Abein Abraham - Scholarship Awardee

My name is Abein Abraham and I am currently a junior at Aquinas High School. During the past three years, I have been an active member of the school community.

I have been the ASB class president my freshman, sophomore, and junior year. I have also been involved in multiple sports, such as cross-country, water polo, and tennis.

After high school, I want to major in computer science. I am glad I came to Aquinas because I am able to fully express myself, actively participate in the community, while also growing in my faith.

Joshua Bennett - Scholarship Awardee

My name is Joshua Bennett, I'm a member of the graduating class of 2022. I have a younger sister currently attending Sacred Heart Parish School at Rancho Cucamonga. I have been part of the Boys Varsity Soccer team since my Freshman year as a midfielder. I'm also a member of the Boys Varsity Cross Country team. In addition, I belong to the Healthcare Academy program in which I volunteer at St. Bernardine Hospital but due to the pandemic, my time of giving back to the community has been put to stop. However, this did not stop me from continuing to serve our God by altar serving at my parish.

Outside of school, I continue to play soccer with the Rebels IE 02/03 team. I also became an Eagle Scout at the beginning of my Freshman year. My goals for my senior year are to continue maintaining my grades and finish up being a member of the Honor Society my entire high school years. Excel in both soccer and cross-country and make my family proud of who I have become.

I plan to pursue a career in the Healthcare field by attending a university and continuing to play soccer. I am honored and would like to thank the LRS committee for selecting me as one of the recipients of this scholarship and I hope that someday I will be able to pay back what you have given me.

Maia Cicero - Scholarship Awardee

Hello, my name is Maia Cicero and I am currently a junior at Aquinas High School.

Personally, Aquinas has always felt like a home for me because of its inclusive, warm environment.

I began my journey at Sacred Heart Academy in Redlands, where I learned the roots of my Catholic-Christian values. There, I also adapted the ways of being a responsible and dependable individual.

At Aquinas, I have participated in varsity volleyball, the National Honor Society, the visual and performing arts academy, and various student organized clubs. Here, I continue to learn and climb over everyday obstacles, in which are stepping stones to my goals.

Outside of school, I participate in club volleyball, where I have been training for a total of 11 years. During my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, traveling, and surfing/paddle boarding.

I would like to thank Aquinas High School for this tremendous honor and for shaping me academically and personally into the scholar I am today.

Rosalie Guitron - Scholarship Awardee

Hi, my name is Rosalie Guitron and I am a rising senior at Aquinas High School.

Since my freshman year of high school, I have been in varsity basketball, varsity cross country, and varsity track. I have also been captain of my basketball team since junior year and captain of both track and cross country starting senior year. Apart from my athletics, I am involved in the Healthcare Academy here at Aquinas which allows me to volunteer at my local hospital, and I am a member of the National Honors Society.

Outside of school, I am also employed at Bahama Bucks in Redlands where I have worked since this past winter.

For my senior year, I plan on maintaining academic excellence and advancing in my athletic achievements. I look forward to making the most out of my last year in high school while also transitioning into focusing on my future goals to attend the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. In college, I plan on running while majoring in kinesiology and hope I can eventually find work in making an impact on people’s lives. I am so thankful and blessed to be receiving this scholarship and I intend to live out Fr. LaRiviere’s values of integrity, justice, and dignity. Thank you!

Carmen Mejico - Excellence in Teaching Award

I am extremely honored to receive the La Riviere Society Excellence in Teaching Award. I am earnestly grateful for the recognition, but it is an award I feel I share with the fabulous Aquinas team and most importantly my students who I have had the pleasure of teaching.

What I do in the classroom is work to inspire them to have a love for learning and to have fun while doing it.

I thank God every day for bringing me to Aquinas three years ago. It is through God’s work that I am able to deepen my faith on a daily basis, as well as have my faith in education renewed knowing that we at Aquinas are forming future leaders in the light and truth of the Gospel.

Thank you so much for believing in me!