From future engineers and airline pilots to aspiring lawyers and healthcare professionals, seniors at Lynwood and Marco Antonio Firebaugh high schools stepped into the spotlight during annual Decision Day celebrations, recognizing their plans for life after graduation. At Firebaugh High, more than 100 college, military and career-bound seniors gathered for a campuswide celebration featuring Wingstop, tote decorating, caricature drawings and photo opportunities with friends. Lynwood Unified alumnus and TikTok creator Jesus Zapien visited the event to encourage students and celebrate alongside seniors as they prepared for their next steps.
In April, the Upland Unified School District refinanced $22.6 million in General Obligation bonds which will save District property owners more than $2.8 million in property taxes. The District took advantage of low interest rates due to economic uncertainty to refinance bonds approved by voters in 2008. This follows five prior refinancings completed between 2015 and 2017, which combined with this refunding will save District taxpayers a total of $37.4 million. In 2008, 60% of Upland Unified School District voters approved Measure K. The bonds were authorized to improve schools by upgrading classrooms and libraries, installing energy efficiency improvements, and providing up-to-date technology to students throughout the District. Interest rates on the original bonds ranged between 3.00% and 5.00%. Rates on the new refunding bonds range from 2.16% to 3.18%, a difference that will save property taxpayers $2,801,804.
Whittier Union’s La Serna High School celebrated Mental Health Awareness Month on May 19 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the reopening of its on-campus Wellness Center, which helped to kick off La Serna’s annual Mental Health Fair, a lunchtime event for Lancer students designed to help them stay calm during the hectic final weeks of school. The ribbon-cutting was led by La Serna social worker Alex Harris and the Ethan Carlos Foundation, a nonprofit that supports student achievement and channels the spirit of former La Serna student Ethan Carlos, who died in January 2025.
O’Day Short Elementary School held its official renaming ceremony at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, marking the transition from Randall Pepper Elementary to a campus name honoring the O’Day Short family.
Whether pioneering student-led aerospace research or conducting scientific lab work as first-generation scholars, six El Monte Union High School District standout seniors are charting bold futures as they prepare for graduation. Through Advanced Placement courses, dual enrollment opportunities, career technical education pathways, and leadership programs, El Monte Union students have the opportunity to participate in academic and career-focused experiences in fields including public health, business, engineering, and public service.
Staff at Texarkana College are finding creative ways to increase Caring Campus awareness and visibility across campus, ensuring students experience a consistent culture of care and approachability. Members of Texarkana’s 32-member Caring Campus team attend campus events wearing polo shirts featuring their “TC Cares for You” branding to promote Caring Campus and strengthen its visibility. Team members also greet students during the first days of each semester, welcoming them to campus, answering questions, and helping direct them to classes and resources.
Three college-bound Santa Fe High School seniors are seeing their higher education journeys receive a financial boost, after being named Youth Enrichment Fund (YEF) Destiny Scholars and receiving scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 from the Santa Fe Springs Chamber/League program designed to support Santa Fe Springs high school students. Santa Fe High seniors Samuel Zamora, Sandra Sanchez, and Rida Athar were each named Destiny Scholars, with Zamora receiving a $20,000 scholarship, while Sanchez and Athar both received $5,000 scholarships.
Lynwood High School girls’ basketball head coach Ellis Barfield was honored with the Humanitarian Excellence Award by the Lynwood Alumni Foundation earlier this spring, recognizing three decades of leadership that have shaped one of the region’s most accomplished athletic programs. Under Barfield’s guidance, the highly competitive program has earned more than 700 wins and 30 consecutive league championships. These milestones place Lynwood High among the most consistent high school basketball programs in the region – but for Barfield, the accolades have never been the goal. Instead, he said they reflect a decades-long commitment to mentorship through creating opportunities for student-athletes to succeed beyond the court.
El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) will host commencement ceremonies honoring more than 1,850 graduates from its five comprehensive high schools, alternative education program, adult school, and transition center. The Class of 2026 has earned acceptance to top institutions including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, Claremont McKenna College, the University of California, San Diego, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Princeton University, with students pursuing studies in fields such as public health, business administration, and aerospace, electrical, and computer engineering.
From a young age, Covina High School senior Levi Lopez has been driven by a passion for helping and leading others, whether in school, sports, or everyday life. This fall, Lopez will bring that drive to the University of California, Berkeley, where he plans to double-major in history and economics, with the goal of returning to Covina-Valley Unified as a teacher. Long term, Lopez said he hopes to become a school district superintendent, with the ultimate dream of one day serving as President of the United States.
