Fr. Tomas Guillen (Good Shepherd Award recipient) poses with Bishop Rojas and staff from St. Jeanne de Lestonnac School, Temecula (left), and Aquinas High School, San Bernardino (right).
Each year, exceptional teachers, staff and volunteers are recognized for their work serving our Catholic school students. The 2023 winners have been announced and will be honored at the annual Catholic School Awards Mass on Feb. 4. Some winners are chosen by the Office of Catholic School, while some are chosen by the schools.
For the awards given by the Office of Catholic Schools, the winners are: Christina Tehrani, ELB and Andy Ly, AMS (Partnership Award); St. George School, Ontario and St. Edward School, Corona (Innovation Award); Principal Kristen Mora of St. Jeanne De Lestonnac School (Distinguished Principal); Fr. Tomas Guillen (Good Shepherd Award); Janice Lemann and Bryce & Kim Nordstrand (Seton Hope Award); David Meier (Friend of Children) and Edward Jabo (Faithful Companion).
Below are the awardees chosen by the schools, across the categories of distinguished volunteer, distinguished staff, distinguished teacher and distinguished and honored alumni.
Distinguished Volunteer: Theresa Griffiths (Aquinas High School); Rose Perkins (Notre Dame High School); Ambrosia Roches and Stephanie Landin (Holy Rosary Academy); Bryan Equez and Marcus Aleman (Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School, Indio); Kristin and Dylan Vassale (Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Riverside); Deacon Edwin & Kathleen Estrella (Our Lady of the Assumption School); Maya Bacon (Sacred Heart Academy, Redlands); Santiago Tejeda (St. Francis de Sales School); Mr. and Mrs. Urbina (St. Adelaide Academy); Patricia Rudd (St. Catherine of Alexandria School); Scott Lambert and Ileana Ulloa (St. Edward School); Rosa Munoz and Tiffany Franco (St. George School); Amanda Marquez (St. Hyacinth Academy); Dee Prestininzi and William Wichterman (St. Jeanne de Lestonac School); Ana Barroso (St. Joseph School); Lizzy Castano and Erika Burns (St. Peter & St. Paul Catholic School); Robert Saiz and Christina Saiz (St. Thomas the Apostle School).
Distinguished Staff: Nick Karavedas (Aquinas High School); Karen Gaitan (Our Lady of Lourdes School); Liliana Tapia Gordillo (Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School, Indio); Jackie Gaeta (Our Lady of the Assumption School); Kasey Luther (Sacred Heart Academy, Redlands); Rose Gonzales (Sacred Heart Parish School, Rancho Cucamonga); Nanci Ortiz and Angelica Lopez (St. Francis de Sales School); Kristen Cabrera (St. Catherine of Alexandria School); Ashley Vivanco (St. George School); Laura Bruce and Arlin Lemus (St. Margaret Mary School).
Distinguished Teacher: Carmen Mejico (Aquinas High School); Michael Villescas (Notre Dame High School); Norma Hilton (Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School, Indio); Patricia Minson (Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Riverside); Natalie Franco (Our Lady of the Assumption School); Melina Gerardo (Sacred Heart School, Palm Desert); Livier Diaz (Sacred Heart Parish School, Rancho Cucamonga); Mary Jayne Carr and Carol Lafond (St. Francis de Sales School); Heather Guereca (St. Adelaide Academy); Delia David (St. Catherine of Alexandria School); Yvonne Molnar and Jennifer Goodman (St. Edward School); Gladys Zamorano (St. George School); Kari Malone (St. Hyacinth Academy); Jodie Brown and Ryan Kleinvachter (St. Jeanne de Lestonac School); Lena Martinez (St. Joseph School); Lori Baca, Christina Gackstetter, Larry Salazar and Ken Corona (St. Margaret Mary School); Valerie Salazar (St. Peter & St. Paul Catholic School); Raquel Avila‐Alexander (St. Thomas the Apostle School).
Distinguished and Honored Alumni: David Colella & Sarah Colella (Our Lady of the Assumption School); Paul Sebastian Hellrich (Sacred Heart Academy, Redlands); Meillyn Garcia (Sacred Heart Parish School, Rancho Cucamonga); Trenna Meins (St. Francis de Sales School).