2026 HUSD Student of the Year Mariangel Rubio Aguilar (HHS)

2026 HUSD Elementary Student of the Year Lazarus Chavez (Maple)

As the 2025-2026 school year comes to a close, the Hesperia Unified School District (HUSD) wants to say a huge THANK YOU to our amazing community! At HUSD, we work hard to build well-rounded students who are strong in their classes, active in after-school activities, and full of great character. We can't do this alone. Thanks to our generous community partners, we offer incredible programs that reward our students and staff. Let’s take a look back at what we achieved together with our community partners this year!

Student of the Month/Year Program: Victorville Motors

Our Student of the Month and Year program is proudly sponsored by Victorville Motors. This program celebrates wonderful K-12 students with awards and $50 gift cards each month. At the end of the year, the annual Students of the Year are selected from our monthly winners. Student of the Year recipients receive an award and a $500 gift card, all courtesy of Victorville Motors!

Elementary Student of the Year: Lazarus Chavez (Maple Elementary)

Lazarus is an absolute standout! He is kind, respectful, always dresses spiffy, and takes huge pride in his school. He knows so much about Maple Elementary that he is like a walking guidebook! Lazarus makes it a goal to learn every student’s name so everyone feels included. He also plays the violin, sings in the choir, serves on the student council, and plays baseball. Lazarus wants to be a third-grade teacher at Maple one day. He loves spending time with his family and everything Disney!

Secondary Student of the Year: Mariangel Rubio Aguilar (Hesperia High School)

Mariangel is a true model of resilience. She has overcome many challenges to achieve greatness. She is graduating as a Valedictorian with a 4.4 GPA. Remarkably, she earned three associate's degrees from Victor Valley College while still in high school! Mariangel won numerous awards, including AP Scholar with Honor, First Generation Award, School Recognition Award, Virtues Voices scholarship, Rick Novack scholarship, CTE Oro Grande scholarship, Lynn Foundation scholarship, Burger King scholarship, and the Seal of Biliteracy. She also earned a QuestBridge Scholarship, giving her a full ride to Princeton University, where she will major in Neuroscience.

To learn more about this program, visit hesperiausd.org/page/student-of-the-month

For more information about Victorville Motors, visit: victorvillemotors.com

Athlete of the Month/Year Program: Erickson Hall Construction

Sponsored by Erickson Hall Construction, this program honors K-12 athletes who excel in sports and in the classroom. Monthly winners get a $50 gift card, and our annual winners receive a $500 gift card!

2026 Middle School Athlete of the Year: Abigail "Abby" Smith (Cedar Middle School)

Abby is a 4.0 GPA Honor Roll student who loves Social Studies. She is a natural leader who guides her teammates through warm-ups and helped the Spartan girls' soccer team win their back-to-back-to-back HDAL league championship banner this year! She also plays volleyball, basketball, and runs cross country. Abby hopes to play soccer in college at Cal State or Arizona State.

2026 High School Athlete of the Year: Nolan Newman-Gomez (Hesperia High School)

Nolan has been a dominant four-year varsity basketball player for Hesperia. He leaves as Hesperia High’s all-time scoring leader with 1,700 career points and 850 rebounds! He was named the Mojave River League (MRL) Athlete of the Year, MRL MVP, 3-time all-MRL team, 2-time all-CIF team, and much more. This year, he averaged 22.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game and led the Scorpions to the CIF sectional finals with a huge win over Mater Dei. Off the court, Nolan took advanced AP courses, earned a 4.4 GPA, and is graduating as a valedictorian. He accepted a full athletic scholarship to play Division 1 basketball at the University of Idaho, where he will major in Math.

