Several undocumented Río Hondo College future students will soon receive scholarships to attend college, thanks to a pledge from Mexican singer Alejandro Fernández to donate a portion of concert proceeds from his “Amor y Patria” tour this fall. Fernández will donate partial proceeds from his exclusive and limited “Amor y Patria” run in September, to Río Hondo College as a means of funding the education of undocumented students under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), also known as ‘Dreamers.’ To be considered for the scholarship, students need to submit a Río Hondo College Foundation Scholarship Application. Río Hondo College, which is the only southern California organization receiving the donation, plans to utilize this gift to provide five ‘Dreamers’ with scholarships for the 2022-23 school year, with additional awards to be confirmed.
Río Hondo College's Honors Transfer Program is celebrating an 81% transfer rate to UCLA, with nearly 100% of all students that complete the program being accepted to four-year colleges or universities. This transfer rate is exceptional, according to Río Hondo College Honors Transfer Program Coordinator and Professor of Sociology Melissa Rifino Juarez, because UCLA is one of the most prestigious colleges in the world.
Río Hondo College’s Dance 152 and Dance 180 classes are holding auditions for students interested in performing in a Fall Dance Concert, which includes choreographing dance projects for transfer and performing at the American College Dance Association Festival at UC Irvine. The auditions will be held from 12:55 to 3 p.m., on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at the PE Dance Studio in room 141. Río Hondo College is located at 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier. For more information contact Carol McDowell or Kristina Urteaga at cmcdowell@riohondo.edu and kurteaga@riohondo.edu.
The Río Hondo College Foundation will host a golf tournament to raise financial assistance for scholarships, programs, equipment and projects that meet the needs of the College’s diverse student population.
Seventeen high school students put their business skills and passion into action at Río Hondo College’s annual Entrepreneur Camp Río, a two-week camp that teaches students how to achieve success as young entrepreneurs. The camp was led by Río Hondo College faculty members certified by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). Students learned how to identify business opportunities, construct a financial model and create a marketing and sales strategy. The camp welcomed students from seven schools in the area including Arroyo, El Monte, El Rancho, Gabrielino, Glen A. Wilson, La Serena and Mark Keppel high schools.
Río Hondo College’s Theater Department is brimming with excitement as cast and crew members prepare for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” a musical about the hijinks surrounding a spelling bee competition.
The musical, which premiers on Thursday, Aug. 4 in the College’s Wray Theater, marks the return of in-person musicals for Río Hondo College since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous theater performances were held via Zoom. Professor of Theater Arts William Korf, who is also directing the play, said he and his team of actors and crew members are glad to be back on stage but are keeping high safety standards. Korf said selecting “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” was purposefully done to allow actors to spread out on stage while still showcasing their talents.
Río Hondo College will host the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” a musical about six quirky adolescents navigating their way through the rigors of an off-the-wall spelling bee run by a set of equally zany grown-ups.
A Taste of Río,” the signature event of the Río Hondo College Foundation, welcomed guests with an evening of fine foods and drinks on June 17, bringing in nearly $70,000 for student scholarships and other support services. Foundation officials hosted a crowd of approximately 400 guests at the outdoor event, where they enjoyed lively music and bright decorations while sampling a wide variety of tastings including Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyards, Gondola Pizza, Mi Burrito Mexican Grill, Eastaza Coffee and Angry Horse Brewing.
Río Hondo College students were celebrated by professors, administrators, friends and family members as they decorated the college campus with adoring signs, bouquets of colorful flowers and congratulatory gifts celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2022. This year, 1,700 students earned Bachelor of Science, Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees. Of those degrees, 1,157 are Associate Degree for transfer, meaning they are eligible for admission to the California State University system. The 2022 graduation ceremony marked the fourth class of students to receive Bachelor of Science degrees from the College, with 21 Río Hondo College students receiving their degrees.
Río Hondo College to Host Commencement Ceremony
Río Hondo College will host its 59th commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, May 27 to honor the Summer/Fall 2021 graduates and Spring 2022 degree candidates. The event will take place in Student Parking Lot A and include a speech from Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss, “Profiles of Student Success” presentations by Vice President Dr. Earic Dixon-Peters, and the announcement of the Marie I. Pellissier Award, given to this year’s valedictorian. Río Hondo College is located at 3600 Workman Mill Rd., Whittier.
