First Corona-Norco Students of the Month Named for 2026-27: Ten Seniors Honored, Including a Student Studying an Ocean Away From His Parents
At Lee V. Pollard High School in Corona, in Riverside County, California, the Corona-Norco Unified School District (CNUSD) honored its first Students of the Month of the 2026-27 school year on November 13: ten seniors, one from each of the district's ten high schools, and the first members of the Class of 2027 to receive the recognition. The event was organized by the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) together with CNUSD and the Corona-Norco Council PTA.
The honorees are Chao Hong of the Academy of Innovation, Rhocel Maegan Dilag Tapia of Centennial High School, Armando Sanchez of Corona High School, Giuliana Gutierrez Carpenter of the Eastvale STEM Academy, Drake Robert Wilson of Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Christian H. Kim of John F. Kennedy Middle College High School, Jessica Alyah Garcia of Lee V. Pollard High School, Parker Joseph Briones of Norco High School, Luis Adrian Morales of Orange Grove High School, and Benjamin Walker Rausch of Santiago High School.
In their speeches, the students described overcoming medical conditions, the loss of family members and long separations from family. Chao Hong of the Academy of Innovation said his parents are in China and his brother helped him learn English; when he left China, he promised his mother he would work hard in school, go to college and do well in life, and he said the Academy of Innovation has helped him keep that promise. Tapia of Centennial and Kim of Kennedy Middle College both said they plan to study medicine after graduation.
"Every single person here believes in you. We see the potential, the promise, and the wonderful future for all of you," Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez told the students. CNUSD Superintendent Dr. Gadelmawla said the honorees represent more than academic excellence, reflecting perseverance, kindness and leadership.
Now in its third consecutive year, the program has educators at each CNUSD high school identify one outstanding senior for each event, chosen for character, integrity, a passion for learning, involvement in school life, or resilience in the face of life's challenges. Honorees from all three 2026-27 events will be eligible to apply for the district's Student of the Year scholarship award, with the winners honored on May 14, 2027, at the RCOE Conference Center. CNUSD is the largest district in Riverside County and the seventh largest in California, serving more than 53,000 students in Corona, Norco, Eastvale and Temescal Valley, while RCOE supports 23 districts and more than 500 schools serving nearly 430,000 students countywide.
(Source: Riverside County Office of Education)
Source: Riverside County Office of Education
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图片来源：河滨县教育办公室官方照片，图中为 Corona-Norco 学区首批「本月学生」获奖高三生手持证书合影 Image: Riverside County Office of Education (official photo); the first Corona-Norco Students of the Month hold their certificates
