MONTEBELLO – Montebello Unified students delivered an impressive performance at a March 19 4-H Field Day competition that challenged youths to showcase their skills in the areas of presentation, demonstration and public speaking. The 4-H Club is the largest youth development and mentoring organization in the country, inspiring students to reach their full potential through community engagement events and personal development activities.

Made up of District middle and high school students, the 4-H Club was represented by 21 students who placed in 60 categories at the event at Mt. San Antonio College. They garnered 36 gold medals, placed second in 20 categories and finished third in four others.

Among the awardees is Applied Technology Center High School sophomore Xavier Cruz, who garnered five gold medal awards, and placed second in three other categories, demonstrating his role as an exceptional student leader.

The annual event is coordinated by the 4-H Club in conjunction with the University of California Cooperative Extension in Los Angeles County. The 4-H Club is the largest youth development and mentoring organization in the country, inspiring students to reach their full potential through community engagement events and personal development activities.

Cruz won gold in the demonstration category by performing an east coast swing dance and discussing the history of swing dance to win the gold in the informational prepared speech category. He also scored gold medal victories in the county impromptu speaking, extemporaneous speaking and interview categories. He took second place in educational display, state impromptu speech and cultural arts categories.

“By learning and practicing skills involved in public speaking and performance, Xavier and his fellow 4-H Club members are taking an extra step in preparing themselves for college and career,” MUSD Board of Education President Benjamin Cárdenas said. “Xavier demonstrates that our students are not only invested in strengthening their own talents and abilities, but in giving back to their communities.”

Cruz has been an active student leader at his alma mater Macy Intermediate – where the 4-H Club has been based since 2013.

Cruz, along with all gold medal winners, will participate at the 4-H South Sectional Field Day on May 21 at Mt. SAC to compete in the same events with the hopes of advancing to the state competition May 28 at the University of California, Davis.

“Montebello Unified congratulates all of our students for their stellar performance at the Field Day event and for representing our District with tenacity and skill,” MUSD Superintendent Susanna Contreras Smith said. “Their passion, commitment and service-oriented nature truly exemplify the 21st century students we have here at Montebello Unified.”

ATC principal Sterling Schubert – along with former Macy principal and 4-H Club advisor and community leader Mike Lopez – established the 4-H Club. It runs with the support of Macy principal Jacinto Zavala.

“The 4-H program is a perfect example of the collaboration between the intermediate and the high schools that Montebello Unified strives for while sharpening skills that will be useful throughout their academic and professional careers,” Schubert said.

Photo Caption

MUSD4H: Twenty-one Montebello Unified students were awarded 36 gold medals at a March 19 4-H Field Day competition that challenged Los Angeles County youths to showcase their skills in the areas of presentation, demonstration and public speaking. Applied Technology Center sophomore Xavier Cruz, pictured here, garnered five gold medals and placed second in three categories.