Ivan Alcaraz
Provided by Tulare County Office
USA TODAY Network, Reuters
Student: Ivan Alcaraz
Grade: 6
School: Burton Elementary School, Porterville
Pillar: Trustworthiness
Comment: Nominator Elvira Sanchez says, “I am proud to nominate Ivan for the Pillar of Trustworthiness. He is the epitome of honesty and integrity in the classroom. This student can always be counted on to tell the truth, keep promises, and make good choices even when no one is watching. As our classroom Dojo Master and as part of our school’s Leadership team, Ivan is in positions of responsibility, which he takes very seriously. He is impartial when allotting or deducting Dojo points in class and makes sure to be inclusive during school-wide, student-led activities. Due to the way Ivan takes responsibility for his words and actions, he has earned the trust of both classmates and teachers.”
Student: Isaiah Lupercio
Grade: 1
School: Shannon Ranch Elementary School, Visalia
Pillar: Trustworthiness
Comment: Nominator Monica Pasquini says, “Isaiah is a truly trustworthy student. On several occasions, he has found SPURS tickets on the floor, and instead of keeping them, he has always done the right thing and turned them in. This shows what an honest and responsible person he is. Isaiah is not only trustworthy, but he is also a hardworking, kind, and caring student who treats everyone with respect. He is a wonderful example of what it means to make good choices and do the right thing, even when no one is watching!”
Student: Ben Romans
Grade: 12
School: Mission Oak High School, Tulare
Pillar: Trustworthiness
Comment: Nominator Armando Gallegos says, “Ben Romans is an outstanding young man whose character, integrity, and work ethic make him someone I can trust completely in the classroom, around campus, in the community, and on the baseball field. While he is an exceptional athlete, what truly sets Ben apart is that he embodies the values of “Student Before Athlete, Character Above All,” earning the genuine respect of his classmates, teachers, and the Mission Oak administration. Always carrying himself with a positive attitude and a smile, he demonstrates deep kindness, humility, and patience-especially in his work with students with disabilities-and has a rare ability to make everyone feel welcome by warmly greeting students across campus well beyond his own friend group. Unselfish, respectful, and well-rounded, Ben represents our baseball program and Mission Oak High School with class and professionalism, and I have complete confidence that the leadership and stellar character he demonstrates today will lead him to tremendous success long after graduation.”
Student: Isabel Sanchez
Grade: 2
School: Tipton School, Tipton
Pillar: Trustworthiness
Comment: Nominator Ruth Medina says, “Isabel is a sweet and trustworthy student. She works hard every day, and whenever a situation comes up, she tries to handle it with honesty. One time, I gave her a 100% on a math test, but she realized she had marked the wrong choice even though she showed the correct work for the problem. She came up to me and said, “I should not have received a 100% because I marked this answer wrong.” I told her I checked the work she did to solve it and it was all correct – she had the drawing, the correct equation to match the math problem, and she answered the question in a complete sentence. She had just selected the wrong choice, which was why she received the 100% score. She’s a true asset!”
Student: Aaron Shelton
Grade: 7
School: Sundale Union School, Tulare
Pillar: Trustworthiness
Comment: Nominator Monica Avila says, “Aaron is a wonderful example of what it means to be trustworthy. Recently, during a sports tournament at our school, Aaron found a $20 bill. Instead of keeping it for himself, he immediately turned it in to the office in hopes that the owner would be able to find it and get it back. Aaron understands the importance of doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. He is honest, keeps his promises, and can be counted on to make good choices. His actions show that he has strong character and truly values honesty and integrity. Aaron is a wonderful example of trustworthiness for his classmates, and I am very proud of the character he demonstrates each day!”
Student: Lithzy Tapia
Grade: 11
School: Exeter Union High School, Exeter
Pillar: Trustworthiness
Comment: Nominator Margie Reed says, “I am honored to nominate Lithzy Tapia, a junior at Exeter Union High School who quietly makes a tremendous difference through her genuine desire to serve her school and community. Having served as our Track Concessions Manager and now taking on the football concession stand alongside her friend Brisia, Lithzy has transformed what began as a way to earn service hours into a vital service, saving the school money by taking complete ownership of operations-recruiting and staffing student helpers, delegating responsibilities, and stepping in wherever needed with remarkable organization, punctuality, and dependability. What impresses me most, however, is her exceptional character; she is caring, courteous, respectful, and leads by example, demonstrating that true leadership is about being someone others can count on. Endowed with the rare integrity to do the right thing even when no one is watching, Lithzy represents service, responsibility, compassion, and leadership without ever seeking recognition, making a lasting impact simply because she genuinely cares.”
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Character Counts! These Tulare County students excel in Trustworthiness
Reporting by Tulare County Office of Education / Visalia Times-Delta
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Isaiah Lupercio Provided by Tulare County Office USA TODAY Network, Reuters 
Ben Romans Provided by Tulare County Office USA TODAY Network, Reuters 
Isabel Sanchez Provided by Tulare County Office USA TODAY Network, Reuters 
Aaron Shelton Provided by Tulare County Office USA TODAY Network, Reuters 
Lithzy Tapia Provided by Tulare County Office USA TODAY Network, Reuters
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published October 19, 2026 at 8:00 AM.