Escalon Sunrise Rotary Club has announced its selections for the September Students of the Month honors at Escalon High School.
Junior Lorena Peralta and senior Armando Mendieta-Hernandez were the two chosen for the recognition.
Lorena was nominated by George Megenney for a wide variety of school achievements and community service.
“In addition to being a model student, she is active in the Interact Club, the Academic Decathlon and the CSF,” said Megenney. “In fact, as one of our new CSF officers she has taken the initiative to collaborate with the other club officers and begin planning new activities including tutoring for students taking the SATs and working with other EHS service clubs like the Key Club and Interact Club to coordinate and add to community service activities.”
She serves as vice president of both Interact and CSF clubs, is a member of the Spanish, Friends Helping Friends, Sacred Heart clubs and the Academic Decathlon team.
“Lorena’s dedication to helping improve EHS through her service to its clubs and her straightforward work ethic in the classroom makes her a notable role model for her classmates,” said Megenney.
Lorena also volunteers for girls confirmation classes at St. Patrick’s Church and a member of the Nocturnal Adoration Society at the church as well. She is a Cougar Scholar, earned her Block E and has received academic excellence awards as well as helping coordinate three blood dives at the high school.
“I would like to thank my parents for their support and my friends who have always been there to lend me a hand,” said Lorena. “Also teachers and to everyone who has helped me out.”
Senior Armando Mendieta-Hernandez earned his nomination from Andrew Beam.
“The school year is young, but Armando has already been a standout AP (Advanced Placement) student,” said Beam, who teaches psychology. “He is highly engaged in the AP Psychology Class and also helped to run the snack bar at the freshman football game earlier this month with the Psychology Class. He is active in the learning process, engages in conversation, and is one that the other students look up to. Hit fits the role as an outstanding upperclassman and I look for him to have a great senior year.”
A member of the Key, Spanish, Interact and Friends Helping Friends clubs, Armando is also a tutor/teacher assistant for English Language learners. He also served as an intern for State Assembly candidate Ken Vogel and has been a member of the Migrant Speech and Debate program. A former People to People Ambassador, he attended that leadership program in 2012.
“I would like to thank my parents, girlfriend and my school counselor Alina James,” Armando said of those that have supported him.
A second degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, he has also played soccer, been involved in cross country and football, won first place in the Rotary Speech Contest at EHS, attended the Rotary Youth Leadership program and was selected by the American Legion to attend Boys State. He has also received an excellence award in geometry.
Students who are selected for the Rotary Club recognition attend a breakfast meeting of the Escalon Sunrise Rotary to receive their awards.
