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 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.
