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.
Fontana Unified School District’s (FUSD) headquarters parking lot once again transformed into a Southern California winter wonderland as it continued its tradition of spreading holiday cheer to local families in need during its 27th annual Fontana Santas toy distribution on Dec. 21. For hours, a steady line of cars moved through the festive event picking up gifts of school supplies, food, books, and information on readily available community resources before lastly visiting Santa and Mrs. Claus, who handed out toys near their sleigh. Volunteers of FUSD students, staff, and community members, including the entire Board of Education loaded each car up with gifts. For Elsie Avalos, who works in Maple Elementary School’s health office, it was a chance for her family to give back to the community as she volunteered alongside her daughters Joanna and Isabella.
The first full year of CIF-sanctioned high school flag football was a resounding success for Bonita Unified schools, with both Bonita and San Dimas high schools making great strides in their inaugural seasons, led by top players establishing themselves as fierce competitors and passionate coaches eager to develop their athletes as winners on and off the field. Four of the District’s standout seniors will get an opportunity to play one final high school game after being selected for the Los Angeles Rams/National Football Foundation Senior All-Star Flag Football Game, to be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21 at Simi Valley High School. Ashley Sandmark and Anelly Alba from San Dimas High will join Bonita High seniors Breanna Sandmark and Kayla Heinlein on the San Gabriel Valley/Pasadena roster. They will play against a team of San Fernando Valley/Ventura area all-stars. Bonita High head flag football coach Mike Mann will coach the SGV/Pasadena squad.
Fontana Unified School District’s (FUSD) Board of Education restructured ahead of the new year as it welcomed two new members, Danielle Holley and Angel Ramirez, and appointed new leadership during the Board’s annual election and organization meeting on Dec. 18. The meeting began with a ceremonial roll call to celebrate the first Board session featuring newly elected members Holley and Ramiez, who both participated in an oath of office ceremony surrounded by friends, family, and other elected officials. The Board also elected Adam Perez to serve as its new president, while Holley was appointed to serve as vice president during the meeting.
