Fontana Unified’s Class of 2018 celebrated 12 valedictorians and salutatorians from five comprehensive high schools, many of whom will pursue higher education and careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) fields.
Five Fontana Unified High School graduates who have juggled personal challenges with academic excellence were named 2018 Dell Scholars, earning a collective $100,000 in scholarships for higher education costs. Kaiser High School’s Syeda Arif will attend UC Berkeley to study nutrition and public health; Fontana High School’s Victor Iribe will major in mechanical engineering at Cal State L.A.; Summit High School’s Mary Ambriz will study political science and women’s studies at Occidental College; Summit’s Melissa Cruz will attend UC Irvine to study biological sciences; and Summit’s Maria Medina will major in political science at UC Berkeley.
Fontana High School student Andres Larias was named a 2018 Carson Scholars fund recipient, earning a $1,000 college scholarship aimed to support students who display academic excellence and humanitarian qualities. Larias, a high-achieving AP scholar and student-athlete, volunteers at his church, as a peer tutor and on a youth advisory committee.
Amandeep Heyer, a senior at Fontana Unified’s Henry J. Kaiser High School, is one of 300 students in the country to receive the all-expense paid 2018 Gates Scholarship. Heyer, who plans to study computer science at Yale University, was also named a 2018 National Merit Scholar.
Fontana Unified’s comprehensive high schools will hold their annual commencement ceremonies at Citizens Business Bank Arena – 4000 Ontario Center, Ontario – beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, May 21 with Summit High School. Kaiser High School will hold its ceremony at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, followed by Fontana High School at 7 p.m. Jurupa Hills High School will hold its event at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 24, and A.B. Miller High will follow at 7 p.m.
Summit High student Leslie Madrigal will advance to the National History Day competition being held Sunday, June 10 to Thursday, June 14 in Maryland after earning top honors in the state contest in May. Madrigal earned first place in the Senior Individual Exhibit Division for her project titled “The Non-Proliferation Treaty: The Decision to Save the World.” Photos are available
Four Summit High School career technical education (CTE) students will advance to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in June after earning gold medals during the California SkillsUSA finals, leading an effort that saw 13 Summit competitors win gold, silver, or bronze medals. During the state finals, held virtually in April, Summit juniors Vincent Caudillo and Christian Magana took gold medals in Cybersecurity, an event that saw Summit teams sweep the top four positions. Summit juniors Harsh Patel and Elijah Walker took gold in Robotics and Automation Technology. The winning teams were forged from two of Summit’s signature CTE pathways, Mechatronics and Ethical Hacking.
Fontana High School senior Alexandra Ortega is one step closer to achieving her dreams thanks to the 2018 Gates Scholarship, an all-expense-paid scholarship given to just 300 high-achieving minority students in the U.S. Ortega will study biochemistry at UCLA and hopes to pursue a career in medicine.
Nearly 200 Fontana Unified students with special needs raced across a track, warmed up their throwing arms and tested their long jump skills during the sixth annual Splash and Dash on May 11, an event that builds relationships and celebrates diversity.
Fontana Unified School District named Heather Castillo, senior secretary at Henry J. Kaiser High School, its 2018 Classified Employee of the Year during the April 18 Board of Education meeting. Castillo was praised for being a team player who went beyond her job duties to help anyone who needed a hand. Photos are available