Santa Fe High School senior Roman Vargas entered middle school without any expectation of ever attending college, but six years of Achievement Via Individual Determination (AVID) classes and rigorous academic opportunities taught him to set goals, collaborate with classmates and work toward achieving post-secondary success. Vargas – a first-generation college student with a 4.2 GPA – is on his way toward making his dreams happen after winning a full-tuition Posse Foundation scholarship to attend Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS), a private liberal arts college in Geneva, New York, where he will major in history.
Whittier High School senior Cristian Rodriguez loves working behind the scenes – whether that’s by providing support as a member of the Vic Lopez Auditorium Technical Crew (ATC) or helping to co-author and publicize his family’s literary projects. Since arriving at Whittier High as a sophomore, Rodriguez has passed four Advanced Placement exams, earned a 4.45 GPA, gained a reputation for his maturity and leadership skills and is poised to be one of the school’s valedictorians.
Whittier Union Alumnus Named New Pioneer High’s Head Football Coach
After graduating from Pioneer High School over three decades ago, longtime educator and athletic coach Steve Randall is returning to his alma mater as its new head football coach, bringing with him championship swagger and an emphasis on character building. Randall, who graduated in 1984, comes to Pioneer after a distinguished career as head coach at Colony High School in Ontario, where he compiled a 64-32 record and guided the team to a Central Division CIF championship in 2014, a year which saw Randall named Coach of the Year.
Whittier Union Schools Earn Recognition for Engaging STEM Programs
Two Whittier Union high schools are being highlighted for their outstanding work to expand access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses and develop robust, engaging programs that prepare students for innovative careers. For the second consecutive year, Whittier High School earned the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in its AP Computer Science Principles course. La Serna High School was recently recognized by Newsweek Magazine and STEM.org as one of America’s Top 5,000 STEM High Schools.
The first week of February is off to special start for Humberto Solorio, who has spent the last 18 years helping students at California High School reach their potential, explore their abilities, strengths and interests, and develop into tomorrow’s leaders. Not only is Solorio, along with counselors across Whittier Union and the nation, being recognized for National School Counseling Week, but he will also attend the 2020 State of the Union Address in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Feb. 4 as an invited guest of Congresswoman Linda Sanchez.
La Serna High School senior Jocelyn Jimenez is a born leader with extraordinary academic achievements under her belt, a passion for knowledge and determination to succeed – skills that will help her fulfill her dream of being a lawyer. Whether she is volunteering as an Explorer for the Whittier Police Department or interning with Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, Jimenez is dedicated to empowering people and communities through service work and education. Jimenez – who is pursuing an associate degree at Rio Hondo College – was recently awarded a full-ride scholarship to Claremont McKenna College.
Whittier Union Counselor to Attend State of the Union Feb. 4
Humberto Solorio, who has spent the last 18 years helping students at Whittier Union’s California High School reach their potential and explore their abilities, strengths and interests, will attend the 2020 State of the Union Address in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Solorio will attend the historic event, taking place during the same week as National School Counseling Week, as an invited guest of U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez. At Cal High, Solorio provides counseling services to students, including those enrolled in the school’s Business Academy, co-leads the school’s new Fresh Air Mentoring Program, which provides additional support to male upperclassmen, and is part of the District’s Crisis Response Team.
Whittier Union Recognized for Student Health and Wellness Protocols
Whittier Union High School District recently received the inaugural Lifesaver Award from the Los Angeles County Child and Adolescent Suicide Review Team for its robust and proactive suicide prevention protocols. The California Legislature in 2016 passed Assembly Bill 2246, which mandates student suicide prevention and intervention policies for every California school district. Whittier Union established its Student Well-Being Program in 2014 to address challenges impacting student health and wellness, increase school-site support and provide resources for families.
Pioneer High School students cheered loudly during a recent math competition that pitted Pioneer calculus students against Whittier College math majors, a contest that saw the high school math whizzes triumph over their collegiate peers. The academic competition, dubbed the Derivative Bee, is now in its second year and was created by Dallas DeHart, a Whittier College senior and 2016 Pioneer High graduate. DeHart – who is the daughter of Pioneer math teacher and Whittier Union 2019-20 Teacher of the Year Carolina DeHart – is also president of the college’s math club.
Eight Whittier Union students have been selected to join the Pasadena City College Honor Band and perform in the 131st Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day 2020. Marching in every Rose Parade since 1930, the band consists of PCC Lancer Marching Band members and exceptional high school musicians auditioned from throughout Southern California. Over 600 high school students audition each year for the 200-plus spots in the band, pageantry and Herald Trumpets.
