For more than 30 years, Fontana High School (FOHI) students have been developing critical skills through the school’s Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (MCJROTC), which has been honored by the Marine Corps Reserve Association (MCRA) for its continued excellence in training young students to become role models and community leaders. The Fontana High MCJROTC program has been named the MCRA Region 4 Honor Unit for 2023-24, marking the program’s fourth time earning the distinction (1997, 1999, 2022, 2024), including twice in the last three years. It is the Marine Corps’ highest unit award and recognizes FOHI as the Top Naval Honors School in Region 4, which spans the West Coast.
Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) President Dr. Jason Morrison often refers to the college as “a home of champions,” highlighting its achievements in academics, athletics, and student life. Now, TVCC is taking this championship spirit to the next level by introducing Caring Campus, a nationally recognized framework focused on fostering connection, belonging, and student success. Morrison first brought Caring Campus to Southern Arkansas University Tech, where he served as chancellor for six years. After moving on to TVCC, he immediately reached out to the Institute for Evidenced-Based Chance (IEBC) to see if Caring Campus could be implemented at his new institution. Through an ECMC Foundation grant designed to support implementation at rural institutions, TVCC was able to begin their Caring Campus journey.
La Serna High School senior Felipe Galvan is a natural leader known for building strong relationships with both students and staff alike while continually looking for ways to improve outcomes for his classmates, either as a member of La Serna’s Puente Program, as an English language development (ELD) and Link Crew mentor, or as president of the school’s Wellness Club. Galvan has a passion for promoting social-emotional well-being for his classmates and has brought awareness to mental health by serving as an organizer and fundraiser for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Galvan, who boasts a 4.26 GPA and has completed 11 Advanced Placement and eight Honors classes, was recently recognized by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees with an Award of Merit, during the Jan. 14 Board meeting.
Jurupa Hills High School seniors Karla Louisa and Berlyn Sanchez are seeing their dreams of becoming the first in their families to attend college come to reality, with both earning the prestigious QuestBridge National College Match scholarship for their outstanding academic achievements. Both Louisa and Sanchez said they sobbed when they logged into QuestBridge’s online portal and were greeted with confetti signifying they qualified for the QuestBridge National College Match four-year scholarship worth more than $325,000. They are each headed to prestigious East Coast institutions, with Louisa set to attend Barnard College in New York and Sanchez enrolling at Boston University.
Two Bonita Unified elementary school teachers received mini-grants from the Rotary Club of La Verne to support innovative classroom projects that inspire students to develop a love of learning and provide additional resources so that the students can thrive academically. Rotary Club of La Verne president James R. Ranells presented mini-grants totaling $900 to Roynon Elementary kindergarten teacher Monica Serna Johnson and Oak Mesa Elementary transitional kindergarten (TK) teacher Heather Hoynes during the Dec. 18 Board of Education meeting.
In the wake of the devastation caused by the Eaton Fire, Pasadena Unified School District has announced a phased reopening plan over a two-week period to ensure campuses are safe and ready to welcome students back. The Eaton Fire significantly impacted the District, with severe damage reported at five campuses: Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School, Franklin Elementary (closed in 2020), and three charter schools—Edison, Loma Alta, and Noyes. More than 10,000 of PUSD’s 14,000 students were evacuated from their homes. To restore a sense of normalcy and provide stability for students, campuses located further from the fire’s impact will reopen first, allowing the community to begin its path toward healing.
Covina-Valley Unified School District will hold a vibrant ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the new South Hills High School library. Designed as a cutting-edge learning hub, the new library features state-of-the-art technology, along with versatile individual and collaborative workspaces to inspire and support student success.
Covina-Valley Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer has been honored as a 2024-25 Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), recognizing her as an innovative and visionary leader who is dedicated to fostering student success and excellence. Each year, NSPRA recognizes up to 25 superintendents from across the country, honoring dynamic district leaders with fewer than five years of experience as a superintendent who uses strong communication and technology to expand outreach efforts.
Lawson State Community College in Birmingham, AL, a Historically Black Community College (HBCC) with a legacy of academic excellence and community impact, has embraced Caring Campus to empower its faculty and staff with actionable strategies and behavioral practices designed to foster stronger connections with both students and one another. Through this commitment, Lawson State has reaffirmed its dedication to providing quality and accessible educational services to students, ensuring students feel valued, supported, and welcomed at every step of their academic journey, and elevating the effectiveness of other student success initiatives across campus.
Covina-Valley Unified School District celebrated the re-election of its Board of Education members during an Oath of Office ceremony on Dec. 16., reaffirming the Board’s unwavering commitment to student success. The event, held at the Dr. Mary Hanes Professional Development Center and Board Room, brought together District leaders, staff, and community members to honor the dedication and continued leadership of the Board.
