Student: Guillermina Avalos
Grade: 8
School: Sunnyside Union School, Strathmore
Comment: Nominator Alicia Franco says, “I have had the privilege of teaching Guillermina for three years, and she has always shown exceptional responsibility. She is the kind of student you only need to tell once — she follows through every time. As a bus buddy for kindergarten students, she has never missed a day and even reminds others of their duties. Academically, Guillermina is just as dependable, always completing her work and meeting expectations. Her band teacher also recognized her with an award for consistently setting up and cleaning up equipment at performances. Her strong sense of duty and reliability make her a true example of responsibility.”
Student: Everleigh Beals
Grade: 3
School: Valley Life Charter School, Visalia
Comment: Nominator Kim Canterbury says, “Everleigh Beals consistently demonstrates what it means to be a reliable and dedicated student leader. Responsibility is shown not only through completing assignments or meeting expectations, but also in the way a person carries themselves and inspires those around them. As a member of the school student body, Everleigh takes her leadership role seriously. She helps lead assemblies with confidence. Her commitment to this role shows her ability to be trusted with important responsibilities, and she always fulfills them with enthusiasm. In the classroom, Everleigh demonstrates the same level of responsibility. She completes her schoolwork on time, stays focused, and encourages those around her to do their best. What makes Everleigh stand out is not just her ability to complete tasks, but her ability to do so while uplifting others. She makes our school a better place!”
Student: Mia Domingo
Grade: 3
School: Pleasant View Elementary School, Poplar
Comment: Nominator Tashima Irving says, “Mia Domingo is a student who truly embodies the Pillars of Character in every aspect of her life, at school, at home, and with her friends. There are countless qualities I could highlight about Mia, but what stands out most is her focus, determination, and ability to set meaningful goals for herself. In class, she consistently creates and accomplishes her weekly goals, often being the first to complete them. She is well-organized and naturally steps into leadership roles during collaborative group work, guiding her peers with confidence and care. Beyond the classroom, Mia has challenged herself with an extraordinary personal goal of reading 1 million words this year. Since beginning this journey in August, she has already completed nearly 200,000 words, a testament to her perseverance and dedication. Mia’s kindness and willingness to help others have also earned her the respect and friendship of many. I am excited to witness all the remarkable things Mia will accomplish this year and in the years ahead.”
Student: Jacob T. Follett
Grade: 10
School: Sierra View Junior Academy, Exeter
Comment: Nominator Carol Bovee says, “Jacob Follett consistently demonstrates the Pillar of Responsibility through his actions, leadership, and service. He is an innate helper who takes initiative and follows through with dedication. During a recent mission trip, Jacob embraced significant responsibilities — assisting in dentistry, installing walls and cement floors, and digging for a septic tank installation. He approached each task with maturity, showing that he can be trusted to carry out important work with excellence. What sets Jacob apart is that he does not wait to be told what needs to be done; instead, he often asks, “Is there anything I can do to help?” This proactive attitude reflects a deep sense of responsibility to those around him and to the broader community. His peers and teachers know they can count on him not only to help when asked, but also to recognize needs on his own and respond with kindness and initiative.”
Student: Mykael Luna
Grade: 11
School: Exeter Union High School, Exeter
Comment: Nominator Margie Reed says, “Mykael is the co-founder of the “Be That One” initiative at our high school, a campaign centered on kindness, responsibility, and making positive choices. From the very beginning, Mykael has been the face of this movement, speaking with administrators, teachers, and fellow students to spread its message. As an athlete and someone many consider a “popular” student on our campus, Mykael understands that students look up to him. Rather than taking that lightly, he has embraced the responsibility and used his influence to encourage others to live with kindness and integrity. He has stood side by side with other students every step of the way, offering his support and leadership to ensure the initiative makes a lasting impact.”
Student: Nicolas Wilkinson
Grade: 12
School: Harmony Magnet Academy, Strathmore
Comment: Nominator Nathan Keith says, “I can always rely on Nicolas to do what is expected of students and then some. Nicolas’ dedication to his academics and water polo team almost outweighs his self-care at times, staying up late to finish assignments after water polo matches, being involved in extracurricular activities while juggling a rigorous course load, and putting all the effort he can into being the best student he can be. Nicolas was recently nominated as one of four candidates for Homecoming King. However, because his course load and extracurriculars demand so much time and energy from him, he was going to drop out of the homecoming competition. Thankfully, one his teachers encouraged him to stick with it. This is exactly the kind of example that teachers want all students to see: a student who puts his academic and extracurricular commitments above social contests that were never part of his vision of excellence. In other words, the potential social spotlight he could receive would not be worth getting behind in his classes, having his grades drop at the start of his senior year, or not having enough energy to perform at his best in water polo competitions.”
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Character Counts! These Tulare County students excel at Responsibility
Reporting by Tulare County Office of Education / Visalia Times-Delta
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
