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Whittier Union High School District

  • Whittier Union Senior Triumphs Over Challenges, Receives District Award of Merit

    Isabella "Izzy" Nunez, a California High School senior, overcame incredible odds to excel in sports despite being diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis during her freshman year. Her journey began with severe joint pain, but with the support of coach Brian Bordier, she fought back, ultimately playing four years of varsity soccer, three years of varsity lacrosse, and serving as kicker for the Cal High football team, all while maintaining a 4.6 GPA – becoming one of Cal High’s top scholar-athletes, as well as a health and wellness advocate. Nunez was recognized for her resiliency and inspirational story by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees, who honored her with an Award of Merit during an April 9 Board meeting.

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  • Santa Fe High School Honored with 24th Student Leadership Award

    Santa Fe High School's Student Leadership Class has earned the school its 24th Outstanding Leadership Program Award (OLPA) from the California Association of Student Leaders (CASL), which recognized the class for continuing to spearhead engaging activities and events, and fostering inclusivity and school spirit among students. OLPA is a distinguished award that is presented to schools in California that display strong student leadership programs that allow students to grow as ethical, responsible, and servant-minded individuals. Through Santa Fe’s Student Leadership Class, students are empowered to explore leadership roles and gain invaluable hands-on experience.

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  • Whittier Union Senior with Gift for Designing Receives $50,000 Edison Scholarship

    Whittier High School senior Erik Villa rarely stops to catch his breath. Between his schoolwork, mentoring classmates in the school’s Cardinal Academy of Technology (CAT), volunteer work for the Whittier Chamber of Commerce, and managing a Whittier juice bar, Villa goes nonstop from sunup to sundown with a goal of helping anybody who needs his assistance. An unsuspecting Villa was sitting with his CAT classmates when a representative from Edison International came into the class with a surprise announcement – Villa had been named a 2024 Edison Scholarship winner, an honor that comes with $50,000 in tuition support for students pursuing a major in a STEM field. Following the announcement, Villa’s classmates erupted in applause. Villa is one of just 30 Southern California high school students to receive the award.

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WUHSD Dedicates Santa Fe High School’s New Football Field to Retired Coach Jack Mahlstede

Follow-up Story: Follow-up Story: The Whittier Union High School District dedicated Santa Fe High School’s newly modernized football field to beloved, retired Santa Fe High Varsity School Coach Jack Mahlstede on Thursday, May 29, at Santa Fe High School. Mahlstede coached football, track and cross-country for more than 42 years, from 1970 to 2011. Mahlstede led the Chiefs to 16 football league championships, and led track teams to a total of 19 championships, in addition to five cross-country championships. Mahlstede earned the title of Outstanding Coach of the Del Rio League several times, was inducted into the 605 All Star Game Committee’s Hall of Fame in 2010, and was honored as a 2011 Rio Hondo Good Scout of the Year. Media contact: Laura Flores, 562-668-7833 (office)

Pioneer High School Offers Team Science Saturday Academy

Team Science is offering a free Saturday Science Academy full of fun, dynamic, hands-on science and math workshops for first- through eighth-grade students from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 3 at Pioneer High School, 10800 Benavon St., Whittier. The event will be a half-day version of the upcoming Team Science Summer Camp to be held in July at Pioneer High. The workshops offered will be “Science for the First Time” for first-graders; “Plant Pals” for second-graders; “Discovering our Natural World” for third- through fifth-graders; “Magnets and Electricity ” for fourth- through sixth-graders; “Energy is a Blast” for fifth- and sixth-graders; and “Fundamentals of Flight” for seventh- and eighth-graders. Media contact: Laura Flores, 562-668-7833 office

Whittier High Student Organizes Local Ideas Festival

As part of a Bezos grant, Whittier High School senior Carlos Flores and teacher Nico Loeff have been working together to create a local Ideas Festival, scheduled for the week of April 28-May 2. The events are organized around the theme of B.E.E.S., an acronym for the celebration of the Bio-diversity, Economic Diversity, Educational Diversity and Social Diversity at Whittier High and the Whittier community along the Greenway Trail. Flores, a top student who will attend Harvard in the fall, is also working with the city of Whittier and Whittier City School District in the use and improvement of the Greenway Trail. Contact: Laura Flores, (562) 668-7833 (office)

