Twenty-three Fontana Unified students were honored for their excellence and commitment to furthering their education during the annual Upward Bound banquet, held virtually this year on May 7. Fontana Unified offers the Upward Bound program in partnership with Chaffey College, aiming to increase the rate of students who complete high school and enroll in and graduate from college. When enrolled in Upward Bound, students from A.B. Miller and Fontana high schools benefit from resources and services that include: one-on-one advising and support in academics, college and career planning; weekly tutoring from current Chaffey College students; detailed guidance during their senior year on college applications, financial aid, scholarships and college housing; and more.
Jurupa Hills High School senior Joy Anyiam is passionate about the English language and civil rights. With a dream to become a lawyer and bring justice to underrepresented groups, Anyiam faced a tough choice after being accepted by nearly a dozen elite universities across the country, including Stanford and Columbia. Anyiam, a high-achieving scholar with a 4.64 GPA, chose to attend Harvard University, and is the first Jurupa Hills student to be accepted to the storied Ivy League campus. Throughout her senior year, Anyiam paid close attention to issues of social justice; these conflicts, combined with the rigor of an International Baccalaureate education, have inspired Anyiam to pursue a career in law.
Taking on powerful subjects such as suicide prevention, mental illness, and systemic racism, nearly a dozen Jurupa Hills High School student filmmakers were recognized by the Directing Change Film Project for excellence in producing 60-second public service announcements. Jurupa Hills sophomore Kashmir Garnica won a regional first place award for her suicide prevention film, “Keep an Eye Out,” and will advance to the Directing Change state finals. Junior Kimberly Do earned an honorable mention in the Directing Change statewide Hope and Justice category for her film, “Racism is the Real Virus.” Six other Jurupa Hills-produced films received regional honorable mentions.
Drawing on her passion for advocacy and community betterment, Fontana High School junior Miranda Ordoñez will provide a voice for Fontana Unified students and serve as the Board of Education student representative in 2021-22. Ordoñez was selected from a pool of five finalists following a virtual interview during the April 28 Board of Education special meeting. As a first-generation, college-bound Latina, Ordoñez takes her education seriously and has made the most of the learning and extracurricular opportunities in Fontana Unified. She is a high-achieving scholar at the top of her class, balancing Advanced Placement classes with clubs and activities and an array of volunteer roles.
Fontana Unified School District will bid farewell to the Class of 2021 from Tuesday, June 8 to Thursday, June 10, honoring their achievements with socially distanced commencement ceremonies that allow for lively and safe celebrations. Fontana Unified will honor graduates with modified in-person ceremonies at the San Manuel Stadium, home to the minor-league Inland Empire 66ers baseball team, located at 280 S. E Street, San Bernardino.
Summit High School has been named a 2021 California Distinguished School, celebrating its success in boosting student achievement, attaining strong graduation rates and fostering college and career readiness. The California Distinguished School award is the state’s top honor for high-achieving schools. Given to 241 middle and high schools this year, the award recognizes schools for their excellent work in closing the achievement gap and achieving exceptional student performance.
Sequoia Middle School has been recognized in the 2021 California Schools to Watch program, celebrating its continued success in boosting student achievement, creating a positive campus culture, bridging the technology gap and reducing suspensions. Sequoia Middle School is among 31 high-performing California middle schools to be honored this year. First designated as a School to Watch in 2018, Sequoia was re-evaluated to retain the designation – a process that occurs every three years.
A.B. Miller High School Class of 2001 graduate Lourdes Alcaraz was so intent on learning photography that she would spend hours after school in the darkroom perfecting her images. Known to family and friends as “Lulu,” the skills Alcaraz acquired at A.B. Miller led to a successful career as a professional photographer, specializing in weddings and portraiture. Alcaraz was just hitting her stride as a professional when she was diagnosed with cancer and died in 2011. Family and friends gathered at A.B. Miller High’s fine arts building to pay tribute to her, dedicating a mural in Alcaraz’s honor on April 30.
Fontana Unified STEM students showcased their talent for innovation and creativity at the 39th annual San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono Counties (SIM) Science and Engineering Fair, earning two gold medals, three silver medals, and garnering several special area awards. Alder Middle School eighth-grader Barbara Gonzalez Lagunas and Almeria Middle School eighth-grader Alejandra Delgado were awarded gold medals in the Junior Division during the March regional fair and advanced to the California Science Fair, held April 13. Kaiser High School students Jose Centeno, Amitoj Lobana and Frida Monreal were awarded silver medals in the Senior Division during the regional fair.
Fontana Unified School District has been designated as a 2021 Model School Attendance Review Board (SARB) in California, honoring the District’s efforts to reach disengaged students during the COVID-19 pandemic and connect families with resources and support. Fontana Unified is among 20 Model SARB Award winners this year, which include 19 school districts and one county office of education, and is the only SARB in San Bernardino County recognized this year.
