Liana Yorba is already planning a busy summer showing her two pigs at the Ramona Junior Fair and working part-time as a teacher’s aide at Ramona Montessori Children’s House.
Yorba, Montecito High’s salutatorian, ed the Ramona Stars 4-H Club when she was 10 years old at the suggestion of a friend who was showing her dog with the club. At the end of eighth grade, the daughter of Sarah and Richard Yorba said she switched to FFA when her 4-H Club lost its leader of pigs.
Two years later, at age 16, she returned to 4-H.
Last year, Yorba won the fair’s Grand Champion prize for having the best pig with Shortstack. This summer, she plans to show her pigs Willie and Honey.
The 18-year-old will also help children ages 18 months to 5 years old this summer while working part time as a teacher’s aide at Ramona Montessori Children’s House.
The experience will help her prepare for a future career teaching elementary school students, she said. To get there, she plans to major in early childhood education and development at Palomar or Miramar Community College and transfer to Cal State University San Marcos or San Diego State University.
Montecito High Principal Melissa Marovich said Yorba stands out for her positivity, strong work ethic and eagerness to learn. Teachers describe her as consistently prepared, enthusiastic, and committed to doing her best — whether she is facing an easy review or a challenging exam, Marovich said.
“Liana’s success is no accident — she sets clear goals and works diligently to achieve them,” she said. “Her positive mindset, thoughtful planning, and consistent follow-through make her a student who not only dreams big, but takes concrete steps to turn those dreams into reality.”
Montecito High math teacher Adam Vickery said Yorba expressed gratitude each time she received help. The everyday gesture left a lasting impression.
“There wasn’t a single time she did not say ‘thank you’ after I answered any question she had for me,” he said. “I hope to instill that quality in my 7-year-old son.”
Yorba’s college expenses will be paid in part by several scholarships — $500 each from the Ramona Rotary Club, Jerry Zawilenski Memorial Scholarship and Ramona Unified School District istrative Leadership Team in addition to $2,750 from the Ramona Garden Club.
At Montecito, where she earned a 3.7 grade point average, Yorba said construction classes have been her favorite subject. She’s looking forward to competing in the national SkillsUSA Championships in June as a member of the TeamWorks Team. Yorba and her three teammates won a Gold Medal at the state SkillsUSA competition held in April.
Yorba said she and her three teammates will be representing California in a competition against teams from 49 other states. Their contest will involve building an 8-foot-tall structure that incorporates masonry, plumbing and electrical outlets, she said.
“We’re preparing for that now and will be training after school in the evening,” she said.
Yorba said her second-favorite subject was social sciences with teacher Duayne Guile. Students in his class collaborated with each other and expressed their opinions on topics such as homelessness, death row, gun control and world issues, she said.
“I’ve thought about having a construction career, and I’ve been offered jobs to work at Swinerton and Precision Electric, but I think teaching would be something I like more,” she said. “I like working with younger children.”
