Gloria Jetter Crockett, California has been named executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association, California Southland Chapter. In her role, Crockett will be responsible for  the overall strategic and operational functions for the chapter, including program delivery, fundraising, community engagement, government and private grant funding, media relations and growth and delivery of the Association’s mission. Crockett also serves as the Alzheimer’s Association Regional 3 Leader, overseeing the four chapters serving Central and Southern California (California Central Coast, California Southland, San Diego and Orange County).

“Alzheimer’s disease impacts over 700,000 people in California alone, some of whom are my own family and friends. I am thrilled to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s. I am very inspired by the Alzheimer’s Association’s ability to accelerate global research, drive risk reduction and early detection and maximize quality care and support for all families living with this disease, and I am honored to bring my expertise to the table.”

Crockett most recently served as the President and CEO of Make-A-Wish ® Orange County and the Inland Empire, an organization that grants wishes to children battling critical illnesses. Prior to that role, she was the chief development officer for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and formerly served as the interim executive director for development and the senior director of development for the cancer programs for the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. In this role, Crockett led a team of seven and was responsible for $10 million in fundraising annually.

Prior to the University of California, Irvine, Crockett spent 17 years in advanced roles with the American Cancer Society culminating in the state senior vice president for Maryland, managing a team of 45 and raising over $7 million dollars annually.

Crockett holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and currently resides in Greater LA with her family.

Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, including nearly 720,000 in California. An estimated 1,373,000 California residents provide unpaid care to a family member living with dementia. Alzheimer’s is a leading cause of death in the United States and one in three Americans age 65 and older  dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Association California Central Coast Chapter provides free education programs, support services and care consultations across Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties while also supporting critical research toward new treatments.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the largest Alzheimer’s advocacy organization in the world. The Alzheimer’s Association advocates for the needs and rights of people facing Alzheimer’s disease and all other dementia. The Association is driving policymakers in Washington, D.C. and across the country to take historic steps to address the growing Alzheimer’s public health crisis. The Association’s efforts have secured robust increases for Alzheimer’s and dementia research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and critical legislation, such as the National Alzheimer’s Project Act to make a positive and meaningful impact on people living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.

About the Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia^®. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

RIVERSIDE, CA— Coinciding with Pride Month, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D – Riverside) joined with federal, state, and local community leaders in celebrating the grand opening of the Inland Empire LGBTQ+ Resource Center (the Center), held at TruEvolution’s Project Legacy campus in Riverside.

“The Inland Empire LGBTQ+ Center is what we can accomplish when we meet the moment with bold ideas and when we dream big for the next generation,” said Assemblymember Cervantes, who is one of three co-founders of the Center. “I am proud to have secured $3.063 million in the 2023-24 state budget for this transformational center, and kickstart future investments directly to organizations that serve our LGBTQ+ community. Our collective work exemplifies the spirit of Pride in our fight for justice and equity!”

Powered by TruEvolution, the IE LGBTQ+ Resource Center will serve as a space for LGBTQ+ people and their allies to access community resources and establish networks of support and mentorship. A second location is anticipated to open in Southwest Riverside County in the future.

“At TruEvolution, we have always championed the health and human rights of LGBTQ+ individuals,” stated co-founder Gabriel Maldonado, CEO of TruEvolution. “This Center is a significant step forward in our ongoing mission to ensure that every person has access to the care, support, and opportunities they deserve. It stands as a testament to our resilience and our resolve to build a more inclusive community in the Inland Empire.”

Additionally, the funding secured by Assemblymember Cervantes will also support the creation of the Legacy Fund, which will invest in local LGBTQ+-serving organizations and expand access to resources in Southern California.

“This Center represents a commitment to our future, ensuring that the progress we make today will continue to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ residents in our region for generations to come,” said co-founder Jesse Melgar, advisory board member for Equality California. “It is an investment in our collective strength, resilience, and will serve as an important gathering space for members of the community.”

“Every person deserves to be seen and to live as their true, authentic selves,” added Assemblymember Cervantes, who is also the first LGBTQ+ Latina to serve as Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. “I am happy to have delivered results for communities who have been marginalized and long left behind.”

