El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) is welcoming three new administrators to the District for the 2024-25 school year, with each new appointee bringing a breadth of experience and passion for education to their positions. At the District level, EMUHSD has hired Dr. Michael Lin as the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services and Dr. Refugio Gracian as Director II of Human Resources. El Monte Union also appointed Renee Tellez as South El Monte High School’s new assistant principal.
The El Monte Union High School District will celebrate the grand opening and dedication of Rosemead High School’s Vikki Carr Performing Arts Center at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31. The performing arts center is part of the school’s Modernization Project and will include a new exterior plaza, auditorium access, doors, landscaping, exterior paint, a remodeled lobby, restroom upgrades, interior finishes, and improved audio. Carr, a 1958 alumna of RHS, has enjoyed a prolific six decades in music. With top hits in English and Spanish, Carr has won four Grammy Awards and released more than 60 best-selling recordings; she will be in attendance for the dedication.
El Monte Union Earns Top Honor for Academic Excellence
For the second consecutive year, El Monte Union High School District has been selected as a San Gabriel Valley Tribune Readers’ Choice School District, reflecting the District’s unwavering commitment to academic success in the classroom and providing healthier outcomes for the communities it serves. El Monte Union, which was also cited in the Tribune’s 2023 Readers’ Choice poll, has experienced another banner year, as it works toward maintaining positive school culture and academic rigor for its students by providing career technical education pathways and innovative technology, as well as social and emotional support through its wellness centers.
For the second consecutive year, El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) has been selected as a San Gabriel Valley Tribune Readers’ Choice Top Three School District, reflecting the District’s unwavering commitment to academic success in the classroom and providing healthier outcomes for the communities it serves. El Monte Union, which was also cited in the Tribune’s 2023 Readers’ Choice poll, has experienced another banner year, as it works toward maintaining positive school culture and academic rigor for its students by providing career technical education pathways and innovative technology, as well as social and emotional support through its wellness centers.
El Monte Union Teacher Honored for Excellence in Education
Sonia Ayala, a dedicated science teacher and athletic director at South El Monte High School, has been recognized by Assemblymember Lisa Calderon as one of the 56th District's 2024 Educators of Distinction. This prestigious award, presented in tandem with Teacher Appreciation Month, highlights Ayala's exceptional dedication for advancing excellence in education and her unwavering commitment to student success.
El Monte Union Graduate Selected as Dell Scholar Recipient
Mountain View High School Class of 2024 graduate Breanna Montoya has been named a 2024 Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Scholar, which includes a $20,000 scholarship to support her higher education goals. Montoya will attend UCLA and pursue a degree in neuroscience. Montoya has demonstrated her commitment to education through academic achievements and leadership roles, including taking part in Mountain View's Associated Student Body, the Class of 2024 Club presidency, a U.S. Bank internship, the Teacher Preparation Academy, and the Pasadena City College Upward Bound Math-Science program.
El Monte Union Grad Earns Posse Scholarship to Middlebury College
Rosemead High School Class of 2024 graduate Kyan Chau has earned a full-ride Posse Scholarship, helping him to attend Middlebury College in Vermont, where he will study medicine and neuroscience. Chau founded Rosemead High’s Medical Club, aiming to increase diversity in the medical field. Chau has also actively engaged in internships, partnerships, and volunteer opportunities with City of Hope, Stanford Neuroscience Journal Club, and the Huntington Hospital Emergency Department. Chau hopes to become a neurosurgeon and establish his own lab to design innovative therapies that will improve the daily lives of his patients. The Posse Scholarship, awarded for extraordinary leadership potential, provides full-tuition scholarships for students to pursue their academic goals at top colleges and universities nationwide.
El Monte Union celebrated the accomplishments of its distinguished Class of 2024 with lively and emotional commencement ceremonies held on June 5, including ceremonies at Mountain View and Arroyo high schools that were staged in newly renovated state-of-the-art stadiums. The festivities began with an early morning commencement for the Granada Adult Transition Center and a late afternoon ceremony for Fernando R. Ledesma High School, followed by evening ceremonies for South El Monte, Rosemead, El Monte, Mountain View and Arroyo high schools. El Monte Union celebrated more than 1,000 graduates with choir performances, video recaps, fireworks, and the rousing cheers of family and friends.
The El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) celebrated a momentous occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 30, marking the grand opening of Mountain View High School’s (MVHS) new state-of-the-art stadium, which includes a new rubberized track and field, modern bleachers, concession stands, restrooms, upgraded parking facilities, and an impressive grand entrance. Local dignitaries, school officials, students, alumni, and community members gathered to witness this milestone. The celebration featured student performances, honorary speeches, stadium tours, student-athlete drill demonstrations, and complimentary food and refreshments. Key speakers included MVHS Principal Jose Bañas, Associated Student Body (ASB) President and senior Jacqueline Medina, Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga, and Board President Ricardo Padilla, who highlighted the stadium's role in promoting healthy living, enhancing school spirit, and serving as a community hub.
Nathalie Trigo Lopez has overcome numerous obstacles during her four years at El Monte High School (EMHS), but she will soon embark on a new, academic journey in pursuit of her career goals after her hard work and determination earned her a full-ride scholarship to the prestigious Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Trigo Lopez came to the United States from Guadalajara, Mexico as a freshman in 2020 – at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic – without speaking any English. Since leaving her childhood home four years ago, she has not only mastered a new language but excelled academically, demonstrating a level of dedication and perseverance that has earned her a coveted spot at Georgetown.
