Arroyo High School senior Gary Chen has been named a 2026 Edison Scholar, earning a $50,000 scholarship to support his pursuit of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in higher education. He plans to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where he will study electrical and computer engineering. The recognition came as a surprise during Chen’s Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature class, as students finished the first act of William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” The classroom door opened and a group entered, including Chen’s father and representatives from Edison International, delivering the announcement.
South El Monte High School’s (SEMHS) SeaPerch robotics team earned a first-place finish at the Los Angeles Regional SeaPerch Competition in March, securing a spot in the International SeaPerch Competition in Maryland and marking the program’s return to global competition for the third time in 15 years. The student-led team competed against top programs from across the region, demonstrating technical skill, teamwork, and adaptability to emerge as overall champions. Representing Los Angeles County, the group is advancing to an international field that includes teams from across the United States and countries such as China and New Zealand.
The El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees has approved a settlement agreement with the California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General, reinforcing the District’s commitment to student safety through strengthened oversight and enhanced protocols. Approved during a March 18 special meeting, the agreement establishes enhanced protocols and comprehensive procedures for addressing allegations of bullying, harassment and abuse. It took effect March 20 and includes a four-year monitoring period to strengthen related systems.
Mountain View High School (MVHS) students across all grade levels participated in a full-scale studio production on Feb. 23 as the school’s Viking Informational Systems Technology Academy (VISTA) program filmed its annual Red Camera Training project at Silver Dream Factory Studios. The collaboration brought together students from VISTA, theater, choir, and dance to produce “Life is a Musical.” Written and directed by VISTA seniors, the project gave students hands-on experience with Red digital cinema cameras, professional sound equipment, and studio lighting inside a working soundstage. Industry professionals — including a director, director of photography, sound designer, and lighting specialists — mentored students alongside Mountain View educators.
After four years of excellence both inside and outside the classroom, four El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) students earned coveted QuestBridge Match Scholarships, securing early admission to some of the nation’s most respected universities with combined award amounts totaling more than $1 million. Arroyo High School seniors Samuel Ye and Thomas Mach, along with South El Monte High School seniors Ailani Rodriguez and Henry Liem, are among 2,550 of the nation’s highest-achieving students receiving this honor. They will represent EMUHSD at top universities in the fall, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Northwestern University, Claremont McKenna College, and Princeton University.
El Monte High School’s (EMHS) varsity cheerleading team captured the 2026 National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) High School National Championship during a competition held Jan. 23–24 in Fort Worth, Texas, earning the first national title in the District’s and program’s history. The Lions claimed the championship in the Advanced Non-Tumbling Coed Varsity Crowd Leading division, becoming the only California school to compete in the category and just the third California team to claim an NCA national title in the organization’s 75-year history. Teams from across the country competed at the national event.
El Monte Union High School District students who would like to see more vegetarian and vegan options for lunch will have an opportunity to shape their school’s meal plan through the District’s newly-formed Dietary Inclusion Council, a student-led coalition that will work directly with the Nutrition Services Department to advocate for healthy, plant-based items on daily lunch menus. The council was spearheaded by Arroyo High School senior Emily Lin, who petitioned the Board of Trustees to pass a resolution to establish the Districtwide advisory body. The resolution was passed during the Jan. 7 Board meeting. Lin also helped secure a $4,000 microgrant from the nonprofit advocacy group Friends of the Earth to support the promotion and marketing of plant-based options across the District.
Six El Monte Union High School District students took part in the 2026 Rose Parade on Jan. 1 after being selected to perform with the Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band, representing their schools and the District during one of the nation’s most widely watched New Year’s Day events. South El Monte High School junior Aden Gonzalez returned as a herald performer for the second consecutive year; Mountain View High School (MVHS) senior Pablo Pinedo was selected for percussion (cymbals), and senior Jennifer Rivera-Rivas, along with juniors Samantha De La Cueva Morfin, Daniela Garcia, and Karina Rodriguez, were all selected as color guard performers. The District’s Board of Trustees honored the students during its Jan. 7 meeting, presenting certificates of recognition and celebrating the milestone with family members, school leaders, and music educators.
South El Monte High School’s football team, powered by a lockdown defense and a tightknit roster of longtime teammates, capped a stunning playoff run that drove them to capture their first-ever CIF-Southern Section Div. 14 title, defeating Pioneer High School with a score of 14-6 on Nov. 28. This marks South El Monte’s second CIF title in less than a month, following the Lady Eagles volleyball team, which won the CIF Div. 9 championship on Nov. 6. The key moment in the Eagles run was their decisive 45-7 first-round win against Channel Islands, ending a yearslong CIF playoff first-round losing streak, boosting the team’s confidence, and setting them on the championship path. South El Monte outscored their opponents 86-27 in the four CIF Div. 14 games.
The South El Monte High School Lady Eagles volleyball team made history when it captured its first-ever CIF-Southern Section (CIF-SS) Div. 9 championship, defeating Nogales High School in a nail-biting five-set thriller on Nov. 8. The championship provided a memorable sendoff for a tight-knit coterie of seniors who came close to a title in 2024, and a homecoming for coach and South El Monte physical education teacher Kristina Puckett, who returned to lead the team after a yearslong hiatus.
