2023 HERO OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS
Erin Christmas
Library Director, City of Riverside
Jasmine Fincher
Student Services Coordinator, MVUSD
Elena Chavez
Martin Luther King High School, RUSD
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.