El Monte Union to Honor Graduates at Commencement Ceremonies
El Monte Union High School District will celebrate graduating students with commencement ceremonies taking place May 30-31. The El Monte-Rosemead Adult School will celebrate students at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 30 at the Rosemead High Auditorium. The following graduations will be held Thursday, May 31: Fernando R. Ledesma High at 5 p.m. at the high school; South El Monte High School at 6 p.m. at SEMHS Eagle Stadium; Arroyo High School at 7 p.m. at AHS Bergstrom Stadium; El Monte High School at 7 p.m. at EMHS Lion Field; Mountain View High School at 7 p.m. at MVHS Viking Stadium; and Rosemead High at 7 p.m. at RHS Panther Field.
Mountain View High School senior Steven Gov blasted out of the starting gate, steering his team’s solar boat through the current and sprinting 200 meters toward the finish line of a competition designed to introduce students to the ecological benefits of solar power and resource management. Gov’s skillful maneuvering helped the Mountain View Solar Creations Club record an impressive 13th place overall finish during the Metropolitan Water District’s 16th annual Solar Cup – the largest student-based solar-powered boat race in the nation – held May 18-20 at Lake Skinner in Temecula Valley.
El Monte Union Recognizes Dedicated Parent Volunteers
The El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees recently honored six parents who dedicate their time to volunteering for the benefit of students, teachers, staff and the school communities they serve. Also recognized was the 2018-19 District Parent Volunteer of the Year: Jenny Cardenas from Fernando R. Ledesma High School.
Hundreds of seniors from five El Monte Union comprehensive high schools celebrated their university-bound commitments in front of cheering crowds of underclassmen, teachers and administrators during College Signing Day ceremonies. Rosemead, Mountain View, El Monte, South El Monte and Arroyo high schools hosted events to recognize seniors achieving their academic pursuits and to showcase the college-going culture of each campus.
Rosemead High School senior Alec Nguyen – an accomplished track and field athlete and stellar student – will study chemical engineering this autumn at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology after being named a 2018 Gates Scholar. The prestigious scholarship – bestowed to only 300 students out of more than 28,700 applicants – will cover all Nguyen’s tuition costs, as well as provide academic and social support, mentoring and leadership training opportunities throughout his college career.
Hundreds of El Monte Union students are poised to celebrate an important next step toward achieving their academic pursuits during College Signing Day ceremonies. Rosemead High School will hold its Acceptance Day ceremony for about 165 students from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Thursday, April 26. El Monte High School will hold a College Signing Day ceremony for 150 seniors from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Friday, April 27. Mountain View High School will hold a ceremony from 9:45 to 11:20 a.m. Friday, April 27. South El Monte High School will hold its ceremony for students at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday, May 2. Arroyo High School will hold its event from noon to 12:45 p.m. Thursday, May 3.
Two South El Monte High School seniors who helped create the school’s Freshman Mentoring Program have been selected as 2018 Dell Scholars. Miriam Benavides and Sandra Amezcua Rocha will each receive a $20,000 scholarship from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. As mentors, Benavides and Amezcua offer advice, recommend classes and making freshmen aware of scholarship opportunities.
El Monte Union Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga will be honored by the Cal Poly Alumni Association as a distinguished alumnus during its 2018 Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, April 27. Zuniga has been selected for the 2018 College of Education and Integrative Studies Distinguished Alumni Award. He graduated from the university with a bachelor’s degree in history and teaching credential in social science. The awards are presented to former students who have achieved success professionally and through involvement within their community and the university.
Each time El Monte High School hurdler Derek Song steps onto the track, he pushes himself to improve on his momentum and speed; however, it is his kindness toward opponents and genuine care for his teammates that earned him the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Triple-Impact Competitor award. Song is one of 10 Los Angeles-area high school student-athletes to receive the recognition along with a $3,000 scholarship from PCA, a national nonprofit that works to develop better athletes and individuals by providing character-building sports opportunities.
Two El Monte Union High School District seniors are among 30 high school students from across the Southland to receive $40,000 STEM college scholarships from Edison International during surprise announcements. South El Monte High School senior Sandra Amezcua Rocha was surprised during her Spanish Literature class on March 26 and El Monte High School senior Connie Lee received the exciting news via Skype on March 19. The duo was selected from more than 2,000 applicants.
