Sonoma Valley High names Stanfield and Reyes Students of the Year

Emma Stanfield and Edwin Reyes honored|

In a busy month of prom, senior projects and senior awards, Sonoma Valley High School also celebrated its Students of the Year: Emma Grace Stanfield and Edwin David Reyes Herrera.

Emma Stanfield is the third daughter of Laura and Richard Stanfield to graduate from Sonoma Valley High School. Emma has embraced the opportunities presented to her throughout high school both in the classroom and through her extracurricular activities. Her teachers describe her as an active listener who loves to learn and enjoys exploring new hobbies, sports and academics.

Emma has taken the most rigorous courses offered on at SVHS, she ranks number four in her class, and she was offered a place at UC Santa Barbara, Davis, Irvine, San Diego as well as University of Washington and Boston College. Next year, she will attend UCLA.

Emma is interested in environmental science and has interned at a local water desalination plant. She has been a regular volunteer at the local state park, a founder of the hiking club on campus as well as a participant in SVHS’ Earth club. She has also participated on the school’s volleyball, track, basketball and tennis teams.

For the past few years Emma has tutored a young man with autism after school. She has said that the experience of working with someone with disabilities has been challenging but that she has learned to adapt and modify lessons and find solutions to support his needs. Emma’s compassionate nature has been perfect for his unique situation.

Finally, Emma is described by her teachers as possessing a strong strength of character and as being kind, respectful and non-judgmental when collaborating with her peers. She is a quiet leader who gets the job done.

Edwin David Reyes Herrera, son of Lorena Herrera, is known to pretty much everyone on the SVHS campus. He is considered by many to be an exceptional role model for his peers.

Edwin was elected as Student Voice by his school mates and takes the responsibilities very seriously. He attends every Sonoma Valley Unified School District board meetings as the student trustee and provides announcements to the student body over the loud speaker every day.

In addition to encouraging a positive school culture, Edwin serves as an academic tutor to AVID students and helped many to navigate the confusing college process.

Edwin’s leadership strengths are also demonstrated on the athletic field. He played varsity basketball, soccer, track and cross country during his time as a Dragon, serving as captain of both soccer and basketball.

Edwin plans to pursue a career in journalism or communications. He wrote for Sonoma Valley High’s school newspaper, Dragon’s Tale, and served as a newspaper intern. For his senior project, he introduced journalism to Adele Harrison Middle School, meeting with students after school to help them launch a school newspaper.

Edwin is well-known for possessing a tremendous motivation to succeed. He remembers everything he reads and displays a precocious mastery of analytic thinking. At SVHS, he has consistently enrolled in the most academically challenging classes offered and at the same time has maintained a 4.18 weighted GPA. He will attend Macalester College in Minnesota this fall.

This article is one in a series profiling each Student of the Year at Sonoma Valley public school campuses.

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