Educational Services
October 17, 2024
Board of Trustees Honors Students and Parent Volunteers at October Meeting
Students Joshua Cheng and Alistair Chavarin and Community Partners Natalie Liu
and Sonia Nunez Recognized for Contributions to WVUSD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WALNUT, CA —The Walnut Valley Unified School District (WVUSD) Board of Trustees (Board) recognized two outstanding students and two community partners from South Pointe Middle School (South Pointe M.S.) and Ron Hockwalt Academies (RHA), respectively, during the October 16 meeting.
From South Pointe M.S. in Diamond Bar, eighth-grader Joshua Cheng received the Super Star Student Award. Joshua is an outstanding example of academic excellence and resilience, excelling as a straight-A student while actively participating in the school’s Mandarin Dual Language Transition Program. His dedication extends beyond the classroom, as he is also a committed member of the South Pointe Band. What makes Joshua truly remarkable, however, is his perseverance through personal hardship, having lost his father in 2022.
South Pointe M.S. Principal Matt Brummett, EdD, said, “Joshua continues to demonstrate strength, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to his education and school community, embodying the school’s values. He reflects the best of our school and community.”
Natalie Liu received the Partner in Education distinction from South Pointe M.S. As the president of the Community Club, Natalie played a pivotal role in the success of the most recent Panther Pride campaign, which raised over $35,000 to support students. Her tireless dedication extends beyond just South Pointe M.S., as she's also devoted countless hours to Walnut Elementary, truly embodying the spirit of service.
“We’re honored to give Natalie this award,” Brummett shared. “She exemplifies the qualities we seek in a community leader — passion, commitment, and a genuine desire to make a lasting impact on our school community.”
A senior at RHA Alistair Chavarin received the Super Star Student Award from Board President Helen Hall. Alistair joined RHA with the goal of taking the California High School Proficiency Exam. Rather than transferring when he earned enough credits to graduate, he decided to stay and fully immerse himself in the RHA experience. A talented artist, Alistair expresses his creativity through both fashion and animation. Alistair's contributions to the RHA community extend far beyond his art. In the 2023-2024 school year, he served on the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council and was actively involved in the school's publications. He is serving in a leadership role for the 2024-2025 school year, further proving his dedication to RHA.
“We are incredibly proud to have him as a part of the RHA family and look forward to seeing where his talent and leadership take him in the next phase of his life,” said RHA Principal Ryan Maine, EdD.
Also, from RHA, Sonia Nunez received the Partner in Education Award. She has been a dedicated member of the WVUSD family for the past 16 years, serving as both an Intervention Counselor for five years and a Grade Level Coordinator (GLC) for 11 years at Walnut High School. Throughout her career, Sonia has made an extraordinary impact, especially when it comes to supporting students at RHA.
As a GLC, Sonia consistently advocates for students and staff to have a strong partnership with RHA, seeing it as an invaluable opportunity for those who may thrive in a more personalized setting. Her dedication to her students doesn’t stop when her students transfer over to RHA; she continues to check in on them, fostering a relationship where RHA is seen as an extension of Walnut High School (WHS). She often jokes with students that now they have "two parents" looking out for them — RHA and WHS — reflecting her deep commitment to ensuring they succeed, no matter where they are. Each year, she offers scholarships to students in need, providing not just financial support, but hope and opportunity. She also donates art supplies and is always available to offer any other assistance that RHA or its students may require.
Maine added, “We are honored to recognize her contributions and are grateful for the care and commitment she brings to our school community.”
Captions:
(L-R) Board President Helen Hall and South Pointe Middle School Super Star Student award winner Joshua Cheng at the October 16 board meeting in Walnut. (WVUSD photo Alicia Romero)
(L-R) South Pointe Middle School Principal Matt Brummett, EdD, Board President Helen Hall and Super Star Student Joshua Cheng at the October 16, 2024 board meeting in Walnut. (WVUSD photo/Alicia Romero)
(L-R) South Pointe Middle School Principal Matt Brummett, EdD, with Partner in Education award winner Natalie Liu (middle) and family, plus Board President Helen Hall at the October 16, 2024 board meeting in Walnut. (WVUSD photo/Alicia Romero)
(L-R) RHA Super Star Student award winner Alistair Chavarin accepts award from Board President Helen Hall at the October 16 board meeting in Walnut. (WVUSD photo/Alicia Romero)
(L-R) RHA Partner in Education award winner Sonia Nunez with Board President Helen Hall (right) at the October 16, 2024 board meeting in Walnut. (WVUSD photo/Alicia Romero)
(L-R) From RHA Lorraine Gomez, Lissette Chappel, Principal Ryan Maine, award recipient Sonia Nunez, Andrea Garcia, and Board President Helen Hall. (WVUSD Photo/Alicia Romero)
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Contact:
Alicia Romero
Office: 909-595-1261, Ext. 31204