ceja was homecoming queen and Schmierer is Miss Fallbrook.

Brains? Each student has a 4.0 GPA or better and the number of AP and honors classes were too numerous to list.

Athletes? Cuellar was captain of the school soccer team and played baseball. Perez is another baseball player, a pitcher and second baseman. Schmierer was captain of her field hockey team. Ceja's sport was volleyball.

Language was an issue in several of the families. Superintendent Ilsa Garza-Gonzalez translated the speeches of the parents who warmly shared a message to or about their successful, award-winning children. Those children overcame obstacles to become leaders as young adults.

Community. That's what the monthly breakfasts are about. Community members were introduced and congratulated the students and their parents. Grandmothers and friends shared intimately. The community is helping with scholarship money. There were touching multi-generational stories told by teachers and parents.

Lt. Aldo Hernandez, commander of the local Sheriff's substation, said the meetings are a highlight of his month, something he looks forward to experiencing.

Each of the students was recognized by a teacher, or two, who nominated them for the award and the student was joined on the stage by family. A selection committee chose the recipients.

Ceja was nominated by Alana Milton, her AP psychology teacher. Milton remembered her student always smiling and willing to ask questions. In addition to numerous AP and honors classes, she has taken seven classes for credit at Palomar College. She is also a student tutor after school and plans to attend Santa Clara University, majoring in business management.

Translated by Garza-Gonzalez, Ceja's father said when the family came to the U.S., he told her she could become anything. "Santa Clara is far away, but she's ready," he said.

Cuellar was nominated by Alydia Han, a counselor. She said she was impressed by the student's resilience and that he carries a 4.2 GPA. "I'll always cheer you on," Han told Cuellar.

Cuellar said that when he was young, he wrestled with being a firefighter, astronaut or pilot, but decided to seek a degree in aerospace. Fred and Susan McNeal, who said they were his pseudo-grandparents, said Cuellar has a great future. His parents also shared personal wishes for their son.

Perez was nominated by Marin Pinnell, who complimented him for finding a job at Major Market during the pandemic so he could keep busy. Perez admitted he was bored just staying home and joined a gym. He encouraged adults to stay in physical shape.

Perez plans to take mechanical engineering at Cal State San Marcos. He helped design and build six steel tables in the auto shop at FHS and at home created a motorized bike. His parents, Rigo and Lillian, are both Fallbrook High grads.

Schmierer had two teachers nominate her, Milton and Doug Sehnert. Milton pointed out the leadership skills of Schmierer, the school's ASB president. Sehnert, an agricultural department teacher, pointed out that she is a third-generation student at the school. Schmierer is a "go-to" student, he said and is enjoying raising a steer.

Schmierer plans to attend Arizona State and major in journalism with the goal of being a sports broadcaster or writer. Her grandmother, Jacki, said encouragingly, "Watch out, world."

Liz Schmierer, the student's mother, commented, "You are much cooler than I ever was or ever will be."

There were other words used to describe the students: kind, faithful and leaders.

Both Garza-Gonzalez and Lauren Jones, FHS principal, used the word "kind" in describing the students. The superintendent added that each has "a servant's heart." Several parents and the superintendent credited God for the achievements of the students. Leadership was cited both in the recognition of their high school careers, and in their future.

Yes, a lot happened at the meeting that went 15 minutes over the normal time for the monthly breakfasts, hosted by North Coast Church. The award winners were selected by a nonprofit organization, the Fallbrook Student of the Month. Financial sponsors are the Angel Society, Coldwell Banker Village Properties, Del Rey Avocado, Dr. Ramos-OD, Major Market, Fallbrook Village Rotary, Fallbrook Propane, Fallbrook PTSA, Republican Women of California-Fallbrook and Youngren Construction.

No, Kleenex was not a sponsor, but the tissues were very handy and will be again in just a few months when Ceja, Cuellar, Perez, and Schmierer graduate from FHS and move on to their next chapter in life.