More information about the Inland Empire LGBTQ+ Resource Center can be found at TruEvolution’s website.

Congratulations to the 21 graduates of the Millionaire Mind Kids 2024 Law and Justice Academy! This wonderful program is a collaboration between San Bernardino County Law and Justice agencies, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, and San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. It’s a fantastic initiative that equips young minds with valuable knowledge and skills related to law and justice.

The community liaison Paul Marsh was honored to attend the event and present certificates of recognition to both the students and volunteers.

A huge congratulations to all the graduates! The community is impressed with the youth’s dedication and hard work. We wish them the very best as they continue their education and set new and exciting goals for the future.

By Joe McKendrick | Senior Contributor, Forbes

Mira Murati, chief technology officer of OpenAI, stirred up quite a bit of controversy last week in a discussion when she proclaimed that with generative AI, “some creative jobs maybe will go away, but maybe they shouldn’t have been there in the first place.”

While’s Murati’s remarks were framed within a context that AI is helping to boost creative pursuits, that’s not how many read it. The pushback was fast and furious. “OpenAI’s mission is to create AGI that can replace people in every viable economic activity. Killing jobs is the end goal,” wrote Dare Obasanjo in an X post.

“Aside from this despicable soundbite, Murati keeps stressing that generative AI will make people ‘more creative.’ But how?” asked Giovanni Colantonio in another X post. “You literally aren’t creating. A machine creates the thing for you. It kneecaps creativity, not fosters it.”

AI advocates “talk about democratizing creativity, but that’s not what the tech does,’ Colantonio adds. “It discourages people from actually doing the real creative act of bringing an idea to life and instead encourages ‘creativity’ to be a thing that can be assembled and served like a Big Mac.

Is AI, particularly generative AI, on a path to usurp the jobs of creatives, as well as the very essence of creativity? Whether its graphic illustrations, written content, photos, films, games, or other creative pursuits, could AI produce new things at the touch of a button?

It’s early, but so far, the evidence seems to point away from that.

“There’s no easing up in the race for creative talent in 2024,” a talent report published in the first quarter of this year by Robert Half suggests. A majority of creative and marketing managers covered by the placement service, 55%, “are hiring for new roles, from graphic designer to UX designers, while 43% need to recruit for vacant positions.”

At least 200,000 creative jobs were added to corporate payrolls in 2023, Robert Half estimates. The unemployment rate for graphic designers and web designers was at a relatively low 2.6% and 2.9%, respectively, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Still, underneath what appears to be a solid creative job market lurks uneasiness about its long-term prospects. Close to seven in ten of 4,000 global marketing and creative leaders, 69%, expressed concern over potential job loss across industries due to AI. a survey by Canva attests.

The surveyed leaders also welcomed the addition of AI tools to their activities. At least 69% believe generative AI is enhancing the creativity of their teams. And almost all, 97%, are comfortable with the rise of generative AI — with 72% stating they are “very” comfortable and 25% “somewhat” comfortable.

“We’re in a golden age of creativity and design right now,” said Deepa Subramaniam, vice president at Adobe, which now supports more than seven billion AI-generated images available through its Firefly models. At Adobe Summit in March, I put the question of creative job-killing to Subramaniam, who disagrees with such an assessment, and actually foresees expansion of creative roles.

AI provides the capability to customize and produce art and content on an increasingly wide scale that today’s organizations need, she said. “The hungry consumption for personalized content is not going to be satiated any time soon,” she pointed out. It’s only going to increase. But it’s really hard to create that volume of content manually, and manage it at scale, especially in a world where you’re marketing at a global level. There are many languages and cultures that need to be reached.”

Generative AI “is taking the tedium out of content distribution, she said. “You still have to create creative concepts for marketing campaigns. But when you have that concept, you need to create it, localize it, and personalize it at scale.”

To meet these demands, there are “more people doing creative work across all sorts of industries across all sorts of job roles more so than ever before,” Subramaniam added.

For an example of technology’s impact on design-oriented professions, look to engineering, she illustrated. “Engineering has been growing as a really critical domain and group of people with the explosion of technology over the last few decades,” she said. “You’re not seeing a shrinking of engineering.”

