Colleges and universities are seeing an increasing number of learners from diverse backgrounds on their campuses, making it crucial for the institutions to establish cultures that welcome these students and set them up for success.One recognized and respected way to achieve this is Guided Pathways, a framework of structural and policy changes that help higher education institutions redesign the college experience, giving all students the support they need to feel welcomed and thrive on campus. The Institute for Evidence-Based Change’s (IEBC) Caring Campus builds on Guided Pathways by introducing cultural and behavioral practices, providing a holistic framework aimed to propel higher education toward a future where students seamlessly achieve their academic and career goals.
Three teams of students in Fontana High School’s Bio-Animatronic and Neuroprosthetic career technical education pathway earned special recognition in the International Technology and Engineering Educators’ (ITEEA) REACH Challenge. The REACH Challenge is a nationwide design thinking project that tasks students with creating a viable technological solution to help members of their community thrive. Two Fontana High teams secured semifinalist honors in the REACH Challenge, while a third earned special recognition. All three Fontana High teams were offered discounted registration to ITEAA’s 86th Annual Conference, held on March 6-9 in Memphis.
Santa Fe High School seniors Zulema Gamboa and Nevaeh Esteves-Parker have much in common. Friends since middle school, they have both become top scholars at Santa Fe High and aspire to pursue their higher education in locations where their learning experiences will be embellished by seasonal weather and traditions not common in Southern California. Gamboa and Esteves-Parker, who share identical 4.3 GPAs, will soon start packing their bags to travel to prestigious colleges across the country after being named 2024 Posse Foundation scholars, earning full-ride scholarships to attend Hobart and William Smith Colleges in upstate New York and Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, respectively.
Firebaugh High School’s boys’ basketball team has had a record-breaking season, earning the most wins in Falcon history and, after its 76-31 victory over Big Bear High School on Feb. 24, the team added another monumental title to their belt – CIF Southern Section Division 5A Champions. The team now advances to the State Championships – which consists of five games – with the first round of the Division 5 State Championships against Coalinga High School taking place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Firebaugh High School.
Fontana Unified School District honored the rich contributions of African and African American heritage and fostered a spirit of excellence in a series of classroom and community activities celebrating Black History Month in February. The District’s second annual Black History Month celebration kicked off on Feb. 3 with a “Harmony in Heritage and Knowledge” event, and concluded on Feb. 28 with a Black History Month Elementary Excellence Awards ceremony. Both events showcased the talents of District students through live performances and displays of their artistic and academic creations. The District also honored its Black scholars during each event, bringing them on stage to receive awards for their academic or artistic excellence.
Over 300 Lynwood Unified School District students from Lynwood, Firebaugh and Vista high schools celebrated Black excellence, participated in workshops and heard from inspiring speakers during the District’s Teen Summit on February 22. The annual event – organized by the District’s Equity, Access and Instructional Services Department – is one of Lynwood Unified’s many efforts to bring together the rich cultures within the school community and encourages students to embrace their passions, break through barriers and become high achievers.
Grammy Award-winning jazz musician and band leader Gordon Goodwin returned to Bonita Unified with his world-famous Big Phat Band for a concert that showcased All-District Jazz Ensemble musicians and served as a tribute to longtime Bonita High music teacher Robin Snyder, who is credited with introducing jazz into Southern California school music programs in the 1960s. Goodwin, who graduated from Bonita High School in 1973, performed double duty at the March 16 Bonita Center for the Arts show, jamming with All-District players during their opening set, then leading a nearly two-hour performance with his 19-member group. In between songs, Goodwin took time to reminisce about his years at Bonita High, and how Snyder helped develop his career.
Whittier Union CTE Fair Prepares Students for Post-Secondary Options
Whittier High School students explored career technical education (CTE) classes and post-secondary pathway options during the school’s annual CTE Fair, held Feb. 22 in celebration of Career Technical Education Month. Cardinal students spoke with CTE representatives from a host of local colleges, trade schools and recruiters including Fullerton College, Cerritos College, Whittier College, Los Angeles Trade Tech, Downey Adult School, America’s Job Center California, and Tri-Cities ROP. The lunchtime event aimed to introduce students to pathway programs available on campus, as well as the opportunity to connect to post-secondary programs that align with Whittier High curriculum, so that students can continue to pursue CTE pathways after graduation.
Hacienda La Puente Unified Students Connect Via Engineering Pathway
For 35 years, Hacienda La Puente Unified's award-winning Los Altos Academy of Engineering (LAAE) pathway has provided Los Altos High School students with hands-on learning experiences, vocational training, and a student-led curriculum centralized around math and science. With more than 1,000 program graduates, the LAAE continues to grow in popularity each year. Thanks to the long-standing success of LAAE, the District expanded the pathway to Orange Grove and Newton middle schools during the 2022-23 school year, introducing seventh- and eighth-grade students to computer, science, engineering, technology, and mathematics (C-STEM) through various courses, electives, and clubs.
Bryan Clavecilla’s journey to being appointed Orange County Superior Court Judge took him through Río Hondo College in 2003. Designated by California Governor Gavin Newsom for the judgeship on Jan. 29, Clavecilla is quick to credit the College for leading him to a successful future and providing him with experiences – on the College’s Speech & Debate and Wrestling teams – that helped develop his critical thinking and public speaking skills, giving him the confidence to pursue his goal of becoming a trial attorney.
