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7th annual Shining Students 

10 Profiles of the Inland Empire’s Best & Brightest Students.

By Inland Empire FamilyPublished: June, 2006

It is nearly impossible to overstate the importance of high school in our lives. The teachers and fellow students we encounter in those years make a profound mark on us and play a tremendous role in shaping the men and women that we have become. The 10 young men and women whom we are honoring as this year’s Shining Students have already made memorable impressions on their teachers and fellow students in high school and are ready to help shape a better world.

Kimberly Harris, of Valley View High School in Moreno V Valley began practicing martial arts when she was about 10 years old and has proven herself to be a person ready to take on any challenge and overcome any obstacle to achieve her goals in life. Ashish Rastogi ranked first in his class at Hemet High School. He has had a rich and varied academic career, which he plans to lead him to a career in medicine. Jonathan Veiga, of the Webb Schools in Claremont, learned his life’s calling at the age of 12 when he first looked at the “ancient hieroglyphs” of his uncle’s investment portfolio. He has followed a path to an investment career ever since. Lorraine Bueno, of Rialto High School, jumped into the rigorous world of Advanced Placement classes in her sophomore year, but will also be remembered at Rialto for her humble attitude and willingness to put others before herself. Rachel Schatz has never let the stresses and strains of life become insurmountable obstacles to becoming one of the top students in her class at Rim of the World High School in Lake Arrowhead. Anyone who reads the sports pages of our local newspapers has probably seen the name of Toby Gerhart of Norco High School. Read on to find out that his excellence as a student matches his heroics on the football field.

Fan Xiao, of Redlands High School is a young man whose quiet demeanor is the ideal accompaniment to an attentive listener who has a quick, keen mind. Erin Jackson, of Chaparral High School in Temecula, still has a year of high school to go, but she is already making her mark academically and artistically. Joshua Lomeli has been an academic standout at Colton High School, but he’s learned some of his most important lessons about life from his sister with Down’s syndrome. Risha Bera, of Centennial High School in Corona, is one of the 10 members of All-County Academic Team in Riverside County.
Our criteria this year: If these selections made up the UN’s future Security Council, would there be less strife in the world, new ideas, renewed energy, and more innovation that benefits everyone? We came up with an answer: Yes.

Lorraine Bueno Age: 18 City of Residence: Rialto
Lorraine’s interest and achievements in math and science at Rialto High School earned her a spot as a NASA SHARP apprentice at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University last summer, where she assisted in research. Lorraine described that time as “a greater learning experience than I would have ever thought possible.”
She is known as much for her selfless sense of community service, with Interact and Key Club, as for her academic excellence. Even while serving her apprenticeship in North Carolina, she served as a Family Day volunteer for the Black Child Development Institute of Greensboro, Ind.

Ashish Rastogi Age: 17 City of Residence: Hemet   
He describes his life as a “series of carefully selected goals and priorities” and that attitude has made his years at Hemet High School rich and well-rounded. First in his class with a 4.553 gpa, Ashish has been a member of the Key Club, the Math Club, and the National Honor Society, as well as being a member of the school’s varsity tennis team and involvement in the Indian Cultural program.
His contributions to the community have included preparing food for the homeless, volunteering at Hemet Hospital and Physician Offices, and being a guest speaker at the city’s 9/11 Memorial Day Ceremony. Ashish is moving on to attend an accelerated medical program in college.

Kimberly Harris Age: 17 City of Residence: Moreno Valley
She has maintained a 3.8 grade point average throughout her career at Valley View High School while being an active member of the school’s Dance Club, National Honor Society, and Ecology Club, and serving as editor of the campus Literary Magazine. Kimberly plans to attend college as a psychology major. She says she has “always been intrigued with behavior” and looks forward to a career counseling others through their problems.
As the first member of her family to go to college, Kimberly is proud to be an example to the younger members of her family. She also looks forward to opportunities to study abroad and experience life in other parts of the world.

