During its Oct. 4 meeting the Ceres Rotary Club honored two standout students from two different campuses.
Zachary Chastain, a Ceres High School senior and Central Valley High School recognized senior Javier Armas as “Students of the Month.”
Chastain exemplifies the Rotary Motto “Service Above Self” in his daily living. Whether it is giving his academic best in his AP classes, contributing to ag classes and FFA, or leading the Ceres High Cooking Club, Zach is truly demonstrating what it means to be a servant leader. Zach is in the top 10% of his class, with a GPA of 3.91. He challenges himself with many advanced classes, and this year he is taking four Advanced Placement classes. In addition to Zach being an excellent student, he is involved on the Ceres High campus and in the community.
According to Zach’s ag teacher and FFA advisor Madel Runnels, “Zach is a natural born leader. He is extremely honest and humble. While he has a lot of friends, he is also quick to befriend other students who are new or might not know anyone yet.”
Another attribute Zach regularly displays is team work. As a three year member of the CHS Cooking Club, Zach’s dedication to not only cooking but leading the club stands out. This year, he is also serving as vice president, giving presentations to the new club members, and organizing activities for the club. Zach is also giving back to Ceres High as a School Service Aide for the Athletic Department. He daily assists with athletic event set-up, organizes supplies, and completes other tasks to support the athletic program at Ceres High.
Zach will be applying to a variety of colleges to pursue a mathematics degree in his quest to become a college math professor.
Javier Armas
Javier Armas earned the prestigious award in recognition of his outstanding citizenship, academic excellence and commitment to community service. With a remarkable 4.5 GPA, Javier exemplifies scholastic achievement and dedication to his future goal of becoming a doctor. In addition to excelling academically, Javier has been a proactive member of the school community. He serves on the School Site Council, where he helps shape important decisions that impact students, and is also a former member of the Youth Advisory Council, working to represent the voice of his peers in local initiatives. Javier’s leadership extends beyond the classroom — he has served as a camp counselor for sixth-graders where his guidance and encouragement earned him accolades for his leadership skills. His passion for service and leadership aligns perfectly with the values of the Rotary Club, making him a deserving recipient of this honor. As Javier looks toward the future with aspirations of entering the medical field, he remains committed to the ideals of citizenship, service, and academic excellence, embodying the Rotary motto of “ Service above Self.”
Andres Carrera
At their meeting of Oct. 11, the club recognized Andres Carrera, an eighth-grader at Cesar Chavez Jr. High School as a “Rotary Student of the Month.”
Andres is the ASB president at his school. As a dedicated participant in the dual language immersion program, he excels academically with a 4.0 GPA and is also a member of the School Site Council. Last year, he was part of the track team, demonstrating his commitment to both academics and extracurricular activities.
Looking ahead, Andres envisions himself attending a university, where he plans to pursue a degree in education. He as the goal of becoming a social studies or math teacher and eventually a site administrator.
When asked about his inspiration for leadership, Andres shared, “I like to think of myself as representative of others.”
