Hinds Community College, the largest community college in Mississippi, has embraced Caring Campus as part of its commitment to fostering meaningful relationships between students, faculty, and staff, promoting personal connections, and reinforcing its core values. Caring Campus helps students get the support they need to overcome challenges by engaging staff and faculty with the tools and commitments needed to establish a culture of care, ensuring all students feel valued, seen, and supported from the moment they step on campus. Hinds College President Dr. Stephen Vacik introduced Caring Campus to the college after witnessing its success at his previous institution, Maysville Community and Technical College.
Recognizing the valuable contributions of strong community partnerships that support Bonita Unified staff, students, and families, Superintendent Matt Wien presented two local volunteers with the Bonita Purpose Award – the District’s highest honor – during the Oct. 9 Board of Education meeting. Wien presented the award to Project Boon executive director and co-founder Chris Suchanek, as well as Bonita Council PTA vice-president Vicky Maliszewski.
The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), a non-profit educational organization of governing boards, recently elected Río Hondo College (RHC) Board of Trustee Oscar Valladares as Secretary-Treasurer. ACCT represents more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern more than 1,200 community, technical and junior colleges in the United States and beyond. As a Dreamer and product of the community college system, Valladares emphasized the importance of his lived experience and how that shapes his work.
In an effort to promote cultural awareness and understanding, Fontana Unified School District’s Board of Education, during its Oct. 2 meeting, unanimously approved making a standalone, yearlong ethnic studies course a graduation requirement for high school students beginning with the Class of 2028-29. In 2021, California became the first state to require all students to pass a semester-long ethnic studies course to earn a high school diploma starting with the Class of 2029-30. Fontana Unified went above and beyond the state’s directive to make its ethnic studies requirement a standalone, yearlong course starting with next year’s freshmen class.
Forty Ekstrand Elementary School students walked around campus with an extra spring in their step after receiving a surprise gift of brand-new shoes from Bonita Unified Board of Education President Greg Palatto and Ekstrand Principal Gerard Granade on Oct. 21. The donation, made possible by Shoes That Fit and the San Dimas Masonic Lodge, brought smiles and excitement as students eagerly tried on their new footwear, marveling at the size, color, and brand options tailored for them. Each year, the San Dimas Masonic Lodge chooses a local charity to sponsor; in support of Shoes That Fit, members raised more than $1,200 to fund the donation of shoes for Ekstrand students in need, who were identified by school staff.
Río Hondo College (RHC) proudly announces First-Gen Week, a special celebration from Nov. 4–7, 2024, to honor the achievements, resilience and contributions of students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education. Events throughout the week are open to the public, and the College invites students, families, educators and residents of surrounding communities to join the festivities.
Southridge Tech Middle School seventh-grader Cyrus Moss has been honored as a 2024 “30 Under 30” recipient by 50th Congressional District Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes in recognition of his leadership in the successful effort to rename Fontana Unified’s Randall Pepper Elementary School to O’Day Short Elementary, commemorating the family who broke Fontana’s color barrier in 1945. Moss’ courage and dedication to justice were celebrated during Reyes’ annual “30 Under 30” celebration on Oct. 30. The recognition honors 30 residents under the age of 30 from California’s 50th District, which includes Fontana, for their dedication, innovation, and service.
Excitement filled the air as El Monte High School (EMHS) students ran through the school’s iconic inflatable Lion tunnel to kick off a groundbreaking celebration commemorating the start of construction on the school’s new track and field facility on Oct. 30. The project will provide EMHS with a modernized track and field facility, made possible by El Monte Union High School District’s (EMUHSD) Measure D and HS funds. Expected to be completed by May 2025, the new athletic space will feature a synthetic track and field, a state-of-the-art scoreboard, and various site improvements, reflecting the District’s commitment to creating versatile spaces that empower students to strive for excellence in both athletics and academic performance.
