he Río Hondo College Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Division will host its second annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) Festival for local elementary, middle and high school students. The free community event will allow families to conduct hands-on experiments orchestrated by Río Hondo College students, faculty and community partners in chemistry, physics, engineering, biology, arts and more. Entry and parking for the three-hour event are complimentary, but registrations are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis at this link. Participant students will get prizes for finishing STEAM activities along with free raffle prizes for a few lucky winners.
Bryan Clavecilla’s journey to being appointed Orange County Superior Court Judge took him through Río Hondo College in 2003. Designated by California Governor Gavin Newsom for the judgeship on Jan. 29, Clavecilla is quick to credit the College for leading him to a successful future and providing him with experiences – on the College’s Speech & Debate and Wrestling teams – that helped develop his critical thinking and public speaking skills, giving him the confidence to pursue his goal of becoming a trial attorney.
Río Hondo College students, staff and community leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting celebration to mark the grand opening of the institution’s first Pride Center on Feb. 15, thanks to financial support from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO). The Pride Center provides students with a place to bond in community and access support resources. Located near Río Hondo College’s Administration Building, the center is a place where students can rest and study, meet with counselors for academic appointments and connect with support staff and other students.
Río Hondo College will host a ribbon cutting during a grand opening celebration for the institution’s first Pride Center. The center will serve as an inclusive space where students who identify as LGBTQIA+ can go for support resources and gather in community.
Río Hondo College to Host Grand Opening of Campus Pride Center
Río Hondo College will host a ribbon cutting during a grand opening celebration for the institution’s first Pride Center scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15. The center will serve as an inclusive space where students who identify as LGBTQIA+ can go for support resources and gather in community. The Pride Center is near Río Hondo College’s Administration Building (A-119), located at 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
Río Hondo College received a four-year reaffirmation of accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) on Jan. 16, highlighting the College’s commitment to excellence in institutional effectiveness and ensuring a high-quality education for its students. The ACCJC, a division of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), announced Río Hondo College’s reaffirmation after a comprehensive review from a peer-review team that included two site visits where they examined evidence and interviewed Río Hondo College representatives.
Río Hondo College will continue its mission to remove barriers to educational opportunity for students, as the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) selected Río Hondo as one of 10 community colleges statewide to implement the Hire UP pilot program. Hire UP is a five-year program designed by CCCCO to acknowledge and address historic racial inequity and socioeconomic barriers to workforce participation. Students who participate in the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) and RISE Scholars Program, along with former foster youth, are eligible to apply for the Hire UP program, where they will be provided with stipends to help them meet the true cost of college attendance and gain clear access to academic programs and workforce support.
Coffee Talk with Río Hondo College’s Superintendent/President
The Río Hondo College community is invited to join Superintendent/President Dr. Marilyn Flores for an in-person coffee talk event, Un Cafecito, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 10. Dr. Flores will use this opportunity to meet with members of the community, hear their ideas, and establish camaraderie with those who participate in the event. Un Cafecito is hosted at the Río Hondo College Administration Building’s Board Room, located at 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
Río Hondo College Board of Trustees members held its annual organization and election of board officers on Dec. 13, as the Board continues to uphold the vision, mission and values of Río Hondo College. The Board elected Anais Medina Diaz as the new president. Oscar Valladares was selected to serve as vice president and Rosaelva Lomeli will step into the clerk position. Kristal Orozco was presented with a gift of appreciation for her leadership and service as Board president in 2023 and will continue to serve as a Board member alongside Vicky Santana.
Río Hondo College secured high rankings in the Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine’s Top 100 Colleges and Universities for Hispanics list. Based on the latest data from the federal NCES Integrated Post-Secondary Education System, Río Hondo College ranked 25th among both two-year and four-year institutions with a total enrollment of 17,677 Hispanic/Latinx students, which was the ninth most among two-year schools in the 2021-22 school year. Río Hondo College also ranked 17th with 1,885 total associate degrees granted to Hispanic/Latinx students. Additionally, the College’s family and consumer sciences/human sciences degrees major ranked fifth among two-year and four-year institutions with 141 total degrees granted to Hispanic/Latinx students.
