Covina-Valley Unified School District honored the Class of 2025 with five uplifting commencement ceremonies held June 2-5, celebrating the accomplishments of more than 1,000 graduates as they enter the next chapter of their lives. Graduates from Northview, South Hills, and Covina high schools are headed to prestigious universities, including Harvard University; the University of Pennsylvania; the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of Southern California; the University of California, Irvine; the University of Oregon; and more. Many are attending these institutions with notable scholarships in hand, including the $50,000 Southern California Edison Scholarship and the $25,000 ACE Mentor Scholarship.
Six Fontana Unified School District elementary and middle school students are preparing to showcase their teamwork, coding, and critical thinking skills on a world stage at the 2025 World Robot Olympiad Open Championships to be held in Panama this October. Mango Elementary School’s Luis P. and Roman H., West Randall Elementary’s Joey Santana, and Wayne Ruble Middle School’s Flora F., Angel F., and Ivanna V. all qualified to represent Team USA Robotics and the United States Engineering League (USEL) at the World Robot Olympiad. They will compete in the challenge-based “RoboMission” category in the elementary and junior divisions, respectively.
More than 800 graduates from Chaparral-Vista, San Dimas, and Bonita high schools tossed their caps into the evening air as celebratory music swelled, earning thunderous applause during commencement ceremonies on June 3 and 5 that showcased the culture of each campus, shared stories of perseverance, and honored the achievements of Bonita Unified’s Class of 2025. Each high school celebrated graduates’ academic, artistic, and athletic successes, noting CIF championships, a national culinary title, regional and state honors for music, and more. Bonita Unified graduates will pursue higher education at institutions including Notre Dame University, UC Berkeley, Columbia University, Syracuse University, USC, and UCLA; others will enlist in the armed forces or enter the workforce, bolstered by the skills developed in the District’s career technical education pathways.
La Puente High School’s (LPHS) Career Technical Education (CTE) Public Safety Pathway has been recognized as a National School of Excellence by the Law and Public Safety Education Network (LAPSEN). It is one of only eight schools in California to receive this designation, which highlights exemplary programs in public safety education. In addition to the school-wide recognition, Challenge Coins – a respected honor awarded by peers in the field – were presented to Public Safety Pathway instructor Antonia Ramirez, LPHS counselor Melissa Bravata, and LPHS principal Dr. Lisa Lopez for their leadership and commitment to developing the pathway.
With the roar of student-athletes and the rhythm of the marching band, cheer, and color guard, El Monte High School (EMHS) marked the grand opening of its brand-new, state-of-the-art athletics facility with a spirited ribbon-cutting celebration on June 2. The long-awaited facility, now complete with a synthetic track and field, modern scoreboard, and upgraded amenities, stands as a symbol of El Monte Union High School District’s (EMUHSD) commitment to athletic excellence, student wellness, and community engagement. Funded by voter-approved Measure D and Measure HS bonds, the project is part of the District’s larger $190 million modernization initiative.
The San Dimas High School ProStart culinary team saw their long nights of prepping and months of hard work creating a world-class menu pay off in spectacular fashion as the five-member team was crowned the 2025 National ProStart Invitational champion, capping off the culinary program’s most successful year ever, and making District history in the process. San Dimas student chefs Kaila Khoury, Emma Johns, Emily Robertson, Kyle Yamate, and Renata Marcillo captured Bonita Unified’s first national championship, a goal that husband-and-wife duo Nick and Laurie Brandler, ProStart instructors at San Dimas and Bonita high schools, respectively, established when they first started bringing their student chefs to competition more than a decade ago.
Cheers and celebration filled the air across Whittier Union High School District as more than 2,100 graduates from the Class of 2025 turned their tassels and stepped boldly into the future during spirited commencement ceremonies held June 2 through 4. Seniors from the District’s five comprehensive high schools, two alternative campuses, and adult school were joined by proud families, friends, and dedicated school staff, all united in honoring the resilience, growth, and accomplishments of Whittier Union’s newest alumni. Santa Fe, Sierra Vista, and Frontier high schools, along with Whittier Union Adult School, kicked off the three days of celebration during commencement ceremonies on June 2, followed by La Serna High School and Whittier High School on June 3. California and Pioneer high schools concluded the festivities with ceremonies on June 4.
More than 2,900 Fontana Unified School District’s (FUSD) Class of 2025 graduates celebrated a milestone to remember, capturing joyful moments, from walking across the stage to singing alma maters and celebrating under streams of confetti, on phones and handheld camcorders to relive for years to come. Fontana Unified held eight commencement ceremonies for its seven high schools and one adult school on May 22 at the Ontario Convention Center and May 27-28 at the Toyota Arena. This year’s graduating class includes multiple QuestBridge and Gates scholarship winners and more than 370 students who earned the California State Seal of Biliteracy after demonstrating a high level of proficiency in bilingualism and biliteracy. Fontana Unified’s Class of 2025 will embark on a range of post-graduation paths, including continuing their education at top universities such as UCLA, Barnard College, Boston University, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, and UC San Diego; joining the armed forces; or launching directly into the workforce. Many graduates are equipped to pursue high-wage, high-demand careers as a result of Fontana Unified’s 39 career technical education pathways.
In an age of rapid technological advances, as the risk of falling victim to a cyberattack continues to rise to unprecedented levels, San Dimas High School is training a new generation of cyber defenders and tech troubleshooters to become ethical hackers through its Information Technology (IT) and Cybersecurity class. The class, led by San Dimas High computer science teacher Leslie Leaming, is a hands-on learning experience where students rebuild and repair devices, design games, develop websites, and attempt to solve real-world cybersecurity challenges. The comprehensive course gives students an opportunity to explore lucrative careers in the IT and cybersecurity fields.
Four Fontana Unified School District representatives, including volunteers, a principal, and a teacher, have been honored for their dedication to student achievement, leadership, community service, and commitment to education in San Bernardino County. Fontana High School Principal Ofelia Hinojosa earned a Distinguished Service Award, a highly selective distinction, from the San Bernardino County School Boards Association (SBCSBA) and San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS). Established in 1998, the award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, unwavering dedication, and long-standing service to public education in San Bernardino County. A.B. Miller High dance teacher Nicole Robinson and Redwood Elementary community volunteers Jade Centeno and Maria Medina also received Education Medals of Honor during the SBCSBA and SBCSS awards ceremony.
