By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Soroptimists honor four ‘Girls of the Month’
• Service club picks young women for recognition
Soroptimist Ceres zoom
During a meeting via Zoom held on May 5, the Soroptimist International of Ceres honored four high school students. In the upper row from left to right are Ariyana Romo Barraza of Whitmore Charter High School, Soroptimist Kristi Britton and Angeles Ramirez of Ceres High School. In the bottom row, left to right are: Denise Wickham, Lorelei McCoy of Central Valley High School and Zulema Arreola of Argus High School.

The Soroptimist International of Ceres met via Zoom on May 5 and recognized a number of young women as “Girls of the Month.”

Before the pandemic hit and shut down most in-class attendance the club was in the habit of recognizing girls attending the four high schools in Ceres. The club reinstituted its program and last week honored: Ariyana Romo Barraza of Whitmore Charter High School, Zulema Arreola of Argus High School, Angeles Ramirez of Ceres High School and Lorelei McCoy of Central Valley High School.

A junior at Whitmore Charter High School, Ariyana Romo Barraza is an active member of the Leadership class and has been diligent in developing her leadership skills over the course of the year. She has strengthened her innate leadership skills as an individual, and also in a small group setting in order to promote school events and fundraisers. Ariyana has even taken the role of translator for event media in the Leadership class. She has translated information for fundraising events to promote inclusion for all students and families at WCHS. Off campus, Ariyana is a big help to her mom and her small businesses. Ariyana and her mother have supplied beautifully crafted masks for all staff members at WCHS. Ariyana plans to attend Modesto Junior College after graduation. 

Argus High School senior Zulema Arreola was selected as “Girl of the Month” for her commitment to her education, her altruism and resiliency. Zulema’s life has not been easy; her parents lost their home during her freshman year and they moved to Mexico where she forfeited her education to work to help support the family. While in Mexico she lost both her parents. Zulema was encouraged to return to the United States and finish her high school diploma. It was a hard decision to make as she would have to leave her guardian grandmother. Zulema enrolled in Argus and has maintained an average GPA of 3.25 and will graduate this June. She plans to attend a junior college in Southern California to once again be close to her grandmother. Zulema plans to major in both nursing and psychology.

Ceres High School junior Angeles Ramirez has been in “S” Club for the last three years and is currently the vice president. She has always been one of the first ones to jump in whenever something needs to be done. She is friendly, reliable and an overall pleasure to know. On numerous occasions, the club has leaned on Angeles to get things prepared for S Club events and she has never let them down.

Lorelei McCoy was singled out for honors from the Central Valley High School campus because of her desire to be a good person and help others. She has been an active member of the campus S Club and is really the main reason Soroptimists have the club. She not only volunteers her services wherever she can be of assistance, but she has gathered many others to help her. She has stated that her mission in life is to make the world a better place, and she works tirelessly to follow through on that mission.