MARYSVILLE – In an unprecedented decision, two Marysville-Pilchuck High School girls have been chosen Students of the Month by the Marysville Kiwanis and Soroptimist clubs.

Usually a boy is chosen, but for February the two girls were so good that the three-member committee decided to honor them both. The girls are Chanel Desenberg and Fatima Al-Rikabi.

Rather than focus on a few areas like most students, Fatima impressed the panel by how she has worked to get a well-rounded education and still having a 3.64 grade point average.

For example: She’s been secretary of the Spanish Club, an Amnesty International member, Key Club member, Senior Cabinet member, director of Public Affairs for the Debate Club and a Horticulture Club member.

But that’s not all. She is secretary for the Mukilteo Area High School Democrats, former page for a state House representative, aid in a special education class, does Microsoft skills training and received fire service training.

She also volunteers 12 hours a week in the Refugee Resettlement Office. She can speak Arabic, Farsi and English so she provides translation for refugees in various programs.

We’re not done. She’s also on M-P’s Hi-Q team, with her favorite topic being Current Events. She also has her CPR certification and is a sales associate for Nautica.

Fatima said she was sick as a girl so she always thought she might be interested in the medical field. But what solidified her future goals was being an intern last summer at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute. She said there are so many constraints on doctors today, so she plans to attend the University of Chicago and become a medical researcher.

What surprised the panel most, though, is that Fatima is a boxer, working out of a club in Everett. She has been a state champion twice. As for her favorite punch, Fatima said she likes to pound her opponent’s ribs.

The panel was just as impressed with Chanel, but for different reasons.

Chanel also has a well-rounded education, but she also has worked during most of her high school years.

Chanel said she wanted to start working at age 13 to help her single mom, but couldn’t get a job until she was 16.

Her first job was at Rue 21 at the Everett mall, where she sold fragrances and became stock lead after just three months.

She then worked as a sales associate at Hot Topic at the Tulalip mall. Now she works at Pizza Hut in Marysville doing a variety of jobs with “great hours and a great atmosphere.”

Her well-rounded school activities include ROTC, where she won a leadership award and community service ribbon. She also attended Navy Sea Cadet boot camp.

She’s also been involved in Auto Tech at M-P, earning certificates for collision safety, pollution prevention, mechanical safety, supervisor’s course and land that job.

At Marysville Middle School, she was involved in STEM and received a second-place medal. She also won a Citizenship Award there.

Related to her job she has a state food worker card, and she also has her CPR certification.

Previously she has been involved in chess, choir and Advanced Engineering/Manufacturing clubs. She’s also been part of the Big Buddy Program and the Her Vision/Her Voice anti-bullying group. She’s been an Honor Roll scholar and National Honor Society member.

After considering careers as a mechanic or a singer, Chanel now wants to be a veterinarian or a zoologist. She loves animals and their apartment is filled with them, she said. She plans to attend a community college then transfer to a four-year school.

She calls herself a “go getter” who wants to pursue a career so her family will no longer have to struggle financially.