MONTEBELLO – Six students from Montebello Unified’s Regional Occupational Program (ROP) are being recognized for their stellar showing during this year’s Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) Outstanding Student Recognition Competition, which showcases career skills in subjects ranging from automotive technology to professional dance.

“When students graduate from our high schools, they face a competitive job market in which they are expected to know how to analyze real world data and effectively solve problems,” Montebello Unified Board President Edgar Cisneros said. “Our Career Technical Education and Regional Occupation programs are providing them with rigorous, hands-on experience in addition to the traditional classroom setting.”

The students – all nominated by their ROP teachers – took home one silver and five bronze medals from the contest held at Southern California Edison’s Energy Education Center in Irwindale during the month of March. It featured more than 100 students from 23 ROP districts in Los Angeles County.

The winners are:

  • Sharon Phu (Schurr High) – silver medal in professional dance
  • Brilliana Lynch (Schurr High) – bronze medal in automotive technology
  • Alyssa Gonzales (Applied Technology Center) – bronze medal in law enforcement
  • Pablo Vasquez (Bell Gardens High) – bronze medal in hospitality tourism
  • Hakob Idzhyan (Montebello High) – bronze medal in financial occupations
  • Stephanie Palafox (Montebello High) – bronze medal in professional dance

The Outstanding Student Recognition Competition featured four categories: resume application, job application, mock interview and product presentation. The competition’s format mimicked a professional working environment and required students to wear professional business attire, don office-appropriate hair styles and practice professional workplace etiquette.

During the competition students also shared their individual paths to ROP and the program’s influence on their educational and career goals.

“Montebello Unified’s ROP serves over 3,800 students annually and prepares students to successfully transition into college and career,” Montebello Unified ROP Assistant Director Rick Espinoza said. “The results of this competition demonstrate the collaborative efforts of quality programs and teachers producing exemplary students.”

The District’s ROP focuses on providing quality career and college preparation through work-based learning. The program schedule runs during regular school days, after school and on Saturdays.

“We are very proud of our students and our ROP program at MUSD for their commitment to workplace learning,” Superintendent of Education Susanna Contreras Smith.

The classes are designed to provide academic studies and hands-on training in entry-level job skills. The classes may be conducted as classroom-only, community classroom or cooperative vocational education courses.

“Our students’ excellent showing demonstrates the expertise of our teachers and staff who are encouraging our students to reach their potential in everything they do,” Montebello Unified Superintendent of Schools Cleve Pell said. “This was a great opportunity to test and showcase their career readiness skills and we commend each administrator, teacher and student for their successes this year and in the future.”

Photo Caption:
MUSD ROP: Six students from Montebello Unified’s Regional Occupational Program (ROP) are being recognized for their stellar showing during this year’s Los Angeles County Office of Education Outstanding Student Recognition Competition, where students took home one silver and five bronze medals among 23 ROP districts in the county. Pictured are: front row (left to right) Stephanie Palafox, Brillana Lynch, Sharon Phu; top row (left to right) Pablo Vasquez, Alyssa Gonzales, Hakob Idzhyan.