Joy Glaspy, Las Palmas Middle School math and special education teacher, has been named a 2026 Jostens Renaissance Educator of the Year, a prestigious national honor recognizing educators who make a lasting impact on their school’s culture and climate. Glaspy is one of only four educators nationwide selected for this award, reflecting her unwavering commitment to creating a positive, inclusive school environment where every student is encouraged to grow and achieve.
Lynwood High School senior Isaias Perez Magana has been selected as a 2026 Posse Foundation Scholar, earning a full-tuition scholarship to attend Middlebury University in Vermont in fall 2026 and continuing a family legacy that began more than a decade ago. Magana’s aunt, Lynwood High graduate Evelyn Salinas, received a Posse Scholarship in 2015 and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Now a solutions engineer in the tech and services industry, Salinas nominated Magana for the prestigious scholarship and encouraged both him and his brother Isaac – a 2025 Posse finalist – to pursue the same opportunity.
Culminating a year in which they learned about financial literacy and professional career paths, 12 Mountain View High School seniors serving as interns in the school’s U.S. Bank Student Intern Branch Program hosted a leadership forum which included a Q&A with U.S. Bank senior administrators on April 30. Mountain View seniors Jennifer Rivera Rivas and Natalie Nguyen moderated the forum, titled “Guided by Greatness: The Power of Leadership and Mentorship,” asking the panel their advice on how to further develop the skills they have learned in class and apply them in their pursuit of college and career success.
Gladstone Elementary School hosted its annual “Be You” Night in April, drawing its largest turnout to date with more than 150 students and parents coming together for an evening centered on supporting neurodiverse learners. Organized by the Gladstone Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and supported by a campuswide community effort, the event continues to grow each year, bringing students and families together during Autism Acceptance Month through interactive, sensory-friendly activities.
The Whittier High School Cardinal Brigade music program earned a series of group and individual accolades in April, marking one of its most successful stretches in recent years during the 2025-26 season. Led by second-year music instructor and band director Edward Mijares and his staff, Cardinal musicians are learning, growing, and becoming leaders on the field.
San Dimas High School’s Saint Shop Digital Art Studio has been helping to create and define Saint spirit for more than a decade, assisting students, administrators, teachers, and community groups on their design projects with expert-level technique and affordable prices. Known as the “fab lab,” the Digital Art Studio is available to all San Dimas students and staff, as well as community partners, to help design and manufacture T-shirts, stickers, banners, logos, and more, using the combined talents of the school’s Visual Communication (VisCom) pathway students, which include traditional artists, graphic artists, and printing specialists.
Fontana Unified School District celebrated a year of student achievement, innovation, and opportunity during its annual State of the District on April 22, centered on the theme “Opening Doors: Students Dream. Students Lead. Students Rise.” The event, held at Jurupa Hills High School, brought together students, families, educators, and community leaders to highlight the District’s commitment to preparing every student for success in college, career, and beyond. The event began with a spotlight on student talent, as Summit High School’s orchestra welcomed guests, joined by cheerleaders from Maple Elementary, Chaparral Academy of Technology, and Harry S. Truman and Sequoia middle schools. Inside the theater, Kaiser High School’s orchestra continued the program with a dynamic musical performance, with A.B. Miller High School student Ralston Good leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Jurupa Hills High School student Paige Pedroza singing the national anthem, setting the tone for an afternoon centered on student talent.
A single book recommendation in fourth grade transformed Bonita High School junior Lexi Cocores from a reluctant reader into a passionate storyteller, a journey that has since led her to publish her debut novel at 16 and begin work on a full trilogy. In the months following its release, Cocores marked the milestone with a book signing at Judging By The Cover in San Dimas, where she shared her work with friends, family, community members, and staff from Allen Avenue Elementary, marking a full-circle moment for a student whose love of reading first began in the classroom.
