Summit High School Class of 2023 graduate Sandy Thomas’ excellence in the classroom and on the court has earned him recognition from the Jordan Brand Wings Scholars Program, which awarded him a full-ride scholarship to further his education at his college of choice. Thomas – a committed student athlete who has competed at the varsity level in both basketball and swim – was awarded the scholarship in front of family, friends, coaches and school staff during a ceremony earlier this spring. Though he was also awarded a full-ride scholarship to UC Santa Cruz, Thomas has decided to attend Cal Baptist University, supported by the Jordan Brand Wings scholarship.
Nearly 1,800 Río Hondo College students strolled, jogged and danced onto campus wearing smiles on their faces and colorful grad caps – some with hopeful messages about their dreams and futures and others with homages to their loved ones, nationalities and personalities – on their regalia during the College’s 60th Commencement ceremony on May 26. This year, 1,791 students earned Bachelor of Science, Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees. Of those degrees, 1,074 are Associate Degree for transfer, meaning they are eligible for admission to the California State University system. This commencement also celebrated the fifth class of students to receive B.S. degrees from the College. Twenty Río Hondo College students received their B.S. in automotive technology.
Fontana Unified Grad Earns Private Pilot’s License in CTE Pathway
A.B. Miller High School Class of 2023 graduate Nathan Aguilar loves nothing more than soaring above the clouds. As a member of the school’s aviation career technical education pathway, Nathan quickly developed his flying skills, distinguishing himself as the first A.B. Miller student to earn his private pilot’s license. Aguilar’s pilot’s license allows him to fly any aircraft for which he is appropriately rated and fly with friends, fly at night, take a business trip or do sight-seeing. A.B. Miller’s two-year aviation program serves as a flight training school and includes a pilot training class, an airline mechanic class and a flight simulator lab.
Baldwin Park High School Stages Mental Health Awareness Fair
Baldwin Park High School students created and led a Mental Health Awareness Fair on May 19 to further promote Mental Health Awareness month on campus. More than 100 students in the school’s mental health pathway researched current mental health topics and created interactive displays to engage with peers and educators on the importance of mental health discussion and increasing early intervention and prevention. Students organized special guest speakers from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, including Dr. Luis Guzman, a psychologist who leads the Latino Underserved Cultural Communities subcommittee under the Mental Health Services Act, as well as Julie Matsumoto and Josof Sanchez of Operation Street Kidz.
Covina-Valley Unified School District Medical Pathway Teacher Nikki Rodriguez-Ahern and South Hills High School senior Karissa Ramos provided medical expertise and life-saving care when they encountered a medical emergency in the community on April 26. Just four days before the medical intervention, Rodriguez-Ahern had led her C-VUSD Medical Pathway students, including Ramos, through a CPR certification course. For her heroic actions, Covina-Valley Unified’s Board of Education honored Rodriguez-Ahern at the May 8 Board meeting.
Baldwin Park Unified Seniors Celebrated as Joint Scholarship Winners
Fourteen graduating seniors from Baldwin Park Unified were recognized with thousands of dollars in District and local scholarships during BPUSD’s annual Joint Scholarship Ceremony on May 18. Seniors were evaluated based on GPAs, achievements in education, community service and personal essays about educators who influenced their academic paths. More than 30 educators, parents, administrators and staff joined the virtual Joint Scholarship Ceremony to celebrate the high-achieving seniors from Baldwin Park High School, North Park Continuation High School, Sierra Vista High School and the Baldwin Park Adult and Community Education (BPACE) program.
Hacienda La Puente Unified Superintendent Recognized for Excellence
Hacienda La Puente Unified Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez has been named one of four District leaders presented with the 2023 “Honoring Our Own” award by the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA), recognizing his exceptional dedication to promoting educational equity and diversity across the District. Award recipients were celebrated during a winner’s reception on May 17 and will be formally recognized during the 22nd annual CALSA Summer Institute, held in San Diego this July.
Buena Park School District Selects New Superintendent
Dr. Julienne Lee, an award-winning educator with extensive experience as a teacher, coach and administrator, will serve as Buena Park School District’s next superintendent, pending final Board of Education approval on June 12. Lee currently serves as associate superintendent of educational services at Fullerton School District, where she oversees educational programs that include a nationally ranked speech and debate team, a Golden Bell award-winning intervention program and dual-language immersion programs in Spanish and Korean.
Bonita Unified to Honor Accomplished Class of 2023
Bonita Unified School District will conclude a successful academic year by celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2023 during commencement ceremonies for its two comprehensive high schools and continuation school. Chaparral High School will kick off the festivities with a 5 p.m. ceremony on Tuesday, June 6 at the Bonita Center for the Arts, 822 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas; San Dimas High School will follow with a spirited ceremony at 7 p.m. at the school’s stadium, 800 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas. Bonita High School will close out the commencement celebrations with a 7 p.m. ceremony on Thursday, June 8 at Glenn Davis Stadium, 3102 D St., La Verne.
Covina-Valley Unified School District will celebrate the Class of 2023 with energetic commencement ceremonies, honoring graduates in the District’s three comprehensive high schools, alternative high school and adult education school. All three comprehensive high school graduations for Covina, Northview and South Hills high schools will be held at the Covina District Field located at 220 West Puente Ave., Covina. Covina High will begin the festivities at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 5, followed by Northview High at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6. Fairvalley High will host its ceremony inside the Dr. Mary Hanes Center at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 7, located at 220 West Puente Ave., Covina, which is followed by South Hills High at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7. Tri-Community Adult Education School will round out the ceremonies at South Hills High at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, located at 645 West Barranca St., West Covina.