Learn more at hesperiausd.org/page/student-athlete-of-the-month

For more information about Erickson Hall Construction, visit: ericksonhall.com

2026 HUSD High School Athlete of the Year Nolan Newman-Gomez (HHS)

2026 HUSD Middle School Athlete of the Year Abigail Smith (CMS) with Board President Swanson and Board Vice President Gomez

HUSD iExpo: Horace Mann Insurance

HUSD has also partnered with Horace Mann Insurance to celebrate STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) in the annual iExpo event.

The iExpo STEAM Competition takes place each Spring and brings together hundreds of K-12 students who compete in a variety of challenges, including filmmaking, engineering, coding, fashion design, robotics, and art for awards and gift cards, courtesy of Horace Mann.

Learn more about the iExpo at hesperiausd.org/page/iexpo

Learn more about Horace Mann Insurance at: agents.horacemann.com/RobertStepanian

2026 iExpo Engineering Champions (Krystal)

2026 iExpo Best High School Film Winners (OHHS)

HUSD Cribs: Schools First Credit Union

Sponsored by SchoolsFirst Credit Union, this fun program awards $100 gift cards to staff members who build exciting, welcoming learning spaces. Recent winners include Allison Baughman (Ranchero Middle School Teacher) and Edna Corona (Krystal Elementary Librarian).

Learn more about CRIBS at hesperiausd.org/page/husd-cribs

Learn more about Schools First Credit Union at schoolsfirstfcu.org

HUSD Cribs Winner Edna Corona (Krystal Librarian)

eSports: Horace Mann Insurance

Sponsored by Horace Mann Insurance, our eSports program runs two exciting seasons a year for elementary and secondary schools. Champion team members win a $50 gift card each after a full season and tournament-style postseason competitions. Recent champions include: Krystal Elementary (Smash Bros and Mario Kart), Mojave High School (Marvel Rivals), and Hesperia High School (Overwatch).

Check out the eSports program at hesperiausd.org/page/e-sports

Check out Horace Mann Insurance at agents.horacemann.com/RobertStepanian

Board President Mr. Swanson & 2025 eSports Marvel Rivals Champions (MHS)

2025 eSports Mario Kart Champions (Krystal)

Livestream Players of the Game: Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers of Hesperia

Sponsored by Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers of Hesperia, the Livestream Player of the Game program broadcasts several HUSD athletic events live and gives the Player of the Game a gift basket worth over $100. The program gives worldwide exposure to our student athletes and some free chicken fingers, and merch isn't a bad perk either! Recent Raising Cane's Livestream Players of the game include: Amaya Sigala (Oak Hills High School Softball), Brooke Kelly (Sultana High School Volleyball), Zamar Malvo (Hesperia High School Football), Nolan Newman-Gomez (Hesperia High School Basketball), Chelsae Garcia (Sultana High School Wrestling), and Emiliano Hernandez (Hesperia High School Wrestling)

Learn more about the program at hesperiausd.org/page/live-stream-player-of-the-game

Learn more about Raising Cane's at raisingcanes.com

Livestream Player of the Game Amaya Sigala

Livestream Player of the Game Zamar Malvo (HHS)

Career Technical Education (CTE) Experiential Learning Program: Desert Valley Hospital & Medical Group, Steeno Design Studio Inc., Wild Wind Ranch, Think Together, and Victor Valley College Rams Cafe

The Experiential Learning Program (ELP) provides juniors and seniors at HUSD high schools with the opportunity to participate in a micro internship in a career field they may be interested in pursuing after graduation. The program is designed to help students gain real-world work experience, make more informed decisions about their future goals, and build connections between students and the local community. Students typically intern twice a week for three to four hours per session over a three to four-week period, completing between 20 to 30 total internship hours. Upon completion of the internship, students are required to deliver a five-minute presentation about their experience to a class of their choosing.

Partner With Us For the Next School Year!

Do you want to help us shape the future? We are looking for local businesses and community leaders to sponsor our programs for the upcoming school year. By partnering with HUSD, you invest directly in local kids and show that your business cares about our community.

