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Each year, as Inland Empire Family Magazine editors work through more than 100 nominees from private and public schools to create the annual Shining Students cover story, two themes emerge: The nomination lists grow each year and the quality of student improves. Spring is turning into summer. We can look at the world around us and see early tentative steps now striding confidently to their full potential. Tiny rose buds that now brighten the world in their fully blossomed glory. The new leaves that shyly peeked out from the barren branches of a shade tree that now stands proud and full in the sun, just waiting for a family to roll out a blanket in its shade for a first summer picnic. So it is with the 11 high school seniors whom we honor as this year’s Shining Students in the Inland Empire. Eleven young women and men who just a few short years ago as freshmen took their first shy steps toward their destiny and now stand confidently at the world’s threshold ready to make their mark and meet any challenge. The names may not immediately ring a bell, but they will within the following context. Our Shining Students for 2005 are: Kimberly Kim, Riverside Poly High Brittan Smith, The Webb Schools Mia Arterberry, Ramona High School Page 2 Kersti Spjut, Rancho Cucamonga High School Mary Camacho, Fontana High School Matthew Jensen at Arlington High School Zahra Nealy, Middle High School College program at Riverside Community College Page 3 Caitlin Watts, Claremont High Cory Combs, Chaparral High Erin Wilcher, Claremont High Rachel Thayer, Chaparral High Kimberly Kim, ranked first in her graduating class at Riverside Poly High School, credits her family, her love of knowledge and respect for cultural traditions for the success she has achieved in her high school career...Brittan Smith, of The Webb Schools in Claremont, was accepted early to Harvard and has worked a summer job since the age of 14 to contribute to her education... Mia Arterberry ranks second in her class at Ramona High School in Riverside and also serves as senior class president...Kersti Spjut, of Rancho Cucamonga High School, has a love of music to match her academic excellence marked by a 4.55 gpa and a score of 1500 on the SAT. ..Mary Camacho, of Fontana High School, is looking forward to the hard work that will be required of her in college as she pursues her goal of a teaching credential... Matthew Jensen, first in his class at Arlington High School in Riverside, is a young man who devotes as much time to the community as he does to his school work...Zahra Nealy has earned straight A’s in the Middle High School College program offered through Riverside Community College on her way to a career in medicine...Caitlin Watts of Claremont High School has a cool head for mathematics, but also the warmth of heart to work with orphans in Belize... Cory Combs, of Chaparral High School in Temecula, has the highest gpa in Chaparral’s senior class and is known for his leadership skills as well as for his intelligence...The early lessons learned from her parents are leading Erin Wilcher, also of Claremont High, to work for her MBA at Howard University...Rachel Thayer, also from Chaparral High, is known for her sense of compassion and academic excellence. There can be little doubt that these 11 students have proven themselves ready for whatever the future has to offer. Here is a brief introduction of each of these remarkable youngsters, offering a glimpse of how others see them and how they see themselves. Kimberly Kim, 17, of Riverside Poly High School, Riverside Kimberly’s counselor at Riverside Poly describes her as “a distinguished scholar, an accomplished musician, a recognized journalist and a dedicated humanitarian.” That is quite a bit of development for a girl who says that she “was concerned with popularity” and joined “the ‘popular group’” when she entered Poly High. Her outlook has become one of forming a few close friendships and discovering new ideas. Today, Kimberly is a Habitat for Humanity honored member, a member of Amnesty International, tutors and volunteers on Saturdays for Riverside Parks and Recreation, and is the managing editor of the campus newspaper. She is looking toward medicine, music or journalism as possible career paths. Brittan Smith, 17, of Claremont The Webb Schools, Claremont Willing to do whatever was necessary to attend The Webb Schools, a 14-year-old Brittan Smith secured herself a clerical job at a development company, saved her earnings to contribute to her education, and has continued this work each summer throughout her high school career. She has certainly made the most of this opportunity that she worked for, winning early acceptance to Harvard University. Vivian Pradetto of The Webb Schools describes Brittan as “a bright, articulate, motivated student who is well prepared for the academic demands of college life.” A three-sport varsity athlete, Brittan’s extracurricular activities also included being the head tour guide for admission and serving as a junior representative for the student curriculum advisory committee. Mia N. Arterberry, 17, Ramona High School, Riverside Her qualities of academic excellence, leadership and citizenship led Mia to be honored as one of Ramona High School’s outstanding students during the 2004 Riverside County High School Scholars program. Mia has also represented Ramona High at the Rotary Youth Leadership and was honored as an outstanding student by the Riverside County Lawyer’s Bar Association. Mia is also a talented ceramics artist and singer, participating with the school’s Chamber Singers. In addition to being senior class president, her classmates have also honored Mia by selecting her to be Homecoming Queen in her junior and senior years. “I truly believe,” says counselor Lupe T. LaCoste, “that this young woman will continue to positively contribute to her school and society.” Caitlin Watts, 17, of Claremont Claremont High School Caitlin has a keen skill for mathematics and describes her mind as “more oriented toward logic. I always enjoy learning something new in any math class.” She sees herself pursuing a career in accounting or finances, or perhaps even mechanical engineering “due to the lack of women in that field.” The cool logic of the math class is not all that there is to Caitlin, though. Thousands of miles from home, others learned much about Caitlin and she learned much about herself during a spring break mission trip to Kings Children’s Home, an orphanage in Belize. “After my experience in Belize,” she says, “I no longer think of myself as unable to help or make a difference in someone’s life. The lasting imprint that I have been able to leave on the lives of these young children cannot compare to the imprint they have left on mine.” Cory Combs, 17, of Temecula Chaparral High School, Temecula Cory’s gift for and pursuit of academic excellence is not something he uses only to his personal advantage, but is something he is willing to share with his fellow students at Chaparral High. Some of the decisions he made regarding his senior class schedule, such as being a teacher’s aide in a precalculus/calculus class, were not just to impress college counselors, but also with the best welfare of his classmates in mind. Counselor Arlene Ng describes Cory as “an example of uncompromising high academic and moral standards.” These qualities are shown outside of school by his work as a Sunday school teacher and a trip made last fall to Haiti with a medical missionary group called the Haiti Endowment Fund. On that trip he says, “I realized that it is not enough to be grateful for what I have; I must give what I can to those who are in desperate need.” Erin Wilcher, 17, of Claremont Claremont High School Erin says that her parents have taught her that actions speak louder than words. The actions of this driven and capable African-American young woman are coming through loud and clear as one of those student for whom others follow at Claremont High School. She has shown leadership skills in numerous ways: She is the ASB president, she is America Inc.’s Far West Regional teen vice president, and she is the Black Student Union president. Howard University is where Erin plans to earn her MBA and then “I will own my own mortgage company. I will promote the building of quality businesses in underprivileged areas. Gandhi said it best, ‘I will be the change I want to see in the world.’” Rachel Thayer, 17, of Temecula Chaparral High School, Temecula Rachel has a gpa of 4.16 and scored 1400 on the SAT, but it is the warm, caring person behind those numbers that everyone will probably remember at Chaparral High School. Every week, she volunteers at Riding Emphasizing Individual Needs and Strength (REINS), a horseback riding facility for the mentally and physically disabled of all ages. Counselor Mary Campo says that Rachel is “kind and caring to her core and has a truly optimistic faith in humanity.” Rachel considers herself fortunate to have been able to work at REINS. “The people that I work with,” she says, “celebrate their differences and are not afraid to share their compassion for others. Volunteering at REINS has allowed me to blossom into a patient, sincere, and devoted young woman.” end ief Michael J. Medley compiled this Cover Story; he is senior writer for Inland Empire Family Magazine. |
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