Los Angeles Times sports reporter Broderick Turner – who has covered the Clippers sale and was the first to report Shaquille O’Neal’s exit from the Lakers – will host a discussion from 9:40-10:20 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8 at Rio Hondo College on pathways to journalism, the emergence of new media and other aspects of professional writing. Turner’s guest lecture will be hosted by the Mass Communications Department and El Paisano student news media. The talk is open to the community. It will be held at the Learning Resource Center, Room 128.
Community College Week has listed Rio Hondo College as one of the Top 100 Associate Degree Producers in the areas of minority-serving, Hispanic-serving, family and consumer sciences/human science, and protective services, including homeland security, fire and law enforcement. Media contact: Christina Cardenas, 909-445-1001 (office) or 626-383-6367 (cell)
The start of the new school year at Rio Hondo College also welcomes new staff as three new directors have been hired to oversee Financial Aid, E.O.P &S/ CARE and Accounting. Also, another position was revised to ensure students flourish at Rio Hondo College: Dean of Counseling and Student Success, which has been filled by Dr. Mike Muñoz.
Rio Hondo College is poised to kick off a year of firsts on Saturday, Aug.23 when classes commence. This year, Rio Hondo College will be one of only 24 schools in the state to launch a community college Law School Pathway, which will enable students to set a course to one of six top law schools in the region, including USC's Gould School of Law, Loyola Law School, the University of San Francisco School of Law, Santa Clara University School of Law, and law schools at UC Davis and UC Irvine. Media contact: Christina Cardenas, 909-445-1001 (office) or 626-383-6367 (cell)
First-time students at Rio Hondo College will learn to navigate the campus, learn how to get involved and build a pathway toward their success at Freshmen Welcome Days from Monday, Aug. 18 to Thursday, Aug. 21. Students will take a tour of the campus so that they are able to identify building and special service locations, as well as learn to use Access Rio, the College’s online service center where students can check email, register for courses, communicate with faculty and access other student services. Media contact: Christina Cardenas, 909-445-1001 (office) or 626-383-6367 (cell)
Filled with music, dancing and fun, the Second Annual Latino Heritage Fiesta at Rio Hondo College on Saturday, Sept. 20 promises to be one for the books as it will welcome to the stage a Grammy Award-winning sensation and an Emmy Award-winning inspiration. Poncho Sanchez and His Latin Jazz Band – whose fiery beats rooted in straight-ahead jazz, soul music and Latin- and South-American rhythms earned Grammy acclaim – is slated to perform at the fiesta, a free and open event designed to celebrate Latino culture, art, music and dance. Kicking off the festivities will be guest speaker and Emmy Award-winning journalist Dunia Elvir, an anchor and decorated investigative journalist with Telemundo. Media contact: Christina Cardenas, 909-445-1001 (office) or 626-383-6367 (cell)
The Rio Hondo College Police Academy will welcome Class No. 200 on Tuesday, Aug. 5. The academy, which resumed in 2013, is now operating under new Police Academy Director/Consultant Walter Allen III, who was hired to implement Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Allen is the former California Youth Authority Director and state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation law enforcement chief. Allen is a current Covina City Councilman. Media Contact: Christina Cardenas, 909-445-1001 (office) or 626-383-6367 (cell)
More than 80 students from the El Rancho Unified, Little Lake City, Mountain View and Valle Lindo school districts joined Rio Hondo College’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Academy to get hands-on knowledge of several Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects. Students are participating in two modules, each of which is contextualized with math and science. The subjects from which students chose include basic automotive maintenance, crystal radios, small engines, solid rockets, biofuels, auto body collision and basic electrical theory. The first week of the academy concluded on July 11. The second week, which will welcome nearly 50 students, will commence Monday, July 14 and run until Friday, July 18. Classes begin at 9 a.m. and run until 2:45 p.m. Media contact: Christina Cardenas, 909-445-1001 (office) or 626-383-6367 (cell)
Former Rio Hondo College Roadrunner and 2012 Foothill Conference Baseball Player of the Year Andrew Morales was drafted to play for the St. Louis Cardinals. The right-handed pitcher, who had just completed his senior year at the University of California, Irvine, is ranked fourth in the country with 17 starts and 128 strikeouts. During his tenure at Rio Hondo College, Morales earned the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association All-American and Pitcher of the Year and earned All-Foothill Conference first-team accolades in 2011. Media contact: Christina Esparza, 909-445-1001 (office) or 626-383-6367 (cell)
It seems that every pub, restaurant and household in the United States has fully embraced World Cup fever. But did you know that Rio Hondo College has been a launching ground for some of the sport’s professional athletes? The Rio Hondo Men's Soccer program is one of the best in the Foothill Conference and Southern California. Coach Orlando Brenes, who guided three Foothill Conference championship teams in a row, has helped the Roadrunners win the conference title in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Many of Rio Hondo's players have gone on to collegiate and professional careers, including Marvin Quijano and Luis Aguilar. Media contact: Christina Esparza, 909-445-1001 (office) or 626-383-6367 (cell)
