2023 HERO OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS
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Erin Christmas
Library Director, City of Riverside
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Jasmine Fincher
Student Services Coordinator, MVUSD
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Elena Chavez
Martin Luther King High School, RUSD
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Angel Vargas
Peralta Elementary School, JUSD
QUARTERLY HERO AWARD RECIPIENTS
2023 – 2024 SCHOOL YEAR
Sophia Martinez – Special Education Teacher, Hawthorne Elementary School
Thi Young – Teacher, Garretson Elementary School
Carlos Gastelum – Student, Seneca Elementary School
Talen Kuehl – Student, Del Sol Academy
Martin Luther King High School (The Multicultural Council) – Riverside Unified School District
Butterfield Language Academy (The Kindness Club) – Moreno Valley Unified School District
2022 – 2023 SCHOOL YEAR
Chantal Velasquez – Counselor, John F. Kennedy Elementary School
Amelia Earhart Middle School (Team No Place for Hate) – Riverside Unified School District
Santiago Roybal – Student, John F. Kennedy Elementary School
Elexis Sloan – Student, Amelia Earhart Middle School
Susan Perez – Counselor, Stokoe Elementary School
Ramona High School – Riverside Unified School District
Arianna Chaney – Student, Norco Intermediate School
2021 – 2022 SCHOOL YEAR
Canyon Lake Middle School PLUS Group
Shannon Bagley – Teacher, Canyon Lake Middle School
Amanda Niaves – Counselor, Cottonwood School
2019 – 2020 SCHOOL YEAR
MeCHA De Poly Club
Johnie Drawn & Raphael Briscoe – Members of Communities 4 Children Mentoring Program
Mr. Ricardo Lozano & Mrs. Vlandita Lozano – Hemet and San Jacinto Valley Community Members
Aramis Verano aka “The Kid CEO” – Southern, CA Elementary School Student
Canyon Springs High School Anti-Bullying Club (ABC) – Over 145 active members!
Perris High School (PLUS Leadership Program) – Perris Union High School District
Ashley Hayball – Teacher, Desert Ridge Academy Middle School
Ramona High School (S.U.P.E.R. Peers) – Riverside Unified School District
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Student Ambassadors and Moderators – Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
Britney Criswell – Instructional Assistant, Alessandro School
2018 – 2019 SCHOOL YEAR
La Sierra High School (PALS) – Alvord Unified School District
Voices for Children CASA’s Against Bullying
Ramona High School (S.U.P.E.R. Peers) – Riverside Unified School District
Clare Pierce – Student, Jurupa Middle School
Dan Taylor – Founder, BullyStop 360 Program
Maria Lomeli – Student, Ramona High School
Berenice Toledano – School Counselor, Boulder Ridge Elementary School
Edward Gutierrez – Student, Boulder Ridge Elementary School
Jordan Thompkins – Student, Stone Avenue Elementary School
Mandy Wiltrout – Assistant Principal, Desert Ridge Academy Middle School
Megan Murano – Student, Indio High School
Melinda Tapia – Teacher, Jurupa Middle School
Payton Ramirez – Student, Lincoln Elementary School
Ryan Johnston, Student – Amelia Earhart Elementary School
Silvana Diaz – Teacher, Troth Street Elementary School
2017 – 2018 SCHOOL YEAR
Jurupa Middle School – Jurupa Unified School District
Sundance Elementary – Beaumont Unified School District
Three Rings Elementary – Beaumont Unified School District
PREVIOUS HERO OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS
2022
2022 HERO Peer Club of the Year – Sunnymead Middle School Kindness Club, Sunnymead Middle School
2022 HERO Administer of the Year – Matthew Fraley, North High School
2022 HERO Community Leader of the Year – Rebecca Antillon, Riverside University Health Systems
2022 HERO Business of the Year – Inland Empire Health Plan, Special Recognition to Luanna Jauregui
2021
2021 HERO Guardian Angel of the Year – Sherri Chun
2021 HERO Community Partner of the Year – Thomasina Wallace, California Baptist University
2021 HERO Teacher of the Year – Shannon Bagley, Canyon Lakes Middle School
2021 HERO Student of the Year – Kristina Lopez, Ramona High School
2020
2020 SUPER Hero of the Year – Aramis Verano
2020 Empowering HERO of the Year – Kennedy Wiltz
2020 Inspirational HERO of the Year – Jadyn Gomberg
2020 HERO Peer Club of the Year – Canyon Springs High School Anti-Bullying Club
2019
2019 HERO Community Partner of the Year – California Baptist University, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
2019 Inspirational HERO of the Year – Jessica Fuller, Orange Grove High School
2019 HERO Counselor of the Year – Mrs. Kathleen Sarmiento, Ramona High School
2019 HERO Student of the Year – Megan Murano, Indio High School Student
2018
2018 HERO Initiative of the Year – Corona-Norco Unified School District
2018 HERO Staff of the Year – Dena Drouault, Counselor Clayton A. Record Junior Elementary School
2018 HERO Student of the Year – Ayanna Johnson, former Student, Polytechnic High School
2018 HERO Inspirational Person of the Year – Cassandra Lackie, Riverside Resident
2018 HERO Community Leader of the Year – Michael Barboza, Owner of Right at Home In-Home Care and Assistance
2017
2017 HERO Administrator of the Year – Jessica Simpson – Thomas Jefferson Middle School
2017 HERO Community Leader of Year – Dr. Susan Levine, Director of RCOE Pupil and Administrative Service
2017 HERO Staff Member of the Year – Michelle Gomez, Counselor Canyon Springs High School
2017 HERO Student of the Year – Keilee Ann Grace Kelly, Student Mesa View Elementary
2017 HERO Ambassador of the Year – Shannon Fox, Ms. USA Universal
If you would like to nominate an individual for making a positive impact within their workplace, school, or community please fill out the nomination form at the link below.