Two Lynwood High Students Earn Scholarships through Posse Foundation
Follow-up Story: Two Lynwood High School students are headed to the University of Wisconsin at Madison and Michigan’s Kalamazoo College after earning full academic scholarships through the Posse Foundation. The foundation identifies students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential who may be overlooked by traditional college selection processes and provides full-tuition scholarships to its partner universities. Eduardo Guerro and Evelyn Salina were among 10 Lynwood High students, and thousands more across the nation, recommended for Posse scholarships. Ultimately, just 10 students are selected for scholarships to each of the organization’s 50 partner universities, which include Dartmouth College, Cornell University, UCLA and UC Berkeley.
A coalition of Lynwood leaders – including the city, schools and religious community – are banding together to launch a program to provide guidance to local youths of color in response to President Obama’s plea to increase opportunities for underrepresented communities. The Village Project will provide mentorships, job and life skills and other resources and support to help local youths achieve their goals. The project is led by Lynwood Unified Board of Education Vice President Gary Hardie, Jr., the City of Lynwood and community organizations. The launch, held in conjunction with the second annual Black Teen Summit, takes place at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25 at the City of Lynwood’s Bateman Hall, 11330 Bullis Road, Lynwood. It will be followed at 10 a.m. by a roundtable discussion.
Eduardo Zuniga is just 11 years old, but this month he is serving in a very important position – the City of Lynwood’s first “Kid Mayor.” Out of nearly 200 of his peers, the fifth-grader at Lincoln Elementary was recommended for the position by his teachers. He has spent the last few weeks attending special events, City Council meetings, doing interviews with the media, making recommendations on new city programs and meeting new people. He was also awarded a $400 scholarship, which was deposited in a fund designed for him to access when he’s ready to go to college. Photos are available.
International Baccalaureate participation at Firebaugh High is soaring to all-time levels, with 162 students taking nearly 400 exams in multiple subjects. The numbers represent the highest participation in the program’s history at the Lynwood Unified campus. Fourteen students are slated to earn IB diplomas this year, double the number from 2014. The rigorous, two-year college- and career-preparatory curriculum for juniors and seniors is based on promoting intercultural understanding, critical thinking and independent learning.
Former Lynwood Unified Students Return for Alumni College Conference
More than 50 Lynwood Unified alumni are returning to their hometown to provide college-going support and inspiration for hundreds of students during the 15th annual Alumni College Conference from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at Lynwood High School. The event, themed “Preparing Today for a Brighter Tomorrow,” will feature a college fair, parent resources and more than 30 workshops covering topics such as the admissions process, scholarships and grants and more. Lynwood High is at 4050 Imperial Highway, Lynwood. M
During its annual reorganization meeting on Dec. 9, the Lynwood Unified School District Board of Education appointed Maria G. Lopez as President, Gary Hardie as Vice President and Briseida Gonzalez as Clerk. The District also celebrated Lynwood Unified’s accomplishments under the leadership of Gonzalez, who served as Board President for the last year.
Follow-up Story: Rising test scores, higher graduation rates and fewer dropouts are among the dramatic gains in student achievement by Lynwood Unified School District that Superintendent Paul Gothold presented present at a Dec. 15 training program organized by the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA). The Equity Leadership Institutes, CAAASA’s new professional development series, showcased best policies and practices for improving academic achievement of African-American and other underserved students in California schools. The training is part of a four-part series in San Francisco.
Lynwood Elementary Students Create Skits on Real-World Issues
A new theater program in Lynwood Unified allows students to write, direct and perform short skits about issues in today’s society, such as immigration, bullying and the dark side of technology. The BRIDGE Theatre Project culminates with student performances at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8 at Roosevelt Elementary School and 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 at Rosa Parks Elementary School. Media contact: Maritza Fairfield, 909-445-1001 (office) or 909-816-7722 (cell)
Showcase Celebrates Lynwood Student Performance Arts Programs
Over two days, students from schools across Lynwood Unified will showcase their dance, band, orchestra, choir and theater programs during the District’s Winter Performance Event, which runs from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10 and Thursday, Dec. 11 at Lynwood Middle School, 12124 Bullis Road, Lynwood. The event will feature student groups from all grade levels performing to holiday favorites such as “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Let it Snow” and “Baby it’s Cold Outside.” Media contact: Maritza Fairfield, 909-445-1001 (office) or 909-816-7722 (cell)
Lynwood Unified is one of the first districts in Los Angeles County to receive state funding under Prop 39, the California Clean Energy Jobs Act, to repair inefficient heating and air conditioning systems, install new lighting and save money through energy efficiency. Prop. 39 was approved by the voters in 2012 and closed a $1 billion corporate tax loophole that benefitted out-of-state corporations and only rewarded California companies that left the state. For the first five years, half of the revenue from Prop. 39 will be dedicated to job-creating energy efficiency and clean energy projects to make California’s schools greener. When the effort is completed, LUSD can expect an annual 29 percent reduction on its utility bills at the sites selected for the projects, which include the District office and six elementary schools.
