Rio Hondo College’s Art Gallery has extended an exhibit chronicling artist Crystal Maes’ battle with cancer through Friday, Oct. 27 in recognition of its impact on the campus community. Maes, a graphic artist for the College’s marketing and communications team, created the exhibit after her 2013 diagnosis with breast cancer. In 10 still-life paintings, she chronicles her journey from diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiation treatment through to recovery. The exhibit aligns with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The exhibit is titled DETOUR: Ten Paintings Descriptive of a Battle with Cancer. The gallery is at 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
Rio Hondo College will host a Latinx Heritage Event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3 featuring a showcase of producer Moctesuma Esparza’s 2006 HBO film, “Walkout,” which recounts the 1968 East L.A. student walkouts. Esparza, who was part of the walkout as a student, also produced “Selena,” “The Milagro Beanfield War” and “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.” A Q&A with Esparza follows the screening. The event will be held in the Wray Theater, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
Rio Hondo College’s Division of Arts and Cultural Programs will host a celebration of Mexican music and dance with nonprofit Nuestras Raices from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 in the Wray Theater, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier. The group includes more than 250 dancers and musicians. Founder Argelia Andrade will give a talk after the performance.
Rio Hondo College’s Division of Arts and Cultural Programs will host musical and dance educational nonprofit Nuestras Raices from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 in a celebration of Mexican music and dance featuring musical guests Hermanos Herrera with three vibrant musical traditions: Jarocho, Son Huasteco and Norteño. Nuestras Raices provides accessible music classes, mentoring and other opportunities. It includes eight instructors and more than 250 dancers and musicians who perform clad in colorful costumes and using authentic instrumentation. Nuestras Raices founder, Dr. Argelia Andrade, will give a talk following the performance. Both events are in the College’s Wray Theater, Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
Rio Hondo College has brought higher educational opportunities to more than 8,000 community members over the last eight years through a trio of innovative educational centers, according to recently released figures. This fall, the College is deepening course offerings in math, English and childcare instruction at the centers as part of a continuing effort to tailor instructional programs to meet community needs. Students returned to classes on Aug. 19. The centers were opened in phases starting in 2009-10 to bring services to residents who could not always make the trip to Rio Hondo College’s Whittier campus.
Rio Hondo College Gallery is hosting the 2017 SUR:biennial exhibit, which features works by Luis G. Hernández, Margaret Griffith, Maria Rendón, Albert Lopez Jr., Ruben Millares and Lino Martinez. The exhibit runs through Friday, Oct. 13 at the gallery, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
Rio Hondo Eclipse Viewing Party Draws More than 1,000 Spectators
Follow-up Story: Armed with special-purpose solar filters, glasses and pinhole projection setups, more than 1,000 Rio Hondo College students and staff stared in amazement at the solar eclipse on Aug. 21 from the College’s quad. The viewing was hosted by the Mathematics and Sciences Division, which provided 800 viewing glasses. Photos are available
Rio Hondo College Launches 2017-18 School Year
Follow-up Story: Rio Hondo College welcomed back more than 14,000 students to fall semester with new instructional programs in nursing and hospitality as well as an expanded focus on math and English at its three educational centers. This is the first semester for the College’s Rio Promise program, which waives first-year tuition for 2017 graduates of high schools in Rio Hondo College’s service area. Photos are available
Four hundred twenty-five incoming freshmen attended Rio Hondo College’s 2017 Summer Bridge program, participating in an array of activities designed to orient students to the rigors of higher education and to give them a chance to improve basic skills and class placement. The program helped build an understanding of Rio Hondo College’s services, connected students with each other and allowed them to explore their goals. It supported both the new Rio Promise program that offers support and first-year tuition waivers to 2017 graduates of high schools in the College’s service area as well as Avance, a program for supporting Latino students.
Follow-up Story: Rio Hondo College welcomed more than 14,000 students for fall semester classes on Aug. 21 during a festive day that included information booths, staff on hand to guide new students and a viewing of the solar eclipse hosted by math and science professors. This fall marks the first semester that the College has waived tuition for freshmen who graduated in 2017 from high schools in its service area through a program called Rio Promise. The program includes extensive support for students as they pursue their academic goals, which now span 50 associate degrees, 24 associate degrees for transfer, 60 certificate programs and a Bachelor of Science in automotive technology. The College also added hospitality courses and an orthopedic technician program this year and recently received a National Science Foundation grant to expand training for technicians in its groundbreaking automotive technology program.
