Education

Woman’s Club awards Ernest Cisneros $1,000 high school scholarship

By CaliNews 5 days ago

The Colton Woman’s Club (CWC) is pleased to announce Ernest Mateo Cisneros as the winner of their 2020 Colton High School $1000 Scholarship. In past years, the Scholarship application has included an in-person interview, but with the COVID-19 restrictions, the club decided to base this year’s winning entry solely on the written portion of the process. Applicants were asked the questions: What are your educational and career goals and how has the quarantine affected your attitude or perspective of what you are hoping to accomplish in the next five to ten years? Do you expect to make any philanthropic impact in your community or surrounding areas? After many hours of reading and discussion regarding the applications, the CWC Education Committee unanimously chose Mr. Cisneros as the top applicant. He will be attending classes through Cal State San Marcos with a Major in Social Science (with an emphasis of History) alongside Minors in Communications and Political Science. “His interest in wanting to give back to the Colton community is just one of the qualities that stood out on Mr. Cisneros’ application,” said CWC Education Committee member…

CSUSB receives 3 Department of Defense cybersecurity scholarships

By CaliNews 6 days ago

Three students in the Cal State San Bernardino cybersecurity program will receive full scholarships in the fall from the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program (DoD CySp), which seeks to recruit the nation’s top cyber talent to help protect the nation against threats on information systems and networks. “These scholarships are a tribute to the accomplishments and great work of our students. The DoD CySp program is one of the most competitive and prestigious in the nation, with anywhere between 50-100 yearly participants,” said Tony Coulson, director of the CSUSB Cybersecurity Center and a professor of information and decision sciences in the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration. “The three CSUSB students receiving the scholarships were chosen from a national pool similar to a National Football League draft and were among the top picks for their agencies.” Nationally, the DoD CySp program received 571 student applications this year and made 115 new scholarship offers of which 108 students accepted, Coulson said. There were 78 returning students for a total of 186 students this year, he said. Congressman Pete Aguilar, (D-CA) long a supporter and proponent of the CSUSB Cybersecurity program, said, “I…

Eight students complete Crafton Hills Rad Tech Program, amid difficult final semester

By CaliNews 2 weeks ago

This spring, eight students completed the Radiologic Technology (Rad Tech) program at Crafton Hills College. The 22 ½-month program, offered in partnership with Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, prepares students to perform diagnostic imaging examinations. Each student received his or her associate degree in Radiologic Technology or Radiologic Technology certificate and is eligible to take state and national board examinations to qualify for entry-level employment in radiography. The graduates are Jason Brown, Fabian Cano, Lewis Middleton, Jerry Padgett Jr., Desiree Perez, Julianne Richter, John Shields and Alexis Ward. These individuals endured a difficult final semester with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. “All of the graduates worked hard and persevered through all of life’s unexpected surprises in 2020,” said program director Melissa Huynh. “I’m so proud of them!”In addition to the awarding of degrees and certificates, the program faculty also presented awards and scholarships at the informal “socially distant” gathering on June 9. Jerry Padgett, Jr. received the Clinical Achievement Award for his superior clinical performance and commendable attendance record. Padgett plans to continue his education in computed tomography (CT). Alexis Ward was recognized for her…

California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM) receives $1.2 million for healthcare scholarships

By CaliNews 2 weeks ago

The California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM) received $1.2 million dollars from the Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) to use towards educational scholarships for incoming medical students. The commitment is part of IEHP’s Healthcare Scholarship Fund (HSF) that aims to address the growing workforce needs in the Inland Empire by partnering with local academic institutions to remove the barrier of debt for medical students. The support from IEHP comes at a critical time when students are experiencing the far-reaching effects of COVID-19 and the financial impact imposed by these challenging times. “We often see qualified students decline acceptance to medical school simply because they cannot afford it; and given the current circumstances, we will see that happen even more” said CUSM CEO Dr. Tae Kim. “These scholarships will allow us to support those students from the community, that want to serve their community, but until now could not afford to”. As the regional need for physicians continues to grow, both CUSM and IEHP are committed to reducing the financial barriers keeping qualified, motivated students from attending medical school. “Sometimes, the only thing standing between ambition…

