THE 2023 SAN MARCOS RISING STARS STUDENTS AIM HIGH

WRITTEN BY CATHRYN CURRY HASZ | PHOTOS BY AMY VENTETUOLO

John F. Kennedy once said, “Children are the world’s most valuable resource, and its best hope for the future.”

The San Marcos Chamber of Commerce and San Marcos Unified School District (SMUSD) recently teamed up to start a program to celebrate our future entrepreneurs, artists and leaders.

With the school year wrapping up, and kiddos of all ages sprinting (“Walk, don’t run!” she shouted in her past life as a swim coach) toward the swimming pool, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on the school year and introduce San Marcos’s new Rising Star Program — a monthly event where a few seniors from each San Marcos Unified high school are hand-selected for their academic and extracurricular successes.

Beginning in January 2023, the Rising Stars Program showcases students within the SMUSD who’ve been selected by their school principal for their outstanding achievements.

“The monthly Rising Stars event is hosted at Palomar College, where three high school seniors from each high school in San Marcos Unified are honored for demonstrating character, integrity, love of learning, involvement in school and community activities and/or the ability to overcome challenging life circumstances without compromising their education,” said SMUSD Public Information O cer Amy Ventetuolo.

“Thanks to the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce’s dedication to support and recognize local youth achievement, students in SMUSD have been recognized at the Rising Stars events with their family, local elected o cials, and community and business partners in attendance.”

Being recognized as a Rising Star not only grants students continued motivation and inspiration to resume their exemplary achievements both within and outside the classroom, but it also allows them to apply for the Rising Stars Scholarship.

Each month since January, the program has celebrated the selected Rising Stars, but the May event served as the scholarship ceremony, where all Rising Stars who applied for a scholarship were given this award.

“At our last Rising Stars event, which was the scholarship event, Rising Star Kelly Amador Villarreal mentioned that after receiving the award, people would stop her mom and say, ‘I saw your daughter was a Rising Star,’ which brought her great joy,” Ventetuolo shared.

Unlike other awards and scholarship programs, the Rising Stars Program and its supporters look beyond the limitations of scholastic accomplishments and take into account students who demonstrate resilience, honor and high moral fiber — those who set an example for other classmates who hopefully will follow in their footsteps.

Rising Stars of 2023 are, in alphabetical order:

•Monica Lopez Alvarado, Twin Oaks High School

•Henry Davis, Mission Hills High School

•Emily Gonzalez-Chavez, Twin Oaks High School

•Kimberly Hernandez, Mission Hills High School

•Brisa Jaime, Mission Hills High School

•Rami Khalid, Twin Oaks High School

•Jesse Osborne, Twin Oaks High School

•Nicholas (Ray) Pulido, San Marcos High School

•Rosa Garcia Romero, San Marcos High School

•Kelly Amador Villarreal, Mission Hills High School

•Jessie Way, San Marcos High School

•Jarisbel Lobato Zamora, San Marcos High School

The Rising Stars Program, scholarship and events are made possible through the support of sponsors, including Nordson Corporation, EDCO and Palomar College, and the coordination of the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce.

These students deserve accolades, and their community looks forward to watching them reach for the stars!