Pioneer High Students Will be ‘Dancing Down Memory Lane’

With a new director at the helm, Pioneer High School is preparing to present its annual Titanette Revue with the theme, “Dancing Down Memory Lane,” at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 11 and at noon and 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 12 in the main gym. The event raises money for the school’s performing arts programs. Tickets for the evening performances are $10 each; tickets for the matinee are $7. Tickets can be purchased at the school’s Business and Activities Bookkeeper’s office from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.  For information and tickets, call (562) 698-8121, ext. 5010. Doors to the gymnasium open 30 minutes before the show. Pioneer High School is located at 10800 Benavon St., Whittier. Contact: Laura Flores, (562) 668-7833.

State CCC Director to Observe Crew Perform Energy Survey at Whittier High School

In a unique media opportunity, David Muraki, state director of the California Conservation Corps. (CCC) will observe a local CCC crew as they participate in an energy-efficiency survey of Whittier High School Wednesday, March 26, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. (12417 E. Philadelphia St., Whittier). The crew will be inspecting various aspects of the outside of the school such as lighting, HVAC and more to collect information for energy-efficiency recommendations. The Whittier Union High School District currently is working in conjunction with the CCC to expand its energy saving efforts through the effective use of approximately $640,000 in Proposition 39 funds. The District has previously received awards from the federal Environmental Protection Agency for its energy conservation program. Contact: Laura Flores, (562) 668-7833 (cell)

Cal High to Hold Remembrance for Beloved Teacher

California High School in Whittier will hold a remembrance service for beloved TCROP digital photo and video production instructor, Tim Keeler at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 4 in the main gymnasium located on Hawes Street off of Mills Avenue. Keeler was well known in the Whittier community and had more than 20 years of experience as a video and photographic professional. He was a beloved and respected instructor and coach at Cal High for seven years. Several community leaders will speak at the remembrance, including WUHSD Board of Trustee Jeff Baird, WUHSD Superintendent Sandra Thorstenson and Whittier City Councilwoman Cathy Warner. The event is open to the public. Contact: Laura Flores, (562) 668-7833 (office)

Cal High Teacher Receives Esteemed Art Educator of the Year Award

The National Art Education Association has chosen California High School teacher Julie Tonkovich to receive the 2014 California Art Educator of the Year Award. This prestigious award, determined through a peer review of nominations, honors an outstanding member from each state or province association whose service and contribution to art education merits recognition and acclaim. The award will be presented at the NAEA National Convention in San Diego from March 29-31. Contact: Laura Flores, (562) 668-7833 (office)

Musical Icons Get a Motown Experience at La Serna High School

Iris Gordy of Motown Records and Ollie Brown, former drummer for Stevie Wonder, will attend La Serna High School’s Motown Experience performance on Saturday, March 22. Students will dance and lip-sync to famous Motown songs to raise money for their school and for police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Shows are at 7 p.m. Friday, March 21 and at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased at the door. Contact: Laura Flores, (562) 668-7833 (office)

WUHSD and Team Science Open Summer Camp Registration March 15

Team Science, in partnership with the Whittier Union High School District, is opening its online registration on Saturday, March 15 for Southland students to have the chance to learn hands-on from real scientists and engineers during the upcoming Team Science Summer Camp at Pioneer High School in Whittier in July. Photos and video from last year's camp are available. Contact: Laura Flores, (562) 668-7833 (office)

Emmy Award Winner Speaks at Rio Hondo College

Follow-up Story: To kick off Women's History Month, Rio Hondo hosted its annual Women's History Conference on March 7. About 300 students and visitors attended the conference, themed “Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility,” which was a joint venture with the Whittier Union High School District and Soroptomist International of Whittier. Photos are available. Contact: Christina Esparza, 909-445-1001 (office) or 626-383-6367 (cell)