21 local students honored at Student of the Month ceremony

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) - 21 students were honored at a Student of the Month ceremony Tuesday morning.

The Riverside County Office of Education organizes the Student of the Month program to recognize and honor high school seniors.

Student of the Month honorees embody character, integrity, a passion for learning, involvement in school, and other honorable qualities.

"Recognizing and validating the efforts of our students is so very essential in their upbringing. I think this encourages them to continue to go forward in their lives, whether it's college or career. And so it's amazing when our community comes together to support them," said Riverside County Superintendent Edwin Gomez.

Each district selects its Students of the Month based on their embodiment of 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 February 3 event include

Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD)

• Anahi Moran – Coachella Valley Independent Study
• Yanelly Miranda-Nunez – Desert Mirage High School
• Karime Meja – La Familia High School
• Diego Flores – Nova Academy Early College High School
• Alyssa Ochoa – West Shores High School

Desert Sands Unified School District (DSUSD)

• Daniel Hernandez-Martinez – Amistad High School
• Arturo Ibarra – Horizon High School
• Sofia Cruz-Gonzalez – Indio High School
• Nathan Calasan – La Quinta High School
• Alfonso Lucero – Palm Desert High School
• Giselle Santibanez – Shadow Hills High School
• Maria Aceves-Ruiz – Summit High School

Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD)

• Carlos Lopez – Cathedral City High School
• Emily Diedjomahor – Desert Hot Springs High School
• Zemi Aceves Garcia – Desert Learning Academy
• Damon Lockhart Jr. – Mt. San Jacinto High School
• Italy Acosta – Palm Springs High School
• Malachi Davis – Rancho Mirage High School

Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE)

• Richard Gonzalez – Palm Springs Community School
• Jayden Arriaga-Araujo – Don F. Kenny Regional Learning Center

The students selected are nominated by teachers and administrators, and the strongest standouts go through a selective process to be chosen for Student of the Month. Every two months, students are recognized for their hard work and effort.

One additional Greater Coachella Valley Student of the Month event is scheduled for April 14, 2026. Honorees from all four events held throughout the year will compete for the Greater Coachella Valley Student of the Year scholarships that will be awarded on May 21, 2026.