Whether pioneering student-led aerospace research or conducting scientific lab work as first-generation scholars, six El Monte Union High School District standout seniors are charting bold futures as they prepare for graduation. Through Advanced Placement courses, dual enrollment opportunities, career technical education pathways, and leadership programs, El Monte Union students have the opportunity to participate in academic and career-focused experiences in fields including public health, business, engineering, and public service.
El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) will host commencement ceremonies honoring more than 1,850 graduates from its five comprehensive high schools, alternative education program, adult school, and transition center. The Class of 2026 has earned acceptance to top institutions including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, Claremont McKenna College, the University of California, San Diego, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Princeton University, with students pursuing studies in fields such as public health, business administration, and aerospace, electrical, and computer engineering.
After 35 years of dedicated service, Rosemead High School (RHS) Principal Secretary Christine Inocencio has been named El Monte Union High School District’s (EMUHSD) 2025-26 Classified Employee of the Year. Inocencio was honored during the May 6 Board of Trustees meeting for her longstanding commitment to students, staff, and families. Inocencio was celebrated with flowers, an award, and the unveiling of her name and photo on the Classified Employee of the Year honoree plaque as family members, colleagues, and EMUHSD leaders gathered to congratulate her and share stories highlighting her lasting impact on the District and Rosemead High School community.
Culminating a year in which they learned about financial literacy and professional career paths, 12 Mountain View High School seniors serving as interns in the school’s U.S. Bank Student Intern Branch Program hosted a leadership forum which included a Q&A with U.S. Bank senior administrators on April 30. Mountain View seniors Jennifer Rivera Rivas and Natalie Nguyen moderated the forum, titled “Guided by Greatness: The Power of Leadership and Mentorship,” asking the panel their advice on how to further develop the skills they have learned in class and apply them in their pursuit of college and career success.
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.
