More than 100 Bonita Unified students received a moment in the spotlight to honor actions that often go unseen – from launching an initiative to teach senior citizens digital literacy skills to providing shelter for a peer whose family experienced hardship and ensuring they graduated with their class – during the 2023-24 La Verne/San Dimas Educational Foundation (LVSDEF) Awards.
Seven Covina-Valley Unified elementary schools have been named to the Educational Results Partnership’s (ERP) 2023 Honor Roll Schools list, highlighting the schools’ exceptional performance, commitment to closing achievement gaps, and dedication to accelerating student learning. The ERP is the only school recognition program presented in partnership with state and local business leaders, recognizing successful schools and districts that are preparing students with the skills needed to be successful in the workforce. This year, only 17% of all eligible schools in California made the ERP’s Honor Roll list. Honorees were chosen based on student outcome data on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress from 2019 through 2023.
The Alamo Colleges District is pioneering the implementation of Caring Campus at the district office level, extending the program to a new group of educators, and embedding Caring Campus principles across the Alamo Colleges to foster a more cohesive and supportive environment, ensuring students have the support they need to succeed. The Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC) developed Caring Campus to provide staff and faculty with a set of behavioral commitments designed to establish a culture of care on campus, thereby increasing retention, persistence, and success for all students.
It is no secret where MaiKaley Orosco’s passion lies, as the Almeria Middle School student walks into class carrying a box stocked with a lab coat, microscope, and a binder filled with science experiments. With her sixth-grade year complete, Orosco has mapped out a 12-year plan to become a trauma physician. Orosco is already diligently working toward her goal and will be one of 32 middle school students across the country selected to attend the Joint Science and Technology Institute East summer program in Maryland, a one-week, fully-funded residential science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) research program for middle school students in July.
Fully decked out in graduation caps, gowns, and a variety of stoles, 1,664 Río Hondo College (RHC) students crossed the stage to receive their diploma, designating them as the College’s latest cohort of graduates during an on-campus commencement on May 24. Throughout the ceremony, RHC celebrated its wide range of graduates – including first-generation and system-impacted students, students who are parents, students with housing and food insecurities, and undocumented students – which reflect the rich diversity of the College community.
Arroyo High School (AHS) welcomed more than 300 attendees to its ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 23, marking the grand opening of its long-awaited Stadium Project and showcasing El Monte Union High School District’s (EMUHSD) dedication to fostering healthy living and school spirit within the community. Students, parents, families, community members, administration, local dignitaries, and elected officials gathered at Arroyo High to celebrate the completion of a state-of-the-art facility featuring a high-performance rubberized track and field, new scoreboard and concession stands, revamped visitor bleachers, and a grand stadium entrance. The AHS Stadium will serve as a vibrant hub for physical fitness activities, athletic events, health and wellness instruction, student performances, and school community gatherings.
Whittier High School chemistry teacher Thelma Krikorian can always be found in her classroom or lab, tutoring students after hours, guiding academic mentors as a peer-support network, and helping individuals realize their passions in the sciences. Krikorian, who joined Whittier High School in 2005, has honed her skills over the last 23 years, teaching math and a range of science courses but always finding a home in the chemistry department. For her engaging labs and dedication to implementing numerous support systems, Krikorian has been named Whittier Union’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Krikorian also serves as advisor for the school’s Chemistry Club, sponsored by the American Chemistry Society.
Whittier High School senior Yolanda Mares will never forget the day in chemistry class when she created a large, fiery burst of smoke as part of an experiment. Seeing the colorful plume – a chemical reaction known as “purple haze” – immediately inspired Mares to dedicate her studies to science and technology, culminating in Mares serving as president of the school’s prestigious Cardinal Academy of Technology (CAT) in her senior year. Working in collaboration with her CAT classmates, Mares spent the 2023-24 school year designing a fully programmable prosthetic arm, a project that has pushed Mares closer to her post-secondary education goals – to major in biomedical engineering at an elite university, on her way to a career working with artificial organs and prosthetics. Mares is one step closer to her dream after being named a 2024 Gates Foundation Scholar, which comes with a full-ride scholarship that will cover the cost of her tuition and other expenses. Mares plans to attend the University of California at Irvine.
Bonita Unified School District’s ProStart program concluded its competition season with two awards at the 2024 LA County Fair’s Seasonal Fruits Culinary Contest, held May 12. In the 13- to 17-year-old category, Bonita High School junior Charli Padilla took first place for her orange mocha tart, and San Dimas High School student Gabriel Costa took third place for his strawberry panna cotta. The awards culminate a school year that saw Bonita Unified ProStart students take first place in the culinary competition at the California ProStart Cup, followed by a 10th place finish at the National ProStart Invitational.
An act of kindness was met with an equally touching gesture of gratitude when students at Lindbergh Elementary School received a surprise visit from a group of Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies on May 20. Deputy Samuel Aispuro, an officer who was recently injured in the line of duty, and eight other deputies organized a pizza party to thank the students for their heartfelt get-well letters and gave them an insightful look into the life of a law enforcement officer. The celebration fostered a sense of community between the students and the deputies assigned to the Lynwood Unified community.