Cypress Elementary School students now have access to a calming sensory environment and expanded hands-on learning opportunities through the school’s newly revitalized campus garden, unveiled during an Earth Day ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 22. More than 200 students, staff, community members, and representatives from partner organizations attended the celebration, with Earth Day-themed signs and balloons lining the garden as attendees gathered for the unveiling. Cypress Garden Club students worked for weeks planting the new garden for their peers to enjoy.
Roynon Elementary students stepped into the world of invention and entrepreneurship during their fourth annual Shark Tank event on March 23, pitching creations designed to solve real-world challenges and improve the lives of others.
Two Fontana High School (FOHI) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) cadets are preparing to take the next step in their academic and military journeys after earning highly competitive naval scholarships, a milestone capping off a year of success for FOHI’s MCJROTC program. Cadet Stephanie Mendoza has been awarded a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) scholarship, valued at approximately $180,000, which will cover the cost of her undergraduate education and would lead to a commission as an officer in the United States Navy. Cadet Yamileth Velasco has been accepted into the Naval Preparatory Program (NPP) at Norwich University, a pathway that covers a full year of preparatory study before transitioning into a four-year NROTC scholarship, bringing the total value to an estimated $370,000.
Upland Unified School District proudly honored outstanding families from across the District during its eighth annual Family Leadership Recognition Night on April 15. The event celebrated families who generously volunteer their time, lend their talents, and contribute meaningfully to their school communities and the District as a whole. A total of 33 individuals were recognized this year, including two people from each school, four selected at the District level, and, for the first time, one person personally selected by Superintendent Dr. Lynn Carmen Day. The evening began with a dinner for honorees and their guests, followed by a heartfelt program in which school principals presented awards and highlighted the unique contributions and lasting impact of those selected. From organizing events to supporting classroom initiatives and fostering school spirit, award recipients were recognized for helping strengthen the connection between home and school.
When La Serna High School junior Gianna Sarmiento began looking for post-secondary scholarship opportunities, she searched for a program that could not only pave the way for success in college and career, but one that was also competitive and allowed her to showcase her academic prowess and creative abilities. Sarmiento was one of just 22 Southern California students selected as a finalist for the Distinguished Young Women (DYW) of Los Angeles County’s Class of 2027 Showcase, held April 18, where she competed for an opportunity to represent L.A. County at the Distinguished Young Women of California showcase in July. Though Sarmiento was not among the four young women chosen to represent the state, as part of the DYW Los Angeles County Class of 2027 she is eligible for college scholarships at a select list of universities and colleges across the United States, with potential scholarships worth anywhere from $1,000 to $31,000 a year.
Northview High School senior Valerie Chavez is reaching for the stars, turning her passion for astronautical engineering and rocketry into reality after being named an Edison Scholar and receiving the prestigious $50,000 scholarship. Each year, Edison International awards the competitive scholarship to only 30 high school seniors across Southern California, helping them pursue a future in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and make an impact in their communities.
When San Dimas High School athletes take the field for competition, they do so with confidence, knowing they are backed by a world-class athletic training staff that responds lightning quick to mishaps and injuries on the field. The staff is backed by its own student trainees, who are part of the school’s esteemed Sports Medicine pathway, where they learn first aid, injury evaluation, and medical skills.
Fontana Unified School District (FUSD) earned multiple top honors from the California School Public Relations Association (CalSPRA), including three Awards of Excellence, recognizing the District’s high-impact outreach efforts that elevate student and District successes and strengthen connections with the community. CalSPRA’s Awards of Excellence represent the organization’s highest level of recognition, honoring outstanding work in school communications across California. The awards highlight Fontana Unified’s ability to deliver impactful messaging while building trust and fostering strong community relationships.
Arroyo High School senior Gary Chen has been named a 2026 Edison Scholar, earning a $50,000 scholarship to support his pursuit of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in higher education. He plans to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where he will study electrical and computer engineering. The recognition came as a surprise during Chen’s Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature class, as students finished the first act of William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” The classroom door opened and a group entered, including Chen’s father and representatives from Edison International, delivering the announcement.
