5 Banning, Beaumont Seniors Recognized As Students Of The Year

BEAUMONT, CA — Five students from the Beaumont Unified and Banning Unified school districts were lauded at the annual Student of the Year Dinner at the Noble Creek Community Center in Beaumont on Thursday.

Though the high schools have been rivals for decades, the students came together to celebrate the honor.

Each student was given a graduation medallion and cord by the superintendent of each district — Mays Kakish of Beaumont and Terrance Davis of Banning.

Here are the five students who were awarded this week:

• Isabella Cazarez; Beaumont High School
• Maria Davila; 21st Century Learning Institute
• Adrian Casillas; Banning High School
• Oscar Ochoa; New Horizons High School
• Alyssa Sanchez; Beamont High School

“The students recognized tonight from Beaumont Unified and Banning Unified are shining examples of determination, leadership and academic excellence,” Davis said. “Each of them has worked hard to reach this accomplishment and it reminds us of the incredible potential within our schools. We congratulate their success and the bright future that lies ahead for every one of these students.”

All scholarship awardees got several certificates and gift cards on Thursday from the committee, dignitaries and program sponsors, according to the districts.

All of the students were awarded $1,500 in scholarships and one more student, Sanchez, was given $1,000 through the Amy Herr Scholarship. Herr was a committee member of the Student of the Month/Year program and the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club before she died.

“I am so proud of the students from both districts," Kakish said. "Their college and career ambitions reflect exactly what brought them here, tonight.”