Rio Hondo College’s Forensics Speech and Debate Team placed third at the 2018 Phi Rho Pi National Competition, one of the program’s strongest showings in recent years. The team competed against 30 other schools in its division during the April 9-14 event in Daytona, Florida. More than 60 schools from 28 states took part in the program of competitions. Debate Coach Grant Tovmasian received the Collie-Taylor Coach Fellowship Award, which goes to the tournament’s most outstanding coaches.
Rio Hondo College will hold the world premiere of “Enemy/Flint,” a play that combines an exploration of the impact of water issues in Flint, Michigan, with the themes of Henrick Ibsen’s classic “An Enemy of the People.” Written by Long Beach-based playwright, actor and teaching artist Diana Burbano, the play will be directed by Julianna Stephanie Ojeda, a theater artist and former Rio Hondo College student. Some 32 students will act and serve as crew for the production. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 26, Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28; and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 29 at Rio Hondo College’s Wray Theater, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
Nearly 600 community members, administrators, staff and faculty attended Rio Hondo College’s annual “A Taste of Rio” event on April 27, raising an estimated $107,000 to support students with scholarships and other aid – achievements that outpaced all earlier events. The program – which featured food from 20 local restaurants as well as select libations, entertainment and more than 60 opportunity drawings – has become the Rio Hondo College Foundation’s signature event. This year’s program was held as a Silver Anniversary Edition, marking the foundation’s 25th year of assisting students.
Rio Hondo College is receiving acclaim for boosting earnings and employment in desired fields for career and technical education (CTE) students who earned certificates or degrees. The Strong Workforce Stars program awarded a Gold Star to the registered nursing program, Silver Star to the automotive technology program and seven Bronze Stars for programs ranging from fitness trainer to accounting.
Rio Hondo College and six other Los Angeles area community colleges will partner with the California College Promise Project to strengthen student support programs that boost graduation rates. The seven colleges will form a Community of Practice within the Los Angeles County Promises That Count initiative, a three-year effort to build on college Promise programs that waive first-year tuition and offer comprehensive programs of support services for new students.
Rio Hondo College Trustee Norma Edith Garcia will be honored as the 22nd state Senate District’s Woman of the Year at 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27 at the Covina Center for the Performing Arts, 104 N. Citrus Ave., Covina. Garcia is the first woman to serve as chief deputy director of the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department. She co-founded the El Monte Promise Foundation, which creates a cradle-to-college path for area youth.
Follow-up Story: Rio Hondo College anthropology professor Adam Wetsman is one of four faculty members from the 114-campus California Community Colleges system to receive the 2018 Hayward Award for excellence in teaching and professional activities. Wetsman has promoted study abroad opportunities, promoted understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, written low-cost textbooks and secured $50,000 in funding for a student anthropology lab.
Rio Hondo College to Host Hundreds of Area High School Students for Annual Preview Days
Rio Hondo College will highlight faculty, programs and student support services for hundreds of area high school students during its annual Senior Preview Days at 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 7 and Thursday, March 8. Students will attend workshops on academic and career programs, and learn about such services as the College’s innovative Summer Bridge program, which prepares students for the demands of higher education, and as well as a multiple-measures placement system for basic skills classes, such as math. A College Club Rush, organized by Student Life and Leadership, will introduce students to campus life opportunities. The event will be held at Rio Hondo College’s Wray Theater, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier. For information, call (562) 463-4693.
Professors at Rio Hondo College and UCLA are launching a partnership on Thursday, Feb. 22 that will allow six Rio Hondo College students to conduct research at the UCLA Center for Biological Physics this spring. Dubbed the UCLA-RHC Scientific Exchange Program, the partnership is the brainchild of Rio Hondo College physics Professor Christian Vaca and UCLA Professor Alex Levine. The duo mapped out a pact to allow students to conduct research at UCLA and present their findings at a conference in June. UCLA will help cover some of the students’ costs. The two professors are also seeking National Science Foundation support to expand the program, which is the first partnership of its kind between the two schools.
Dr. Lucy Jones, a noted seismologist for 33 years with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), will speak at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21 at Rio Hondo College’s Wray Theater on how earthquakes, floods and other disasters have both benefited and beset civilizations throughout recorded history. Jones, who developed the Great ShakeOut, an earthquake drill that has engaged 55 million participants, also will discuss what disasters reveal about mankind’s potential for humanitarian efforts. The theater is at 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
