Pioneer High School seniors Ashley Cortes, Sara Munoz and Wendy Zaragoza and Santa Fe High School senior Muhammad Shakeel have spent countless long nights studying and dreaming of attending an elite university – a dream that has come true after all four were named 2023 Dell Scholarship winners by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. All four students will receive a $20,000 scholarship spread out over the course of several years, $2,000 in additional money for textbooks and other expenses, and a Dell laptop. They will also have access to exclusive support services, including the Scholars Resource Network, which connects students and their families with resources to deal with academic, personal and life issues. Cortes, Munoz and Zaragoza have each honed their skills in Pioneer’s college-prep elective Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), which provides instruction and guidance for underrepresented students and first-generation college-goers.
South Hills High School American Sign Language (ASL) teacher Sonya Wilson has always been determined to explore new opportunities and pursue her passions, despite the challenges posed by her Deafness. Wilson views being Deaf in the outdoors as an asset because it heightens her senses and connects her with her surroundings as she pursues her biggest passion: rock climbing. Wilson’s love for climbing was sparked after she took an outdoor class in her sophomore year at Azusa Pacific University. She became fascinated by the equipment and the excitement she felt when climbing. However, Wilson quickly realized how difficult it was to find people willing to climb with a Deaf climber. Wilson's challenges inspired her creation of the ASL Climbing Network in 2012, a Facebook group intended for Deaf climbers and ASL signers that aims to cultivate a community of individuals who share a love for climbing and to organize meetups.
Dr. Ralph S. Pacheco, the longest-standing member of the Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees, has informally announced his retirement from the Board, culminating his 32 years of unwavering commitment and service to the District. Dr. Pacheco, who currently serves as the Board Vice President, made the announcement to his colleagues and community members during an April 11 Board meeting. He will officially retire from the Board of Trustees effective July 7, 2023. His current term runs through November 2024.
Move over, Cannes and Sundance: Fontana Unified is set to challenge these internationally acclaimed destinations for cinema lovers by hosting its first-ever districtwide Fontana Film Festival on Friday, May 5. Open to all Fontana Unified K-12 students and alumni, the film festival will showcase the emerging talents of TV Production and film students from all corners of the city. The festival will be held at 6 p.m. at Steelworkers Auditorium, located at 1555 Summit Ave., Fontana.
The 2022-23 school year has seen the long-awaited rollout of Whittier High School’s Cardinal Academy of Technology (CAT), a four-year engineering pathway that provides students with a comprehensive overview of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) concepts and sets them on course for careers in STEAM-related fields. CAT combines the best of two programs offered in previous years at Whittier High – the Cardinal Computer Academy and the STEM Academy, which centered on computer information technology and engineering – and is updated to provide students with the tools they need to navigate the rapidly expanding STEM job market. CAT has proven to be very popular in its first year, with 80 freshmen enrolled in the first-year intro class. The pathway was created by Whittier High teachers Daniel Oliver and Steve Swanson, who developed the program and curriculum after seeking student input on what they wanted from a tech-based engineering pathway.
Three Covina-Valley Unified School District sites will have dynamic new principals as Terry Abernathy leads South Hills High School, Nick Garcia steps in at Sierra Vista Middle School, and Dr. Leo Magallón takes over at Northview High School for the 2023-24 school year. All three principals were unanimously approved during a Board of Education meeting on April 10. They will start their new positions on July 1, 2023.
The Fontana Unified School District and the City of Fontana are partnering with community stakeholders to host a Community Roundtable from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 20 at the Jessie Turner Health and Fitness Community Center. Parents and residents are invited to join FUSD Superintendent Miki Inbody and Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren as they work together to foster a more cohesive, respectful sense of community. The Community Roundtable will encourage dialogue, acknowledge and address biases, and collaborate on creating a more inclusive learning environment and community.
Hacienda La Puente Unified Unveils High School Dream Resource Center
Hacienda La Puente Unified officials, Dream Resource partners and dignitaries celebrated the launch of the La Puente High School’s Dream Resource Center with an opening ceremony on April 12, unveiling a welcoming, safe space where students can create, relax and collaborate. During the event, guests heard student testimonials and toured the center, which included vibrantly decorated walls full of inspirational quotes, vision boards and tabletops bedecked with resources, games and calming activities.
Buena Park Middle School Percussion Team Ends Successful First Year
Buena Park Middle School’s Percussion Program ended its inaugural year with a trip to the Southern California Percussion Alliance (SCPA) Finals, garnering praise from friends, family, audience members and industry professionals. The Percussion Program, which consists of 26 Buena Park Middle School students, competed against five different area schools at the SCPA Finals at Azusa Pacific University on April 8 after competing in two previous events this year. Buena Park Middle School earned a first-place distinction at the SCPA Regional Show on Feb. 11.
Summit High School’s instrumental and vocal music programs blew the judges away with their melodious sounds at the Heritage Festival hosted by WorldStrides on March 24, earning them multiple awards and placements. Summit’s Madrigal Choir earned a silver medal in the chamber choir category, putting on a strong performance in their first year of participating in the festival. The Wind Ensemble and Advanced Orchestra groups won 3A division national titles, both earning the Adjudicator award for scoring above 95%. Additionally, the Advanced Orchestra took home the sweepstakes title in the orchestral division for the second year in a row, indicating they received the highest score of any competing orchestra.