To see our current partnerships, visit hesperiausd.org/page/community-partnerships

Ready to make a difference? Contact us today:

Division: Innovative Technology & Communication (ITC)

Contact: Mr. Isaac Newman-Gomez (Assistant Superintendent) or Ms. Windy Ferren (Executive Secretary II)

Phone: (760) 244-4411 ext. 7337

Email: Windy.Ferren@Hesperiausd.org

On May 4, 2026, the Hesperia Unified School District (HUSD) held a very special celebration. We came together to honor 48 incredible employees who are retiring this year. When you add up all the time these dedicated people have spent working in our schools, it totals over 1,000 combined years of service! That is a millennium of teaching, supporting, and leading the youth of Hesperia.

At HUSD, our mission is "preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s world." These 48 individuals have lived that mission every single day. Whether they worked in a classroom, an office, or around the campus, they have been the backbone of our schools. They didn't just teach math and reading; they helped build well-rounded students. Because of them, our students are stronger in their schoolwork, more active in extracurriculars, and better members of our community.

As these amazing staff members prepare for their next big adventure, we want to recognize them by name. If you see them out in the community, please join us in saying "thank you" for everything they have done for our students.

The HUSD 2026 Retiring Class: Debra Badger, Diane Beam, Giselle Beaton-Garcia, Leigh Beattie, Carola Berger, Stacy Bolden, Giovanna Boswell, Donna Butler, Michael Capps, Jennifer Capps, Tina Cipriani, Catherine Coldiron, Rocky Comberiati, Sanita Cortina, Carol Flodter, Cheryl Franks, JoAnn Galindo, Irma Gonzalez, Janice Gutierrez, Alesia Handy, Kim Hough, Theresa Jones, Dennis Katt, Eugenia Macias, Kimberly Martin, Chris Mauger, Marie McKinley, Monica Miller, Lucie Mobley, James Montejano, Denise Morrell, Alicia Munoz, Lisa Palti, Gena Peterson, Debora Prewitt, Patricia Rule, Theresa Santos, Adora Sayre, Tom Sayre, Brenda Sewell, DeDe Stats, Julie Stidham, Renae Taylor, Elaine Telles, Virginia Tourse, Karimeh Tuttle, Tempie Velehradsky and Shauna Warnock.

These individuals have given so much of themselves to our staff, parents, and, most importantly, our students. We wish them all the best as they embark on this exciting new chapter of their lives.

Excitement filled the air at Juniper Elementary School as students took center stage for this year’s highly anticipated talent show. Families, staff, and classmates gathered to cheer on the young performers who spent weeks preparing for their big moment under the spotlight.

The road to the talent show was not an easy one. Students dedicated countless hours to after-school practices, working tirelessly to perfect their acts. We saw singers, dancers, and comedians at this night to remember. Each participant showed determination, courage, and creativity. Many students balanced homework and extracurricular activities while still committing themselves to rehearsals several days a week.

On the night of the performance, the hard work paid off. The audience erupted with applause as students confidently showcased their talents on stage. Teachers and staff praised the students for their perseverance and teamwork throughout the preparation process.

Second Grade Teacher Mrs.Smullen said, “It was an unforgettable night filled with inspiring collaboration and spectacular talent. You could feel the hard work and passion the students and their coaches poured into their performances, and it left the audience filled with excitement and pride for our school community.”

It was a hard call for our Judges: Principals Ted Portney & Kelly Hamilton, 3rd Grade Teacher Miss Lopez, and School Police Officer Patrick Rangel. Ultimately, the decision was made: Novalee McFarland taking 3rd, Duo Jovette Phillips & Mia Estrada taking second, and Duo Leyla Ramos and Alessandra Medina taking 1st place!

The talent show is a reminder of what can happen when students believe in themselves, work hard, and support one another. For many participants, it was a night they will never forget. Contestant Franklin Ruiz said, “ I think everyone should be confident like I was, and I thought it was really fun to show off my talent.”

