Three college-bound Santa Fe High School seniors are seeing their higher education journeys receive a financial boost, after being named Youth Enrichment Fund (YEF) Destiny Scholars and receiving scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 from the Santa Fe Springs Chamber/League program designed to support Santa Fe Springs high school students. Santa Fe High seniors Samuel Zamora, Sandra Sanchez, and Rida Athar were each named Destiny Scholars, with Zamora receiving a $20,000 scholarship, while Sanchez and Athar both received $5,000 scholarships.
Lynwood High School girls’ basketball head coach Ellis Barfield was honored with the Humanitarian Excellence Award by the Lynwood Alumni Foundation earlier this spring, recognizing three decades of leadership that have shaped one of the region’s most accomplished athletic programs. Under Barfield’s guidance, the highly competitive program has earned more than 700 wins and 30 consecutive league championships. These milestones place Lynwood High among the most consistent high school basketball programs in the region – but for Barfield, the accolades have never been the goal. Instead, he said they reflect a decades-long commitment to mentorship through creating opportunities for student-athletes to succeed beyond the court.
El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) will host commencement ceremonies honoring more than 1,850 graduates from its five comprehensive high schools, alternative education program, adult school, and transition center. The Class of 2026 has earned acceptance to top institutions including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, Claremont McKenna College, the University of California, San Diego, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Princeton University, with students pursuing studies in fields such as public health, business administration, and aerospace, electrical, and computer engineering.
From a young age, Covina High School senior Levi Lopez has been driven by a passion for helping and leading others, whether in school, sports, or everyday life. This fall, Lopez will bring that drive to the University of California, Berkeley, where he plans to double-major in history and economics, with the goal of returning to Covina-Valley Unified as a teacher. Long term, Lopez said he hopes to become a school district superintendent, with the ultimate dream of one day serving as President of the United States.
After 35 years of dedicated service, Rosemead High School (RHS) Principal Secretary Christine Inocencio has been named El Monte Union High School District’s (EMUHSD) 2025-26 Classified Employee of the Year. Inocencio was honored during the May 6 Board of Trustees meeting for her longstanding commitment to students, staff, and families. Inocencio was celebrated with flowers, an award, and the unveiling of her name and photo on the Classified Employee of the Year honoree plaque as family members, colleagues, and EMUHSD leaders gathered to congratulate her and share stories highlighting her lasting impact on the District and Rosemead High School community.
Fontana Unified School District is elevating student voices in District leadership with the selection of Kaiser High School junior Julian Villeda as the Student Board Member for the 2026-27 school year. In this role, Villeda will represent nearly 32,000 Fontana Unified students, helping bring student perspectives into Board discussions and Districtwide decision-making. Villeda, who boasts a 4.12 GPA, has attended Fontana Unified schools since he was four years old and said he hopes to serve as a bridge between students and District leaders.
As an elementary school student during the pandemic, Bonita High School senior James Hurwitz would often spend time between online classes viewing short history-related videos on the internet. The more he watched, the more fascinated he became with world history, dreaming of becoming a standout student with solid character and a future leader. Devoting himself to academics and leadership in high school, Hurwitz is on track to graduate with a 4.0 GPA, while building his skills through participation in the Civil Air Patrol as part of its Brackett Composite Squadron 64, and training with the Marine Delayed Entry program, where he impressed recruiters with his academic and physical capabilities, knowledge of history and enthusiasm in engaging with instructors and cadets.
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.
