EL MONTE – El Monte Union High School District will be honored during the 15th annual Tamalada fundraiser on Dec. 13 with the Bobby Salcedo Esperanza Award for playing an integral role in establishing a seamless cradle-to-college pathway for students in El Monte and South El Monte.

The Tamalada is a fundraising event hosted by the El Monte Promise Foundation and partnering entities that are dedicated to working with parents, school districts and community groups to cultivate a college-going culture in El Monte. In all, five institutions will be honored during the event.

“It is a privilege to be recognized for our District’s ongoing commitment to student progress and success, which is only strengthened by the partnerships we have forged to increase access to college, resources and opportunities,” Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga said. “It is through the support of our community that we have been able to help our students achieve their goals and pursue a future with endless possibilities.”

The award is named for Roberto “Bobby” Salcedo, a respected El Monte Union educator who graduated from Mountain View High School in 1994, taught at South El Monte High School and served as an administrator at South El Monte, Mountain View and El Monte high schools. He served on the El Monte City School District Board of Education at the time of his untimely death in 2009.

The honor is usually given to outstanding educators who exemplify Salcedo’s tireless commitment to education. To mark the event’s 15-year milestone, the foundation this year will recognize school districts and organizations that have played an instrumental role in student and family success.

“These entities have excelled in their commitment and contribution to the advancement of our schools, students and communities,” said Christina Davila, project manager for the El Monte Promise Foundation. “We’re really excited about the progress that we’ve made with the help of these institutions, which have helped us redefine what college really means for this community.”

El Monte Union is being recognized for partnering with the foundation to expand its college savings account program to all high school students and organizing the first College and Career Family Conference in the region. The District is also being recognized for its concerted efforts to improve completion rates for courses required for college admission, partnering with Rio Hondo College to create an Early College Academy and creating a college-going culture by offering rigorous academics and career technical education pathways to prepare students for college or careers.

The El Monte Promise Foundation engages families in financing their children’s pursuit of higher education by opening college savings accounts, teaching a student and parent financial literacy curriculum and providing college admission information to high school students through the El Monte Union Pledge Compact.

This year, the foundation supported the cognitive development of children ages 0-5 through parent education and inspired students to read more by building small libraries and increasing access to books. It plans to launch a Roadmap to College, a grade-specific guide for families.

The other Esperanza awardees are the El Monte City School District, Mountain View School District, Rio Hondo College and the California Community Foundation.

The fundraiser, which will raise money to support the college savings account program, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13 at the Grace T. Black Auditorium, 3130 Tyler Ave., El Monte. Admission is $30.

For more information, visit www.promisenow.org.

PHOTO CAPTION:

121018_EMUHSD_TAMALADA: El Monte Union High School District will be honored with the Bobby Salcedo Esperanza Award for establishing a seamless cradle-to-college pathway for students in El Monte and South El Monte during the 15th annual Tamalada fundraiser on Dec. 13.