Jonathan Veiga  Age: 18 City of Residence: Claremont  
Jonathan has been described by those who know him at the Webb Schools as a natural born leader. He has been the ASB vice president, is a Rogers Scholar, captain of the varsity baseball team, and president and founder of Webb’s Financial Investment Club. He has been on the Dean’s List three years running and has served as a campus tour guide for prospective students and their families.
The passion that Jonathan brings to anything in his life is one of the qualities recognized by Hector Martinez, director of the school’s college guidance office. He describes Jonathan as a “young man of character, intelligence, and passion.” Jonathan will attend USC’s Marshall Business Program in the fall.

Fan Xiao Age: 17 City of Residence: Redlands
Fan is looking forward to making a career in the distinctly 21st century field of bioengineering. He has spent many hours volunteering at Loma Linda University Medical Center, assisting graduate students on their research projects. One of those projects involved researching how nicotine levels affect the unborn fetus.
Fan takes exception with anyone who considers volunteer work to be just unpaid labor. In his own words, “The knowledge and experience I gained during volunteering is my payment. Allowing me to discover my passion in bioengineering is priceless.” As to the benefits of education on society as a whole, he believes that the Great Society hopes of President Lyndon Johnson “would be fulfilled if those in poverty would study in schools and work arduously in life.”

Rachel Schatz  Age: 17 City of Residence: Lake Arrowhead
Rachel has served as president of both the National Honor Society and the Junior Statesmen of America at Rim of the World High School. She was also president and co-founder of the Community Service Club. Her work with this club was recognized by Soroptimists International with the Violet Richardson Award. Her academic achievements include awards as the school’s top biology and chemistry student.
Her contributions to her local community include volunteer work for her church and the Lake Arrowhead Foundation for the Creative and Performing Arts. When taking on a new challenge, she says, “instead of a full plate, I opt for the overflowing one.”

Erin Jackson Age: 16 City of Residence: Temecula
Although still a junior, Erin is making a distinctive mark at Chaparral High School and the community as a whole. She has been inducted into the National Honor Society and that group recently held a benefit for the Invisible Children of Africa. Erin also belongs to a Christian club on campus, as well as California Scholastic Federation.
Through her love of dance, she is a member of the Advanced Dance Team, where she choreographs routines, and is very involved in Dance Production at Chaparral High. Her artistry is also a benefit to the cultural life of the city of Temecula. Erin is a member of the Temecula Dance Company, where she dances and is also the assistant choreographer.

Joshua Lomeli Age: 17 City of Residence: Colton  
Joshua, ranked third in his graduating class at Colton High School, was one of two campus representatives at Boys State, the highly selective leadership program sponsored by the American Legion, last summer. He is as well known for his artistic achievements as his academic excellence. In addition to participation in school theater productions, he was chosen for a major role in “Miracle on 34th Street” at the LifeHouse Theater and has taught theater production classes to younger children.
Caring for his 15-year-old sister, Alyssa, who has Down’s syndrome, has been a big influence in his life. In his own words, “She has taught me more lessons than any other person could ever teach me. She is the reason I am the person I am today.”

Toby Gerhart Age: 18 City of Residence: Norco  
Toby is one of three valedictorians in his graduating class at Norco High School. This young man, whose extraordinary exploits on the football field have been well documented in the local media, is on his way to Stanford University to play football and baseball. He will also make himself known at Stanford as a first-rate academic.
He has maintained a 4.6 gpa at Norco High, been a member of the California Scholastic Federation, and contributed to the community by coaching youth sports teams and participating in elementary school read-ins. In his own words, “athletics has been responsible for my transition into the young man that I am today, and the difference maker of the future.”

Risha Bera Age: 17 City of Residence: Corona
Risha, with a grade point average of 4.77, is ranked first in her graduating class at Centennial High School in Corona and has already finished several college courses. Being a National Merit Scholarship finalist and her enrollment in the International Baccalaureate Program contributed to a selection onto the All-County Academic Team by the Riverside County Office of Education.
During her high school career, Risha served as president or vice president of many organizations, including the California Scholarship Federation and the Indian Students Union. Having won at both local and regional levels, Risha also competed at the State Science Fair in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 and at the State History Day competitions in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

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