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 Culinary Students Take Top Prizes at LA County Fair
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.
Lynwood Unified and Sheriff’s Deputies Host Heartwarming Celebration
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.
50 El Monte Union Seniors Receive Scholarships from Local Businesses
It was a night of celebration and recognition as 50 deserving El Monte Union seniors were honored with scholarships by the EKG Foundation, in partnership with C.B.M. Towing Inc., during a spirited senior scholarship banquet held on May 16. The EKG Foundation honors the enduring legacy of Edward-Kenneth F. Guerrero, an esteemed alumnus of Arroyo High School, whose profound impact on the El Monte community continues to resonate. The foundation’s merit-based scholarship program is offered to graduating seniors from diverse backgrounds who attend one of the six El Monte Union high schools. Each student received a $400 award.
When the Bonita High School boys swim team captured its first-ever CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) Division 3 championship at Mt. San Antonio College on May 3, the triumphant Bearcat athletes gave coach Dillon Unsoeld the water polo version of the traditional Gatorade victory shower, celebrating the moment by playfully pushing their mentor into the swimming pool. The swim team’s CIF championship caps off the most successful year ever for Bonita swimmers, coming on the heels of the boys water polo team’s first-ever CIF-SS Division 3 title last November. For Unsoeld, a Bonita High Class of 2010 alumnus, the twin triumphs underscore the positive energy and stability he has brought to the program since he was hired in 2016.
Hacienda La Puente Celebrates Class of 2024 with Commencements
Fontana Unified School District’s Class of 2024 graduates marked their milestone achievement with a myriad of unique, dynamic celebrations, from business-like handshakes to fist pumps, selfies, and even dances, as they crossed the stage to accept their diplomas during their respective graduations. Over eight vibrant commencement ceremonies, FUSD honored more than 2,000 students in its Class of 2024 from seven high schools and one adult school from May 21 to 23. This year’s Fontana Unified class includes more than 580 high school seniors who will graduate with the California State Seal of Biliteracy for a high level of proficiency in bilingualism and biliteracy, marking a more than 200% increase for FUSD over the last two years.
Fontana Unified School District’s Class of 2024 graduates marked their milestone achievement with a myriad of unique, dynamic celebrations, from business-like handshakes to fist pumps, selfies, and even dances, as they crossed the stage to accept their diplomas during their respective graduations. Over eight vibrant commencement ceremonies, FUSD honored more than 2,000 students in its Class of 2024 from seven high schools and one adult school from May 21 to 23. This year’s Fontana Unified class includes more than 580 high school seniors who will graduate with the California State Seal of Biliteracy for a high level of proficiency in bilingualism and biliteracy, marking a more than 200% increase for FUSD over the last two years.
Lynwood Unified Scholars Break Barriers, Earn Gates Scholarship
Lynwood Unified School District seniors Alexandra Medina and Brigitte Lopez are breaking barriers as women of color who are looking toward careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Medina and Lopez are one step closer to fulfilling their dreams of higher education after being named 2024 Gates Foundation Scholars, two of just 750 students across the United States to win the prestigious full-ride scholarship. Medina and Lopez will attend Yale and Stanford universities, respectively. The Gates Scholarship is designed to support students in realizing their full potential.
El Monte High School Senior Receives Full-Ride to Georgetown
El Monte High School senior Nathalie Trigo Lopez is headed to Georgetown University in the fall after receiving a full-ride scholarship from the elite Washington, D.C. institution. Trigo Lopez came to the United States as a freshman in 2020 – at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic – without speaking any English. In the four years since she left her childhood home in Guadalajara, Mexico, Trigo Lopez has not only mastered a new language but excelled academically, demonstrating a level of dedication and perseverance that has earned her a coveted spot at Georgetown. Trigo Lopez plans to major in psychology—a field of study that has captured her interest for the last seven years.
Bonita Unified School District to Honor Accomplished Class of 2024
Bonita Unified School District will conclude a successful academic year by celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2024, which includes graduates headed to Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and Caltech, during commencement ceremonies for its two comprehensive high schools and continuation school. Chaparral High School will kick off the festivities with a 5 p.m. ceremony on Tuesday, June 4 at the Bonita Center for the Arts, 822 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas; San Dimas High School will follow with a spirited ceremony at 7 p.m. at the school’s stadium, 800 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas; and Bonita High School will close out the District’s commencement celebrations with a 7 p.m. ceremony on Thursday, June 6 at Glenn Davis Stadium, 3102 D St., La Verne.
