Selecting Liliana Velasco for the 8th Grade Student Standout award was a no-brainer.
For starters, the Lucerne Valley Middle School student maintained a 4.0 grade point average — in both 7th and 8th grade. She was not only a leader last year in the school’s Associated Student Body, but this year she is a leader in the Advancement Via Individual Determination program, known commonly as AVID.
“Liliana is the quintessential example of what an AVID student should be,” according to teacher Naomi Ms. O” Oyadomari, who serves as the school’s AVID adviser. “She is a writer, musician, scholar, and a positive role model for her peers.”
On Thursday, April 12, Liliana, Ms. O, and Liliana’s family members were on hand at the California Theatre in San Bernardino when Liliana and about 100 other outstanding county students were given awards. Liliana was selected by Ms. O and other AVID site team members.
Ms. O can count on Liliana to step in as a tutor during AVID tutorials. She also is an excellent writer and earned an award in a recent 8th grade AVID Write Off competition.
“Her determination for excellence makes Liliana a standout in our AVID program,” Ms. O wrote in her description of Liliana. “She has all the attributes of an AVID ambassador.”