Community members who earned less than $53,000 per household in 2014 may obtain free income tax preparation assistance at Rio Hondo College from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 10. Appointments are required. The service will be provided in Rio Hondo College's Business Building, Room B-118, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier. Community members can make appointments for Rio Hondo’s tax preparation aid by calling 562-463-7359.
Rio Hondo College on Tuesday, Jan. 20, was named as one of 15 California community colleges granted initial approval by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors to offer a four-year degree as part of a historic statewide pilot program. The program will undergo additional review by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office before the Board of Governors considers final approval in March. Thirty-four campuses sought approval of degrees in the program, authorized by Senate Bill 850 as a way to train a new generation of graduates for high-demand technical jobs that increasingly require bachelor degrees. Rio Hondo College has proposed creating a Bachelor of Science degree in Automotive Technology that would position students for jobs in the automotive field and comparable posts at sea and rail transit companies.
Follow-up Story: Public safety officers from across Los Angeles County and hundreds of family members joined the 19 cadets of Rio Hondo Police Academy’s 200th class on Jan. 22 at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse to celebrate their graduation from the highly rigorous training program. The students completed almost double the hours required by the state’s standards, training in constitutional law, criminal law, aggressive control techniques, firearms, non-lethal force, domestic violence, mental health and human trafficking.
Follow-up Story: Nearly 50 firefighters from California, South Carolina, Nevada and the Barona Indian Reservation learned advanced techniques Jan. 5-16 during Rio Hondo College’s annual truck academy at the Rio Hondo Fire Training Center, 11400 Greenstone Ave, Santa Fe Springs. The 88-hour training program provided a mix of instructional lectures and visual hands-on exercises, including axe work, forcible entry into burning structures, structure ventilation, high-rise operations, elevator rescues, rope rescues, thermal imaging, auto extraction and rapid intervention tactics.
Rio Hondo College will hold the final of five community educational forums to discuss student service and academic programs at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 23 at East Whittier Middle School, 14421 E. Whittier Blvd., Whittier. The community will have an opportunity to meet faculty from the nursing, public safety, auto technology, kinesiology, dance and athletics divisions. Photos are available.
Rio Hondo College’s Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) is hosting its 17th annual “Adopt-A-Child” event from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17 at the Rio Hondo Café at the College, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier. The festive holiday luncheon – a Rio Hondo tradition – is an opportunity for economically disadvantaged students with young children to enjoy a holiday celebration, complete with a visit from Santa Claus, and to receive gifts courtesy of the Rio Hondo College community. About 80 full-time student-parents with more than 120 children participate in the CARE program.
A new “Rio Bistro” menu at Whittier’s California Grill restaurant celebrates the Rio Hondo College community, offering a slate of options with college-specific themes starting this month. Hailed as “school spirit you can sink your teeth into,” menu items range from Roadrunner Pasta and El Paisano Salad to #iLoveRioHondo Pancakes and Meep! Meep! Munchies at the Grill, at 6751 Painter Ave., Whittier. Staff/student IDs are required.
Follow-up Story: Rio Hondo College students have donated more than 175 suitcases, backpacks and other bags to foster youths through a new student group’s Case of Hope collection drive. About 70 of the bags were given away during a Dec. 6 lunch hosted by the Leaders for Change club; the rest were given out to needy students the following week. Many foster youths move from home to home or transition out of foster care with only trash bags to hold their possessions.
Nothing says college like a pennant – an idea the new Rio Hondo College pennant takes quite literally. The pennant, distributed by Rio Hondo College to every class at El Monte’s historic Valle Lindo School District, represents the opening stages of a pilot effort by the community college to open youngsters’ eyes to the possibilities of higher education. College leaders say they wanted to create a symbol to inspire students to consider their educational options, including Rio Hondo’s diversity of programs and student-centered services.
Rio Hondo College’s Board of Trustees has adopted a three-year plan spelling out how the school will target services for students who need the most support. The student equity plan, designed to be updated annually, outlines efforts to boost enrollment among underserved student groups and add services for students who face the greatest challenges in completing courses and attaining degrees. Rio Hondo has been allocated $845,031 for the effort.