Uncertainty about the upcoming college academic year and what it means for recent high school graduates

By CaliNews 2 weeks ago

An opinion written by Kenny Hua, Rialto High School Class of 2020 Valedictorian. As many aspects of society have adapted to operate amid the coronavirus pandemic, colleges and universities are faced with difficult decisions concerning what the next school year will look like. Some schools, like the University of California, have proposed a mixture of in-class, remote, and hybrid learning settings. President Tessier-Lavigne of Stanford University stated that the school plans to host half of the undergraduate student body on campus each quarter. Many other schools have yet to announce their plans as developments with the coronavirus are rapidly progressing. Many students have begun considering taking a gap year in fear that starting college on time would mean sacrificing the “full freshman experience.” A poll conducted by the Art & Science Group, a consulting firm for higher education institutions, found that 35% of high school seniors in March were planning on taking a gap year. For Jennifer Jimenez, Rialto High School class of 2019, having most students living on campus is a major contributor to a rich social scene. Jimenez, just finishing her first year…

Rialto Unified hosts first-ever drive-through graduation

By CaliNews 3 weeks ago

This year, Rialto Unified high schools celebrated graduation in a novel fashion due to national and local restrictions put on large gatherings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Traditionally, Rialto Unified hosts their graduations at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. However, recently enacted laws meant to reduce the transmission of the coronavirus prevented schools from celebrating their graduating seniors in a proper and grand fashion. Students were left clueless as to whether or not a graduation ceremony would be held. Congratulations to each and every Class of 2020 graduate! On May 20, 2020, Superintendent Dr. Avila released a newsletter detailing drive-through graduations for Carter High, Eisenhower High, Milor High, and Rialto High. The ceremony was planned to take place through June 2nd and 3rd from 12 to 7 pm. Plans, however, were once again subject to abrupt change when protests as part of the Black Lives Matter movement were organized across the nation, sparked by the murder of George Floyd. The City of Rialto mandated a 6 p.m. curfew on June 2nd and Rialto schools were forced to advance their ceremonies to earlier on…

Colton Joint Unified School District celebrates Valedictorians and Salutatorians

By CaliNews 3 weeks ago

During this time of school closures, graduations have looked very different for all school districts, including Colton Joint Unified School District. CJUSD has worked hard to honor our graduates even at this difficult time through activities including drive-thru graduation ceremonies, congratulatory signs placed in graduates’ yards, a billboard honoring the Class of 2020, individual congratulatory ads on social media for every graduate who chose to participate and more. CJUSD also wants to highlight our valedictorians and salutatorians for the Class of 2020. Let us introduce you to these outstanding young men and women who completed their high school careers at the top of their class. Bloomington High School: Benjamin Walton — Valedictorian Valedictorian Benjamin Walton, one of two valedictorians at Bloomington High School, has earned a GPA of 4.65. He will attend UC San Diego in the fall, majoring in aerospace engineering. “I plan to work in the industry as an engineer and hopefully lead a team one day,” he said. Benjamin has proven his scientific ability already as a gold medal winner in the SIMS Science and Engineering Fair as well as a recipient…

Aguilar announces over $66 million in CARES Act funding available for Inland Empire schools

By CaliNews 4 weeks ago

Rep. Pete Aguilar announced over $66 million for San Bernardino County schools allocated by the CARES Act. Individual schools, school districts and the San Bernardino County Office of Education are eligible to receive this funding. The CARES Act appropriated $13.2 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund to help schools recover from economic hardship and implement new safety regulations for students. San Bernardino County school districts and the San Bernardino County Office of Education are eligible for a total of $56,014,676, and individual schools are eligible to receive the remaining $10 million. The allocations for school districts within the 31st Congressional District are listed below: “I was proud to support the CARES Act to bring this critical funding to San Bernardino County schools. Our students and teachers deserve to have the resources they need to succeed in the classroom, and our schools need adequate funding to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff as we adjust to a new normal,” said Rep. Aguilar. “We are very appreciative of the more than $66 million that has been appropriated through the CARES…

