Jurupa Hills High School junior Adriana-Rene Humber will serve as Fontana Unified’s Board of Education student representative during the 2024-25 school year, a role she will leverage to continue her passion for community service. Humber aims to use her position to ensure every student is equipped for success in their educational journey while also promoting an inclusive environment throughout the District and community. Boasting a 3.9 GPA, Humber was selected from a pool of six finalists for the position during a special Board of Education meeting on April 16.
Río Hondo College’s Dance Program will showcase the talents of its students, faculty, and guest artists during its spring 2024 concert, “Interwoven Beats: Dances of Connection.” It is the final one of two annual department concerts the program puts on each school year. Admission is free but a donation of $10 for the Dance Program is encouraged and will be accepted at the door.
Fontana High School hosted a dedication ceremony on April 17 for its campus fire station, which is used by its Fire Technology and Emergency Services career technical education (CTE) program. The station was officially named McGinnis Station 815 in honor of the first director of FOHI’s Fire Technology program Michael McGinnis, who played an instrumental role in developing the pathway before he died in 2021. The Fontana Unified School District Board of Education approved renaming the station in October 2023 to honor the legacy of McGinnis, who is remembered for how he inspired Fontana High students to pursue careers in public service and strove to provide them with the best experience possible.
Fontana Unified Schools Join Solar Eclipse Watch Party
All 30 Fontana Unified School District elementary schools used the solar eclipse on April 8 as an opportunity to spark curiosity and a love for science among its students. Each District elementary school was provided with solar eclipse viewing kits, including safety-certified eclipse glasses, to ensure students safely observed the natural phenomenon. Teachers integrated the eclipse into their science curriculum throughout the day, turning this event into a hands-on learning experience. Students also took educational materials home with them, giving them a chance to discuss the significant astronomical event at home.
El Monte High School Visual and Performing Arts students proudly unveiled a transformative mural project, bridging the realms of art and music in an innovative display of creativity and collaboration. The mural project, which incorporates both music and art, began as a modest endeavor, then blossomed into an epic installation over two years, standing as a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of El Monte High’s artistic community. The mural’s primary objective is to foster connection and inspiration among students across different artistic mediums, using symbols and inspirational quotes to ignite creativity and appreciation among their peers.
Fontana Unified Senior Surprised with $40,000 Amazon Scholarship
Fontana High School senior Lucia Otanez was surprised with a $40,000 Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship during the school’s Class of 2024 assembly on April 9. Otanez was one of thousands of applicants to be chosen for the scholarship, with Amazon set to award 400 students with scholarships this year. Otanez, who hopes to attend USC or UC Berkeley, has a paid internship offer at Amazon after her freshman year of college through the scholarship. This opportunity will allow eligible scholars to gain hands-on, practical work experience with mentorship from Amazon leaders.
Firebaugh High School senior and avid engineering enthusiast Brigitte Lopez is among 30 Southern California students to be named a 2024 Edison Scholar, earning a $50,000 scholarship for her outstanding academic performance and dedication to shaping a clean energy future. Lopez, who earned early admission to Stanford University for the upcoming fall semester, plans to major in aerospace engineering. She aspires to work at NASA or SpaceX and drive innovation with an environmentally conscious approach to technology while promoting diversity and inclusivity in the STEM field.
Bonita High School senior Junze “Jenny” Zhang was a sixth-grade English learner when her family moved from China to the United States. Even as Zhang worked to master a new language, she was already immersing herself in research that would lead her to focus on the destructiveness of climate change and the possibility of establishing colonies within our solar system. Zhang’s enthusiasm for STEM subjects, willingness to put in long hours of research, and determination to find solutions for global environmental issues were rewarded when she was named a 2024 Edison Scholar, which will provide her with $50,000 to support her dream of attending Cal Tech to study aerospace engineering.
Lynwood Unified to Host Annual Girls STEM Conference
Lynwood Unified School District is accumulating a noteworthy list of female guest speakers and innovative workshops in preparation for its second annual Girls STEM Conference at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 24 at Bateman Hall. The event will welcome elementary and middle school students from across the District to celebrate female empowerment, engage in hands-on activities, and hear from women in STEM careers. Bateman Hall is located at 11331 Ernestine Ave., Lynwood.
Covina-Valley Unified to Host Community Health and Wellness Fair
Covina-Valley Unified School District is hosting a Health and Wellness Fair for students, parents, and staff at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 18 at the Covina District Field. The fair will include a variety of health and wellness activities and resources including educational sessions and consultations with wellness experts designed to enhance physical fitness and overall wellness and nutrition. Covina District Field is located at 220 W. Puente St., Covina.
