NEWS Walnut Valley Unified School District FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 880 S. Lemon Avenue January 25, 2018 Walnut, CA 91789

Contact: Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources kgile@wvusd.k12.ca.us (909)595-1261 ext. 31204 WVUSDBoardCelebratesStarStudents,CommunityMembersWALNUT,CA--TheWalnutValleyUnifiedSchoolDistrictBoardofTrusteespaidtributetostarstudentsandcommunitypartnersduringtheJanuary17meeting.C.J.MorrisElementary5thgraderMadelineTohreceivedacertificateofspecialrecognitionasthewinnerofthe2017“HolidaysAroundtheWorld”greetingcardcontest.Madeline’ssubmissiondepictedornamentsdecoratedwithaglobeandflagsofseveralcountries.ShealsoreceivedagiftcertificatecourtesyofYogurtlandinWalnut.

WalnutElementary5thgraderQuintonMendozawassalutedwiththeschool’sSuperStarStudentAward.Themulti-talentedstudentisascholar,athlete,andspeaksmultiplelanguages.Hehasbeendescribedascompassionate,humble,kind,andfunny.“Quintonisalotlikegravity-aquietforcethataffectseveryone,”saidPrincipalRobertChang.

OneexampleofQuinton’sbigheartishiswillingnesstogiveuphismorningrecesseachday.Hereportstothebusdropoffareaandpicksupthetotskindergartnerstomakesuretheyarrivesafelytotheirspecialeducationclass.Ondayshehas100-milerunningclubpractice,Quintonmakessuretonotifyhissubstitute,whomhepersonallytrained.“Quintondoesn’tdothesethingsforrecognition,hesimplyactsfromhisheartandreachesforhisgoals,”Changsaid.“He’soneofakindandmakesourschoolabetterplace!”LongtimeparentvolunteerMollyMendoza,andQuinton’smom,waspresentedwiththePartnerinEducationAward.

“Mollyhasdonesomanywonderfulthingsforourschoolandtrulydeservesthishonor,”Changsaid.TheCommunityClubpresidenthasdevotedcountlesshoursorganizingandparticipatinginfundraisers,activities,andfieldtrips.“Mollyalwaysgives110%andhasbeenapartineverythinggoingonattheschool,”Changsaid.

“Youhavenotonlyleftshoesthatwillbeextremelydifficulttofill,buthaveleftfootprintsinheartsandchangedourlivesforthebetter.”RonHockwaltAcademies(RHA)seniorDemetriusLoweryreceivedtheSuperStarStudentAward.“He’sagreatkidandhasbeenablessingonourcampus,”said

PrincipalDr.DonnaHunter.Demetriushasdonealotofhands-onworkintheschool’sHOPEgardenandhasagiftatfixingthings,sheexplained.TheteenevenbroughtacrateoforangestopresenttotheTrustees.Theschool’sHOPEprogramisdesignedtohelpstudentscreateafuturetheywant.HOPEstandsforHeart,Opportunity,Perseverance,andExcellence“He’sshowingHOPEandheartforallhisschoolmates,staff,andschool.WeareveryproudofDemetrius!”Huntersaid.ErnieQuejado,founderoftheSanloHomestayFoundation,washonoredwiththeschool’sPartnerinEducationAward.ErniehasadoptedRHAandforthepastthreeyearshasdonateda$1,000eachyearforstudentleadership.“We’reasmallschoolandthesefundsgoalongway,”Hunterexplained.RHAisabletoprovidefieldtrips,incentives,andactivitiesthroughthisgeneroussupport.“Weappreciatehimandhissupportforourcampus!”Huntersaid.Shown:

C.J.MorrisElementary5thgraderMadelineTohishonoredaswinnerofthe2017“HolidaysAroundtheWorld”greetingcardcontest.ShownwithSuperintendentDr.RobertTaylorandBoardPresidentCindyRuiz.BoardPresidentCindyRuizpresentsWalnutElementary5thgraderQuintonMendozawiththeSuperStarStudentAward.WalnutElementaryparentvolunteerMollyMendozaishonoredwithPartnerinEducationAward.ShownwithPrincipalRobertChang,BoardPresidentCindyRuiz,staff,andfamilymembers.RonHockwaltAcademiesseniorDemetriusLoweryreceivestheSuperStarStudentAward.ShownwithPrincipalDr.DonnaHunterandBoardPresidentCindyRuiz.ErnieQuejadoishonoredwiththeRonHockwaltAcademiesPartnerinEducationAward.ShownwithPrincipalDonnaHunter,SanloHomestayFoundationmembers,andBoardPresidentCindyRuiz.