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Whittier Union High School District

  • Whittier Union Adult School Student Receives Award of Merit for Resilience, Determination

    At a crossroads with her education, California High School Class of 2018 graduate Abigail Villanueva had completed her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and public health at the University of Southern California, with a goal of enrolling in medical school. But before she could apply to a college, Villanueva needed to gain clinical experience in a medical setting. Taking the advice of a friend and former Whittier Union Adult School (WUAS) student, Villanueva enrolled in the WUAS medical assistant program, a comprehensive two-quarter course where students gain essential clinical and administrative skills through hands-on training that prepares them for real-world scenarios, clinical training, and internships.

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  • Whittier Union Alumna Seeks to Give Back to Community as Human Rights Advocate

    California High School Class of 2016 graduate Alondra Saldivar has a passion for helping others. From her days leading Cal High Condors into community service projects as Interact Club president to her current role as a law graduate working for the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project in Arizona, Saldivar has worked tirelessly to champion human rights while inspiring others to become community volunteers. Saldivar’s post-secondary journey has been a whirlwind of education and advocacy, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a Juris Doctor degree at the University of San Francisco (USF), all while continuing to mentor young students and encourage them to pursue participation in community service clubs.

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  • Whittier Union Senior Celebrated, Receives $50,000 Edison Scholarship Surprise in Class

    Pioneer High School senior Olivia Jimenez envisions a day when socially assistive robotics will provide equitable and affordable support for children with special needs, helping them with their cognitive development and social skills. Jimenez’s goal is to use the field of mechanical engineering as a template for doing good work. Jimenez became inspired to work in the field of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) after watching her sister, who is autistic, struggle to find the support she needed in under-resourced schools. Jimenez became fascinated with STEM, immersing herself in projects, exploring all possibilities, and searching for answers, a pursuit that led to her becoming Pioneer High’s Science Club president.

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Whittier Union Senior, Future Businesswoman Recognized for Leadership

By the time California High School senior Denisse Palominos arrives at campus for zero period at 7:20 a.m., she has already prepared her three younger siblings for school. For Palominos – who maintains a 4.1 GPA and is captain the Cal High volleyball team – taking responsibility for others while balancing a full schedule of classes and extracurricular activities comes naturally, earning her respect from classmates, teachers and administrators alike. She was recognized with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees on Nov. 12.

Credit Union Endows Whittier Union Program with $50,000

The Credit Union of Southern California, a longtime supporter of La Serna High School’s life-changing intervention program, OASIS, has launched a $50,000 endowment to ensure students in the program find enduring success after graduation. CEO Dave Gunderson and Executive Vice President Eric Day have provided thousands of dollars in scholarships over the years to students in La Serna’s Organized Academic Support in School (OASIS) program, which motivates students who are underperforming to earn higher GPAs and graduate high school. They will regularly contribute to the endowment, with the funds going toward scholarships as well as tools to ensure OASIS students have the support necessary for successful futures.

Whittier Union Golfer Wins National Essay Contest, Meets Elite Female Athletes at NYC Gala

California High School freshman and girls golf team member Sophia Martinez was honored by the Women’s Sports Foundation for her essay, “What Inspires Me to Keep Playing,” during the foundation’s 40th Annual Salute to Women in Sports gala, held Oct. 16 in New York City. Martinez, a member of the Southern California Golf Association junior program, was one of three winners of the WSF national essay contest, allowing her the chance to meet some of America’s elite female athletes, including Women’s World Cup star Megan Rapinoe and WSF founder and tennis star Billie Jean King.

La Serna Students Learn Challenges of Living on a Budget during Bite of Reality Simulation

Close to 300 La Serna High School students were given the freedom to make their own financial decisions – and learn the unpleasant consequences of spending beyond their means – during Bite of Reality, an interactive simulation that tests students on real-world financial challenges. Sponsored by the Credit Union of Southern California, the financial literacy event, held Nov. 14, assigned students in the school’s Guided Studies, OASIS, HAVEN and Read 180 academic intervention programs, their mentors and consumer math students a fictional occupation, salary, spouse and family, student loan debt, credit card debt and medical insurance payments.

Credit Union Sponsors Whittier Union Program with $50,000 Endowment

The Credit Union of Southern California, a longtime supporter of La Serna High School’s award-winning and life-changing intervention program, OASIS, has launched a $50,000 endowment to ensure students in the program find enduring success after graduation. CEO Dave Gunderson and Executive Vice President Eric Day have provided thousands of dollars in scholarships over the years to students in La Serna’s Organized Academic Support in School (OASIS) program, which motivates students who are underperforming to earn higher GPAs and graduate high school. They will regularly contribute to the endowment, with the funds going toward scholarships as well as other methods of support to ensure OASIS students have the support necessary for successful futures.

Whittier Union to Celebrate Music and Cheer at Annual Jamboree Nov. 4

Whittier Union will celebrate student musical and dance performances at its 2019 Whittier Union High School District Band, Color Guard and Pepster Jamboree, an annual community event that features the District’s five comprehensive high school marching bands, color guards, cheer squads, song and drill team. The showcase marks the ending of the band and color guard field show season. It will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4 at the Sandra Sanchez Thorstenson Stadium at California High School, 9800 Mills Ave., Whittier.

Whittier Union Seniors Named National Merit Commended Scholars

Five Whittier Union High School District students have been recognized as National Merit Commended Scholars for being among the top 34,000 students in the nation to receive high scores on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The nationally recognized students are seniors Cole Aedo, Ian Brennan, Kelvin Chong and Katelyn Nye from La Serna High School and senior Julia Casas from Whittier High School.

Whittier Union Adult School Hosts Inaugural Job Fair

The Whittier Union Adult School hosted its first-ever Career and Job Fair on Oct. 23, attracting over 500 community members and students from the Adult School, Frontier High School and Sierra Vista High School. The event featured nearly two dozen local employers, including Whittier Union High School District, the Census Bureau, Starbucks, Fed Ex and Defense International, among others, who conducted on-site interviews. Many employers have committed to hiring Whittier Union students. The Census Bureau, for instance, plans to hire 80 students at $20 an hour. Fifteen students were hired on the spot and 50 students scored second interviews.

8 Whittier Union Musicians to Perform in Tournament of Roses Parade

Eight Whittier Union students have been selected to perform in the 2020 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade Honor Band on New Year’s Day. The students won coveted spots in the nearly 250-member Honor Band after a rigorous audition process that included hundreds of high school musicians from throughout Southern California. From California High School, they are Kaelee Chavez (clarinet), Seth Diaz (tenor sax), Mark Gonzalez (trombone), Roberto Haro (trumpet), Myriam Hernandez (color guard/tall flag), Erica Leal (color guard/banner) and Chloe Martin (color guard/banner). Trumpet player Hector Torres will represent Santa Fe High School.