A big thank you to the families for showing up, our judges for judging, and our amazing coaches for making this show a success.

Editor's Note: Nearly all HUSD Elementary schools hold annual talent show events.  This article highlights this year's event at Juniper Elementary.  Way to go Jaguars!

Oak Hills High School (OHHS) alumni Keonahi'ilani "Nona" Solaita (Class of 2025) has continued to thrive since leaving HUSD for Cal State Sacramento in 2025.  Nona had a dominant freshman season for the Sac State Hornets, and was named the 2025–2026 NCAA Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year. Recently, she was also selected to represent American Samoa in international volleyball play.

Keona's rapid ascent from local high school standout to international competitor showcases how dedication in the classroom and on the court can pave the way toward achieving huge aspirations.

Before taking the NCAA by storm, Keona left an indelible mark on the High Desert sports landscape. Her high school accolades include: Back-to-Back MRL Athlete of the Year: Earned the Mojave River League’s most prestigious volleyball honor in consecutive seasons, concluding with the 2025 title. CIF Championship Run: Led the OHHS Bulldogs to the CIF-SS Volleyball Championship match. All-CIF Team Selection: Named to the All-CIF Team during her powerhouse senior year. 2024–2025 HUSD Athlete of the Year: Recognized as the top athlete across the entire school district.

Solaita was just as formidable in the classroom as she was on the court, graduating from Oak Hills High School with an exceptional 3.87 cumulative GPA.

HUSD extends a special thank you to Fox 40 for their excellent recent feature article highlighting her international selection and collegiate success. A video showcasing her journey and achievements can be viewed below.

By: Miles Kaiser Garcia 6th Grade Mesquite Trails Student

The Mesquite Trails music program is an amazing opportunity for all students, Mr. Aaron Moreno is the amazing music teacher that makes us believe this. Mr. Moreno is a great man, he has allowed me to take part in the music program since first grade playing an instrument he doesn’t normally offer. In fourth grade I started “official” orchestra class, I played as the only cello in the school’s ensemble. In sixth grade I started playing the euphonium as well as the cello, most students do not have this opportunity of playing two instruments. Mr. Moreno not only let me start playing a second instrument, but he let me move up to the advanced class in my first few weeks of playing.

After four months of playing euphonium Mr. Moreno selected me to join a special form of band called the HUSD Honors Band. This class allowed me to expand my musical talent by playing harder songs at faster tempos. Mr. Moreno gives us the chance to choose the songs we play, in orchestra class we got to choose from a list of songs by class vote. In band class we got to share ideas and choose from a list by a class vote as well. My band experience here has been amazing for many years, with an amazing teacher helping me along the way. 

Editor's Note: Every HUSD Elementary school has a music program with amazing teachers like Mr. Moreno. This district-wide Elementary music program is another example of the District's commitment to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) and providing a well-rounded education to all of our students. We salute Mesquite Trails and Mr. Moreno's outstanding work within their school's program.

To support the Hesperia Unified School District's mission, "preparing today's students for tomorrow's world," we focus on building well-rounded students who have the tools to succeed. And we know that when families succeed, students succeed.  So the District's amazing Family Engagement Network is working hard every day to make sure every family in Hesperia has the resources and support they need to thrive.  So let's take a moment and talk about what the HUSD Family Engagement Network does for our community.

A Dedicated Team in Your Neighborhood

We want to make sure no family feels left behind. That is why HUSD has created a special team called FACE (Family and Community Engagement) to serve as the "FACE" of our schools to the community. With 25 schools in our district, every single school site has its own dedicated Family Community Liaison. These friendly experts are split into three local neighborhoods so they can listen to exactly what your specific school's needs are. A shining example of our liaisons is Lucy Spafford, our District Family Community Liaison, who runs the Hesperia Family Resource Center. Lucy works incredibly hard to build trust in our neighborhood. She works closely with a variety of community groups, including our ELAC (English Learner Advisory Committee), to make sure our English-learning families always have the support they need. Lucy also collaborates with our District Social Worker and the Student Services team to offer various supports to our homeless and foster students and families. She also partners with fantastic regional groups to bring healthcare, food, and other supports directly to all families in need, including IEHP, Providence St. Mary’s, and the High Desert Food Collaborative.

