To culminate this year’s Catholic Schools Week, on Jan. 31, the Diocesan Office of Catholic Schools recognized exceptional teachers, staff, alumni and volunteers for their work serving our Catholic school students at the annual Catholic School Awards ceremony that took place at The Holy Name of Jesus parish in Redlands. The ceremony began with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Emeritus Gerald Barnes, concelebrated by Father Erik Esparza, and assisted by Deacon Octavio Echeverria. The choir was a combination of students from Aquinas High School, Notre Dame High School, Sacred Heart Academy, and Our Lady of the Assumption. During the award ceremony, 25 were recognized as Distinguished Volunteers, seven were recognized as Distinguished and Honored Alumni, 19 were recognized as Distinguished Staff, and 18 were recognized as Distinguished Teachers. Congratulations to all who were awarded!
Distinguished Volunteer
Aquinas High School, San Bernardino: Tonaltzin Martinez; Notre Dame High School, Riverside: Danika & Dennis Egizi; Holy Rosary Academy, San Bernardino: Gabriel Pena, Dulce Hernandez; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Indio: Gabriel Arambula, Elizabeth Garcia; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Riverside: Meghan & Jeremy Hahn, Carleen Tucker; Sacred Heart Academy, Redlands: Arnold Copus, Marie Hellrich, Bruce King; Sacred Heart Parish School, Rancho Cucamonga: Jose Brito; St. Catherine of Alexandria, Riverside: Michael Rudd, Dalia Rodriguez; St. Edward, Corona: Melanie Crowell, Jennifer Myers; St. George School, Ontario: Leticia Ortiz, Adaluz Montesinos, Gail Itnyre; St. Hyacinth Academy, San Jacinto: Ted Vosti, Amanda Marquez; St. Joseph School, Upland: Patricia Galarza; St. Peter & St. Paul School, Alta Loma: Carina McCarthy, Jorge Tayag; St. Thomas the Apostle, Riverside: Theresa Kelsey
Distinguished and Honored Alumni
Notre Dame High School, Riverside: Jay Arnaiz; Holy Rosary Academy, San Bernardino: Sarah Austin; St. Hyacinth Academy, San Jacinto: Martin Flores, James Reyes; St. Peter & St. Paul School, Alta Loma: Isabelle Dyoco; St. Thomas the Apostle, Riverside: Mailey Pham, Faith Nguyen
Distinguished Staff
Aquinas High School, San Bernardino: Michele Nielsen; Notre Dame High School, Riverside: Andrea Thompson; Holy Rosary Academy, San Bernardino: Sister Amparo Velador, Salena Galindo; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Indio: Jesus Tienda; Sacred Heart Parish School, Rancho Cucamonga: Karina Oliveros; St. Adelaide Academy, Highland: Courtney Hernandez; St. Catherine of Alexandria, Riverside: Ronna Bugarin; St. Edward, Corona: Debra Gutierrez; St. George School, Ontario: Mayra Figueroa, Rudy Lopez; St. Hyacinth Academy, San Jacinto: Carlos Lemos, Veronica Betancourt; St. Joseph, Upland: Laura Grant; St. Margaret Mary, Chino: Marina Castaneda, Frances Alexandre; St. Peter & St. Paul School, Alta Loma: Laura Onopa; St. Theresa School, Palm Springs: Jessie Lopez; St. Thomas the Apostle, Riverside: Coralia Ortega
Distinguished Teacher
Aquinas High School, San Bernardino: Khiarra Ward; Notre Dame High School, Riverside: Nadia Bravo; Holy Rosary Academy, San Bernardino: Vanessa Orona; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Indio: Christina Gallegos; Resurrection Academy, Fontana: Rosalie Vilchis; Sacred Heart, Palm Desert: Araceli Beltran; Sacred Heart Academy, Redlands: Nichole Jaurique; Sacred Heart Parish School, Rancho Cucamonga: Matthew Villanueva; St. Adelaide Academy, Highland: Frank Beltran, Teashia Lopez; St. Catherine of Alexandria, Riverside: Carlos Centeno; St. Catherine of Sienna, Rialto: Maricela Castor; St. Edward School, Corona: Haley Fleischner; St. Hyacinth Academy, San Jacinto: Laticia Gomez, Elizabeth Harr; St. Margaret Mary, Chino: Sarah Bustos; St. Peter & St. Paul School, Alta Loma: Rianna Garcia; St. Theresa School, Palm Springs: Heather Hodge