San Bernardino City Unified takes first place in countywide video contest

By CaliNews 1 month ago

San Bernardino City Unified School District took first place in the inaugural Countywide Vision Video Challenge. School districts throughout the County of San Bernardino submitted one-minute videos that highlighted schools or programs that align with one of the Countywide Vision campaigns. SBCUSD’s video tied into Vision2Succeed. According to the County of San Bernardino, the Countywide Vision provides a roadmap for future success as it relates to a vibrant and thriving county. The District’s Linked-Learning/Career Pathway programs provide students with hands-on, real-world experience that ties classroom learning to a variety of career possibilities. High school students may participate in job shadowing, apprenticeships, or paid internships with local partners. “Medical careers don’t begin after college,” was the tagline for the SBCUSD video, which highlighted the hands-on lessons in health science and medical technology that the District has made available to some students starting in elementary school. Other career pathways will provide students with a Vision2Succeed in school and in work. The video was produced by the SBCUSD Communications/Community Relations Department featuring a script from Pacific High School students and on-screen talent from Barton Elementary School and Bing…

Historic tribal presence in California to be acknowledged under Ramos legislation

By CaliNews 1 month ago

Public schools, parks, libraries and museums may begin recognizing past tribal guardianship of lands where their facilities are located under a measure approved recently by the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment Sports, Tourism, & Internet Media. Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland) said the voluntary proposal – AB 1968—is a way to educate Californians and others about Native Americans’ current and ancestral stewardship. “Land acknowledgment also serves to remind us of Native history and treatment of the state’s original people.” Ramos said. “We cannot begin to remedy past injustices without acknowledging and educating ourselves about the forced removal of people from the lands where they lived and worked,” Ramos said. AB 1968, the Tribal Land Acknowledgement Act of 2021, encourages public educational, cultural and recreational institutions to adopt land acknowledgement processes through such means as printed statements, plaques, websites and social media. Ramos introduced the measure in January. Dr. Joely Proudfit, director of the California Indian Culture & Sovereignty Center, observed that land acknowledgments recognize the traditional land of the Native American people in the state who called, and still call, the land home. She added, “It…

CSUSB receives NIH grant to increase diversity of faculty and students doing research

By CaliNews 1 month ago

The National Institutes of Health has awarded an $871,000 grant to Cal State San Bernardino to help reorganize and streamline the university’s grant functions and support and increase the diversity of faculty and students engaged in biomedical and biobehavioral research, and research overall. The three-year grant will fund CSUSB ASPIRE (Advancing Sponsored Program Infrastructure for Research Excellence), said Dorota Huizinga, the associate provost for academic research and dean of graduate studies. Huizinga will serve as the grant’s principal investigator with Diane Trujillo, the director of Sponsored Programs Administration, as the co-PI, and Cynthia Crawford, the director of the Office of Research Development and a professor of psychology, as the grant senior personnel. “One goal is to reorganize and enhance our services in sponsored programs,” said Huizinga. “In 2018 we brought in an excellent consultant who reviewed our services and assessed them, and the conclusion was the services are fragmented and we should try to centralize and streamline them.” Currently the university’s Office of Sponsored Programs Administration manages about $30 million of external grants, and those grants are brought in mostly by faculty from the federal government and…

Colton High School 2020 graduates honored with Ken Hubbs Award

By CaliNews 1 month ago

Two of Colton High School’s Class of 2020 students, Jose Rubio and Madicyn Martinez, have been honored with the prestigious Ken Hubbs Award. The award, which is given to the best male and female athletes each year in San Bernardino County, is an honor in memory of the late Ken Hubbs a multi-sport athlete who happens to be a CHS and Chicago Cubs alumni, after dying tragically in1964 at the age of 22. Rubio was recognized for his efforts in both wrestling and football, while Madicyn was recognized for her efforts in soccer and track and field. “Its always nice to see a student from Colton High School be recognized for this award. Colton is such a small city, so it’s special to see our students being recognized because there’s not a lot of positive news that gets published regarding our city,” said Football Coach Ray Rodriguez. Rodriguez also recounts initially encouraging Rubio to play football, after witnessing his commitment and success in wrestling. “Rubio was mainly a wrestler at first, so his sportsmanship and athletic abilities transferred well into football, where he played defensive…

