Seniors from 21 Desert-Area High Schools to Step into Spotlight at Greater Coachella Valley Student of the Month Event
INDIO – Outstanding students from the class of 2026 will take the stage to share their stories of academic excellence, community service, and inspiring resilience at the next Greater Coachella Valley Student of the Month event hosted by the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino – Special Events Center (84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio, CA 92203).
First organized by RCOE during the 2023-2024 school year, this event represents the third recognition of the 2025-2026 academic year. The morning consists of honoring one high school senior from each of the 19 different high schools in three local school districts: Coachella Valley Unified School District, Desert Sands Unified School District, and Palm Springs Unified School District, including two students enrolled in Riverside County Office of Education alternative education programs.
“The extraordinary stories shared by the students of the month remind us of the power of education to unlock unlimited opportunity for students and families,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “It is an honor to recognize these students who embody the bright future of the desert region and all of Riverside County.
Each district selects its Students of the Month based on their embodiment of character, integrity, a passion for learning, active involvement in school life, sports, and community service, or have displayed remarkable resilience in the face of life’s challenges while maintaining a commitment to education.
One additional Greater Coachella Valley Student of the Month event is scheduled for April 14, 2026. Honorees from all four events held throughout the year will compete for the Greater Coachella Valley Student of the Year scholarships that will be awarded on May 21, 2026.
Community support has been critical to the success of the program, with this year’s Greater Coachella Valley Student of the Month partners including each desert-area school district, along with Sun Community Federal Credit Union, Altura Credit Union, Sam’s Club, Walter Clark Legal Group, OneFuture Coachella Valley, The Madison Club, and Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino.
The honorees at the February 3 event include:
Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD)
- Anahi Moran – Coachella Valley Independent Study
- Yanelly Miranda-Nunez – Desert Mirage High School
- Karime Meja – Desert Mirage High School
- Jose Fernandez – La Familia High School
- Diego Flores – Nova Academy Early College High School
- Alyssa Ochoa – West Shores High School
Desert Sands Unified School District (DSUSD)
- Daniel Hernandez-Martinez – Amistad High School
- Arturo Ibarra – Horizon High School
- Sofia Cruz-Gonzalez – Indio High School
- Nathan Calasan – La Quinta High School
- Alfonso Lucero – Palm Desert High School
- Giselle Santibanez – Shadow Hills High School
- Maria Aceves-Ruiz – Summit High School
Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD)
- Carlos Lopez – Cathedral City High School
- Emily Diedjomahor – Desert Hot Springs High School
- Zemi Aceves Garcia – Desert Learning Academy
- Damon Lockhart Jr. – Mt. San Jacinto High School
- Italy Acosta – Palm Springs High School
- Malachi Davis – Rancho Mirage High School
Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE)
- Richard Gonzalez – Palm Springs Community School
- Jayden Arriaga-Araujo – Don F. Kenny Regional Learning Center
Sponsorship opportunities are available for all events, including platinum ($7,500), gold ($5,000), silver ($3,000), bronze ($1,500), and table ($500) levels. Please contact Natalia T. Gonzalez for additional information at ntgonzalez@rcoe.us.
About the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE)
RCOE is a service agency supporting the county’s 23 school districts and 500+ schools that serve nearly 430,000 students—more than the student population of 17 states. RCOE services include administrative support to districts and charter schools, programs for preschool, special education, pregnant minor, correctional, migrant, and vocational students. In addition, the organization provides professional training, support, and resources for more than 18,000 teachers, administrators, and staff, throughout the 7,000 square miles of Riverside County. Learn more at www.rcoe.us.