With tax season in full swing, Bonita High School’s IRS-certified accountants-in-training once again are poised and ready to provide tax return filing assistance to local residents free of cost, as part of the IRS’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which has been a fixture at Bonita for more than 20 years. The VITA program will kick off with Tax Day on Thursday, Jan. 30, with a class session dedicated to tax preparation appointments for residents and students. Guided by accounting teacher Madhu Sekhri, who is a Certified Public Accountant, Bonita’s VITA program is available for all students and tax payers who earned $67,000 or less in 2024. Tax preparation services are available through April 11 during the hours of 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Chaparral Academy of Technology students erupted in cheers, waving glow sticks as balloons and lively music filled the air as the announcement was made that their school won the Jostens Epic School Revamp Contest, which comes with a prize package valued up to $150,000. A panel of judges named Chaparral Academy the grand-prize winner of the Jostens second annual Epic School Revamp contest, giving the school access to a team of identity and culture experts that will work with faculty and students on a rebranding. The school will soon be transformed with new murals, banners, and other vibrant visuals that refresh the campus while embodying the essence of the Roadrunner spirit.
South Hills High School students, employees, families, and community members celebrated the grand unveiling of the school’s innovative new library, designed to inspire and support student success, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 23. The cutting-edge learning hub features updated technology, dynamic workspaces for both individual and collaborative use, and an imaginative atmosphere to fulfill the needs of South Hills students. The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured addresses by Covina-Valley Unified Superintendent and event MC Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer, Board of Education Vice President Maria Caceres, and Board Member Maria Cruz, emphasizing the importance of providing students with modern resources to enhance their educational journey.
At San Dimas High School, there will always be a place on the Wall of Fame for Class of 2021 alumna and professional soccer player Ally Lemos, who brought the Lady Saints soccer team its only state championship in 2021, before continuing on to UCLA and getting drafted to the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), winning championships for each team. Lemos becomes the latest former Saint to have their jersey retired and placed on the school’s Wall of Fame in the lobby of the San Dimas High gymnasium. Principal Omar Mayen and assistant principal Jack Nance made the presentation during halftime of the San Dimas varsity basketball game on Jan. 10. Lemos, who has now won championship titles at the state, college and pro levels, turns 21 in March.
El Monte Union senior Alexander Gonzalez made El Monte High School (EMHS) history with his selection to the prestigious California Choral Directors Association’s (CCDA) All-State Honor Choir, making him the first Lion to ever earn a spot among the top 300 vocal talents in the state. Gonzalez, who began his choir journey as a freshman at EMHS, reached a major milestone in October 2024 by qualifying for the regional choir. At his audition, he distinguished himself as one of the top scorers, earning a spot in the California All-State Choir. During the audition process, the senior impressed judges with a memorized Italian song "Sebben Crudele" and demonstrated his abilities in music reading, scales, aural skills, and sight-reading.
A savvy and enterprising group of Glen A. Wilson High School computer science students combined their knowledge and talent to create an AI-powered app designed to let users detect the possibility of skin cancer from their mobile phones. The app, named FOCAL, was recently recognized as a U.S. House of Representatives Congressional App Challenge winner by Linda Sánchez, California’s 38th District Representative. The FOCAL team, led by Wilson senior Julina Liu (database administrator), juniors Ethan De la Cruz (AI developer) and Alvin Cheng (back-end developer), and sophomore Nolan Huang (front-end developer), as well as their faculty advisor, Wilson computer science teacher Courtney Bushyeager, will be recognized by Sánchez during a special ceremony at Glen A. Wilson High’s Media Center on Thursday, Jan. 30 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Fontana Unified School District will celebrate Black History Month with a special event designed to recognize the achievements and contributions of Black students and culture. The event is hosted in collaboration with the District African American Parent Advisory Council (DAAPAC) and will feature culturally enriching entertainment, art displays, a collection of moving historical artifacts, and an awards ceremony recognizing District students for their academic and artistic excellence.
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.