San Bernardino City Unified School District valedictorians and twins make Class of 2020 history

By CaliNews 1 month ago

The Class of 2020 will go down in history for several reasons, but in the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD), there are a few top students who deserve an extra spotlight. The SBCUSD Class of 2020 proudly boasts three African-American valedictorians from three different high schools. All three will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Delta Rho Chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. Kyla Duhart is not only Indian Springs High School’s first African-American valedictorian, she is also a student Board of Education member and a future SBCUSD math teacher. It’s no surprise that several colleges and universities were eager to welcome Duhart, including Grand Canyon University and the University of California, Santa Barbara, but she is planning to attend Azusa Pacific University and earn her teaching credential. Matthew Jackson is one of three San Gorgonio High School valedictorians. Prior to attending San G, Jackson was a student at Rodriguez PREP Academy. In the future, Jackson will be attending the prestigious Stanford University where he will study electrical engineering to prepare for a career in the renewable energy industry.…

Colton City Council recognizes Teacher Appreciation Day

By CaliNews 1 month ago

On June 2, the Colton City Council recognized by proclamation “Teacher Appreciation Day” in honor of Teacher Appreciation month, officially established nationally each year in May. Due to the COVID-19 distancing requirements, the proclamation was officially presented that afternoon in person at the office of the Association of Colton Educators (ACE) located on H Street. According to the latest information, approximately 75 teachers reside in Colton. At the Zoom meeting, Dr. G explained that this was the fifth time teachers were being formally recognized in the City of Colton, and was very pleased the City Council decided to continue the ”tradition.” The first Colton Teacher Appreciation Day was in 2016, and is normally observed the third Tuesday in May, this year being May 19. During the presentation, Dr. G commented, “the Colton Teacher Appreciation Day is an important occasion for all of us.” He went on to point out that “teachers make a positive contribution to help our children succeed. They learn the Pledge of Allegiance, the U.S. Constitution, how to be responsible citizens, and how to vote.” Each year, the search to identify teachers…

Fontana Unified TV Production student wins state film contest for mental health PSA

By CaliNews 1 month ago

Summit High School senior Nicole Quinonez-Frias’ raw and emotional approach to highlighting cultural stigmas around depression and suicide, captured in a 60-second film, has earned statewide recognition as a category winner in the Directing Change Program and Film Contest. Quinonez-Frias’ film captured first place in the Through the Lens of Culture – Suicide Prevention category. As a statewide winner, she will receive a $1,000 prize. She is the first Summit High TV Production student to win an event in the competition. Her public service announcement (PSA) – titled “Our Story” – depicts Quinonez-Frias as a girl struggling with depression. A Spanish voice-over, accompanied by English subtitles, expresses the girl’s fear of disappointing her family and highlights the stigma that can surround depression and suicide in the Latino culture. The film ends on a note of hope, with the girl realizing that her story does not end now and telling the audience theirs does not either. The Directing Change program and film contest is part of Each Mind Matters: California’s Mental Health Movement. The program offers students an opportunity to lend their perspective to the movement by creating…

Crafton Hills celebrates 48th Annual Commencement with Virtual Ceremony

By CaliNews 1 month ago

The 48th Annual Commencement Ceremony at Crafton Hills College was held virtually on Friday, May 22. The ceremony was prerecorded, but the link didn’t go live until 6 p.m. Viewers had a choice to stream the event through Youtube or Facebook through the homepage of the Crafton Hills College website. The event incorporated all traditional elements of the in-person ceremony including individual recognition of the 237 graduates who signed up to participate. The ceremony began with the song “Pomp and Circumstance” while a montage of videos featuring faculty and staff waving and cheering for the graduates set a celebratory tone. Photo CHC: Vanessa Terry, 2020 CHC graduate filming National Anthem performance for virtual ceremony. Crafton Hills College President Dr. Kevin Horan was first to congratulate the class of 2020, which happens to be the largest graduating class in the history of the College. In total, the institution had 794 graduates who earned 650 degrees and 631 certificates during the 2019-2020 academic year. Student senate president and 2020 graduate Tyrone Ross began the ceremony leading the virtual audience in the pledge of allegiance. Ross received an…