Local students win top IB statewide honors

Some local top students were recognized their stellar academics Tuesday and for qualities educators hope will make them good “citizens of the world.”

The two Indio fifth graders won statewide honors from the California Association of IB World Schools.

Isabella Gutierrez was one of the honorees. She said, “This year I found out I was a nominee for it.” “So then I started the essay, and I won. I did! I was really surprised,” Gutierrez added.

Gutierrez won the Nancy and Cliff Forster Life-Long Learner Award.

Fellow fifth grader, Riley Baker, received the Garry Prather Outstanding IB Student Award for academic excellence.

There are only 184 IB World Schools in California.

The two Amelia Earhart students were among only 10 in the entire state to receive such honors this year.

Baker said, “Our IB Coordinator, Mrs. Price, walked into the room and said, ‘Riley, you got this award!'” Baker added she, “was speechless for a moment, but I think it’s pretty amazing I was able to win this out of everybody in southern California who had the opportunity to win.”

The awards recognize students who exhibit a genuine love of learning, but who also exemplify the 10 points of the IB Learner Profile.

Tammie Sue Price with Amelia Earhart Elementary School said the profile covers, “being principled, being caring and being a risk-taker.” Price says it’s, “what we want our students to be as citizens and to take that out into the world with them.”

Both Gutierrez and Baker received an honorary plaque and a cash award.

It’s hoped their love of learning and their inquiring, thinking, principled and caring minds will make them good citizens of the world.