IRS-certified students from Río Hondo College will provide free basic income tax return preparation aid for individuals and families who earned $56,000 or less in 2019 as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The program is being held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays, Jan. 31 through April 10, excluding March 27. For information, call 562-463-7359.
The Río Hondo Police Academy will host an “All Class Reunion” for graduates of the academy dating to its first class in 1964. The reunion is the second annual event and is expected to draw scores of former cadets from law enforcement agencies across the state. The gathering follows the graduation of the Academy’s Class 209 on Feb. 6. There are roughly 39 cadets in the class; more than 140 cadets graduated in 2019 and thousands have passed through the academy since it opened.
IRS-certified students from Río Hondo College will provide free basic income tax return preparation for individuals and families who earned $56,000 or less in 2019 as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The program will run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays from Jan. 31 through April 10 at the El Monte Educational Center, 3017 Tyler Ave., El Monte. It will be closed Feb. 14 and March 27.
Río Hondo College will host a coding fair from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24 for students from El Monte City School District to showcase projects that demonstrate efforts to discover solutions to real-world problems. The event is sponsored by the Learning Enrichment & Academic Resources Network (LEARN), a Whittier-based educational nonprofit. The agency received a three-year grant in 2018 to offer Kids Code, an after-school coding program at El Monte City School District’s Cortada, Portrero, Wilkerson and Shirpser elementary schools.
A push by Río Hondo College and other supporters has secured recognition of the Homeland Security field as the newest academic discipline by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. The recognition, granted Monday, means individuals who earn advanced degrees in the field will be considered qualified for instructional positions in the college system. It is seen as a significant endorsement of the multi-discipline field recently developed from other public safety fields.
Río Hondo College’s Board of Trustees endorsed a second year of leadership from President Oscar Valladares, Vice President Rosaelva Lomeli and Clerk Vicky Santana on Dec. 11, 2019 during its annual reorganization meeting. Valladares and Lomeli, both elected in 2018, were named to board leadership positions in December 2018, and elevated to the presidency and vice presidency midway through 2019; Santana was named clerk at that time.
Río Hondo College is now enrolling students for its Homeland Security Program, a cutting-edge discipline that will teach students the latest skills and techniques for preparing themselves, their families and their community to respond to natural hazards and acts of terrorism. Rio Hondo College offers a Certificate of Achievement and Associate of Science in the discipline. Spring semester begins Saturday, Jan. 25.
Río Hondo College’s Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOP&S) will hold a 50th anniversary celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 at the Campus Inn for the program that helps historically underrepresented college students achieve their educational goals. EOP&S, launched by Senate Bill 164 in 1969 as part of the Civil Rights Movement, is considered the original equity program of the California Community Colleges. It provides academic, financial and personal support for low-income students whose educational and socio-economic situations might otherwise prevent them from achieving their higher education goals.
Río Hondo College will mark Veterans Day at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12 with a program honoring 1st Sgt. Janet Bretado of the 240th Signal Company, distribution of a Río Hondo College Veteran Memorial Coin and performances by the 40th Infantry Division Band and Río Hondo College Choir. The Veterans Day event will be emceed by Río Hondo College Veterans Service Center Counselor/Coordinator Arely Castaneda and feature a Presentation of Colors by the California National Guard – Veterans Honors Program.
Chief Tracy E. Rickman, who has helped lead and expand Rio Hondo College’s nationally respected firefighter training academies as well as launch a cadet crew that annually battles California wildfires, will retire Dec. 11. Rickman joined Rio Hondo College 22 years ago and today serves as fire technology coordinator for the Rio Hondo College Fire Academy, the Rio Hondo College Wildland Fire Academy and EMT program.