Transforming Campuses into Community Hubs

Thanks to some incredible Community Schools Grants, we are transforming nine of our campuses into true community hubs, with extra resources for all. These schools focus on providing extra student support, more learning time, family events, and teamwork with various groups. A few examples of the many amazing services available are:

Mojave High School:  Clothing, mobile food, and shoe distribution vehicle for MHS families in need.

Mesa Grande & Hesperia Jr. High: Job/career support and food distribution for student families.

Hesperia High School: Healthcare navigators, on-site counseling, and a fully functioning Providence St. Mary’s Clinic (a first-of-its-kind health clinic right on a school campus) within the new Center for the Arts building.

Our commitment to education does not stop when a student graduates from high school. Through the Hesperia Adult Education Center, we help parents and community members learn new skills, find employment, and much more. The Adult Ed Center offers: College Prep, Job Training, English as a second language classes, and U.S. Citizenship classes.

Lending a Helping Hand: The Caring Closet

We know that a student cannot focus on their schoolwork if they are hungry, cold, or facing a tough time at home. The District runs the Caring Closet and the Threading Up program. These programs provide free, essential clothing and emergency supplies to students facing homelessness and/or housing crises.

Together, We Are HUSD Strong!

The Hesperia Unified Family Engagement Network is here for you. By bringing together medical care, food support, adult education, and great schools, we are lifting up the entire Hesperia community. If you or your family need assistance, please reach out to your specific school site and ask to speak with your Family Community Liaison. You can also call our District Family Community Liaison at 760-244-1771 ext. 6778.

Cedar Middle School hosted the 6th grade orientation on Friday, March 6th. CMS hosted this orientation day for current 6th graders, who will be attending Cedar next school year. The orientation created a comfortable and exciting atmosphere for future students. They were greeted by current ASB students and staff, who had made signs and cards to make the 6th graders feel welcome to their new school.

CMS had also hosted a pep rally in the gym. ASB planned specific games and activities to get the students engaged with ASB and excited to join our student body. This was followed by an athletics highlight, where all sports were in attendance. Our athletic teams put on brief demonstrations of each sport or athletic opportunity we offer at Cedar. Colorguard also gave an exciting performance which represented one of the many elective opportunities at our school.

Another key part of the 6th grade orientation was the campus tours that were led by current ASB students. Prospective students were led across campus to multiple important places such as the gym, multi-purpose room, and the library. Teachers, counselors, and staff met with our future scholars during elective introductions. Overall, the campus tours provided our future Spartans with an understanding of the school's layout and important locations on the campus.

ASB presented in the library, this presentation talked about what our school counselors, ASB, and AVID do at CMS; and how they can join these clubs. AVID and ASB applications were available to students, providing them with the opportunity to apply onsite. Toward the end of the presentation, there was an open Q&A where every student was encouraged to ask questions about our school, clubs, and how staff can support their transition into middle school.

The band and choir hosted a performance in the MPR, where they played the music live to show the incoming students. The music department displayed instruments available for this incoming class. And shared information about what the requirements are to join a band, they also shared details of how to join an advanced band and the types of concerts and events they would be hosting.

At the end of the day ASB hosted a lunch activity. This lunch activity included every school so the prospective students could interact with future classmates. Classic games such as connect four, and basketball were featured, and each student who participated had received a prize encouraging students to interact and participate in games. And as the students were leaving tee-shirts were given out to remind them of the first time they had been at Cedar Middle School. Overall, 6th Grade Orientation at Cedar Middle School was a huge success for everyone involved.