After successful first year, the 2024-2025 series of recognition events gets underway by celebrating 21 students from local high schools
INDIO – Before they graduate and pursue their college and career dreams, the seniors in the Class of 2025 from desert-area high schools will be recognized at the first of multiple Greater Coachella Valley Student of the Month events on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at 9 a.m. at the Fantasy Springs Special Events Center (84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio, CA 92203).
First organized by the Riverside County Office of Education during the 2023-2024 school year, the second year of recognition programs will begin by honoring high school seniors from 19 different high schools in the three desert-area school districts: Coachella Valley Unified School District, Desert Sands Unified School District, and Palm Springs Unified School District. Two students enrolled in Riverside County Office of Education alternative education programs will also be recognized.
“Following the first year of the Greater Coachella Valley Student of the Month events, the feedback from students, parents, educators, and community partners, was overwhelmingly positive,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “We look forward to being inspired by another year of stories of resilience and determination from our students who give us all hope for the future of the Coachella Valley, our state, and our nation.”
Additional Greater Coachella Valley Student of the Month events are scheduled for December 3, 2024, February 4, 2025, and April 1, 2025. Honorees from each of these events will compete for the Greater Coachella Valley Student of the Year scholarships that will be awarded on May 20, 2025.
Each district selects their Students of the Month based on how they embody character, integrity, a passion for learning, active involvement in school life, sports, and community service, or have displayed remarkable resilience in the face of life’s challenges while maintaining a commitment to education.
The honorees at the October 1 event include:
Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD)
- Julian Hernandez – Coachella Valley High School
- Elizabeth Gutierrez-Magana – Coachella Valley Independent Study
- Brenda Rodriguez-Vazquez – Desert Mirage High School
- Jesus Daniel Corona Cobos – La Familia High School
- Azael Amador-Chavez – Nova Academy Early College High School
- Larissa Gonzales – West Shores High School
Desert Sands Unified School District (DSUSD)
- Joel Torres – Amistad High School
- Heavan Creekmore – Horizon High School
- Julian Cansino III – Indio High School
- Aliana Benavides – La Quinta High School
- Milo Morrell – Palm Desert High School
- Savannah Vela – Shadow Hills High School
- Madison Walston – Summit High School
Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD)
- Katelyn Nollen – Cathedral City High School
- Hannah Wagstaff – Desert Hot Springs High School
- Daton Cummins – Desert Learning Academy
- Margarita Briones – Mt. San Jacinto High School
- Evelyn Gonzalez-Vazquez – Palm Springs High School
- Tatum Ramil – Rancho Mirage High School
Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE)
- Richard Ramos Gomez – Palm Springs Community School
- Ricardo Rangel Rico – Don F. Kenny Regional Learning Center
Platinum ($7,500), gold ($5,000), silver ($3,000), bronze ($1,500), and table ($500) sponsorship opportunities are available for all events. Please see the Greater Coachella Valley Student of the Month web page or contact Natalia T. Gonzalez for additional information at ntgonzalez@rcoe.us.
Community partners who are sponsoring this year’s Student of the Month include:
- Sun Community Federal Credit Union
- One Coachella Valley
- Walter Clark Legal Group
- Office of Supervisor V. Manuel Perez
