Ninety-six deserving seniors from El Monte Union High School District were awarded scholarships by the EKG Foundation, in partnership with C.B.M. Towing Inc., for their academic achievement and community involvement at a senior scholarship banquet on May 11. The EKG Foundation, a non-profit organization created in honor of the late Arroyo High School alumnus Edward-Kenneth F. Guerrero, collaborated with C.B.M. Towing Inc., a local towing and recovery company committed to giving back to the community, to recognize and reward the achievements of El Monte Union seniors.
In front of a packed house of family and friends cheering on their favorite hometown celebrities, Fontana Unified rolled out the red carpet and trained the spotlight on its emerging K-12 student storytellers during the inaugural Fontana Film Festival, held May 5 at Steelworkers Auditorium. Curated from more than 130 student videos submitted from across the District, the Film Festival showcased the diverse talent and technical skills acquired in Fontana Unified’s TV and video production programs. Students from Summit, Jurupa Hills and A.B. Miller high schools, along with students from Southridge Tech Middle School and Almond Elementary School, competed for statuettes that resembled tiny Oscars.
Washington Elementary School teacher Shirley Giacoman – a student advocate and an exemplary teacher leader in the District for almost two decades – was announced as Lynwood Unified’s 2023 Teacher of the Year during the Board of Education meeting on May 11. Giacoman – who has taught at Washington Elementary for 10 years for a total of 16 years in the District – was recognized by the Board of Education for her proven track record of setting up students for academic and personal success.
Fontana Unified at-promise students looking to change the trajectory of their lives and achieve at higher levels celebrated the completion of a 10-week Success Club intervention program – featuring support from life coaches, motivational speakers and spoken word poets to help students get back on track for graduation – during a ceremony held May 10 at Citrus High School. Rescue a Generation (RAG) is a San Bernardino-based nonprofit designed to help underserved students overcome obstacles and empower themselves to establish high expectations and transform their lives. RAG Success Clubs were initiated at Sequoia, Almeria, Truman and Southridge Tech middle schools, and A.B. Miller, Citrus and Eric Birch high schools, with approximately 200 students participating.
Fontana High School’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) students are qualified to enter the workforce and gain experience – all while pursuing degrees and career opportunities in the medical field – after achieving a 92 percent pass rate on the state board exam during the 2022-23 school year. This is the second year in a row FOHI CNA students’ exam pass rate has exceeded 90 percent. The program – offered through the Patient Care career technical education (CTE) pathway at FOHI – provides hands-on training at nursing facilities, offers the opportunity to earn credit at Chaffey College, and prepares students to earn state certification.
The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees will interview six eligible candidates to fill the vacancy for the Trustee Area 3 seat, following Dr. Ralph S. Pacheco’s retirement from the Board on July 7, 2023. The candidates, all from Santa Fe Springs and Norwalk, will participate in a candidate orientation during a Special Board Meeting beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 10 at the District Board Room, 9401 S. Painter Ave., Whittier. Following the orientation, candidates will be interviewed during open session. At the conclusion of the interviews, the Board will deliberate during open session and vote to appoint a provisional seat to the Whittier Union Board of Trustees.
South Hills High School English Language Development teacher Tiffany Liang has been recognized by Disney Imagination Campus as one of 100 teachers from across the country who empower and inspire the next generation of creative thinkers. Liang not only teaches English language skills to students new to the country, but also crafts inventive lessons to help them adapt to a new culture and build meaningful relationships. Liang, who was selected from more than 7,900 applicants, was celebrated alongside fellow educators from across the country at Disneyland Resort from May 4-7, just ahead of National Teacher Appreciation Week. Liang was recognized by the Disney Imagination Campus panel for a classroom assignment she uses that has her students conducting personal interviews with classmates and creating a digital book to help them get to know each other better, promoting meaningful connections and communication.
Fontana Unified students went head-to-head with the best talent in California and walked away with numerous accolades, including two gold medals, during the 56th annual SkillsUSA Leadership and Skill Conference, held April 13-16 at the Ontario Convention Center. Summit High School senior Wei Zeng will advance to the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference after his pin design celebrating California – a collage featuring a brown bear, a California poppy and the Golden Gate Bridge – earned him a gold medal.
Five Henry J. Kaiser High School seniors will attend UC Berkeley in the fall, an achievement supported by their involvement in the school's numerous college readiness programs and resources that prepare students for future excellence. Senior Daisy Alatorre-Cervantes plans to double major in business administration and management, technology, and entrepreneurship, with a minor in legal studies. She dreams of becoming the chief executive officer of her own healthcare insurance line for immigrants and low-income families.
Santa Fe High School seniors Karina Ramirez and Alexis Martinez are on the path to making a difference in the world, aided by the prestigious Gates and Destiny scholarships that will enable them to attend top universities in the fall and pursue careers in service. Out of 51,000 applicants, Ramirez is among the 750 exceptional individuals awarded the Gates Scholarship, a distinction that will enable her to attend UCLA and will offset tuition costs that are not already covered by financial aid. Ramirez will travel to Florida this summer to be recognized alongside other scholarship winners during a special ceremony held by Bill Gates.