The takeaway is that technology took on many of the mundane, lower-level tasks of engineering. “Technology and software and coding has taken rote calculations away, but engineering has only been growing, because that unlocks the craft of engineering to figure out higher and higher complex problems.”

Likewise, in creative fields, “there’s something like that happening right now,” Subramaniam continued. “Tedious time-consuming tasks can be obviated if not wholly accelerated by AI, opening creatives up to do that higher level thinking.”

As AI and technology open up more creative avenues, “it’s actually going to invite more people in to take on more creative roles,” she continued. “Whether it’s as a creative professional, as a marketer, in any of the creative roles that digital content is powering our entire world.”

LOS ANGELES, CA— When LA Carnival launched on Crenshaw Boulevard last year, the seeds were planted to grow an economic development vehicle using the carnival parade as the mechanism for community engagement. One hundred drums led an inaugural procession with an exuberant, multicultural starlight jamboree into Leimert Park Village. Produced by Marikel Productions in association with Mandrill World Music, and sponsored by International Eye LA, this year the festivities continue to explode with “LA Carnival on the Shaw,” June 30, 2024, starting at 4:00 p.m. As a historic expression of freedom, the carnival provides a fitting culmination of Juneteenth celebrations and a closing exclamation to Caribbean American Heritage Month. “LA Carnival on the Shaw” is designed to use arts and entertainment to “engage, activate and revitalize” businesses on the Crenshaw Strip. The Crenshaw Strip runs parallel to the Metro K-Line between Obama Boulevard and Leimert Park, creating a vibrant business and cultural oasis.

“LA Carnival on the Shaw” kicks off with exquisite masquerades, colorful revelers, jubilant drummers, boisterous music trucks and spectacularly lit vehicles and bicycles imbuing merriment at the official LA Carnival Assembly Hub on Obama Blvd., east and west of Crenshaw. The party then transforms into the carnival procession as participants begin traveling toward Leimert Park at 6:00 p.m. The procession will flow from Obama and Crenshaw Blvd. to Vernon and Leimert Blvd, bringing an exuberant display of lights, dancing, and celebration into Leimert Park Village to augment the finale of the Ancestor Mask Festival and Leimert Park Art Walk. Leimert Park Village is located at 4395 Leimert Blvd. Festivities will conclude at 10:00 p.m.

LA Carnival continues to be inclusive of the diversity of Angelenos across our great city. Immigrants from across the globe have made Los Angeles a culturally complex and creatively rich region. Artists, art consumers and practitioners have contributed to California’s designation as the creative capital of the nation and LA Carnival, held during Caribbean American Heritage Month, embodies this! The ingenuity, imagination and innovation that will be on display during the Carnival will be mind boggling and inspirational!” notes LA Carnival founder, Marie Kellier.

Migrating from its Hollywood beginning in 1998 to its Westchester home of over 17 years, founder Marie Kellier, of MARIKEL Productions, has nurtured LA Carnival as an innovator, trendsetter, and pioneer. At its root, LA Carnival is part of the worldwide chain of Caribbean carnivals imported into global communities by Caribbean immigrants. It is now the longest running Caribbean-based carnival in Southern California and served as a training

Having weathered many storms, LA Carnival now comes home to its true community, the iconic Crenshaw Boulevard, and historic Leimert Park Village.  Embracing a powerful multicultural theme, Kellier has evolved LA Carnival into an economic initiative that will establish ‘The Crenshaw Strip’ as a global tourism destination in anticipation of the 2028 Olympics.  Over the next few years of growing “LA Carnival on the Shaw,” artists, business owners and independent producers will be invited to host “Activity Hubs” and “Carnival Vibe Spots” along Crenshaw Blvd.  Kellier’s plan is to engage artists to work with business owners, extending the project into a monthly creativity-based series of activities with multidisciplinary arts and entertainment that invigorate the businesses in the area.

All Angelenos across the city and county of Los Angeles and beyond are invited to help build this vision by being part of “LA Carnival on the Shaw” and experience the diversity of cultures that is the fabric of Los Angeles and the basis for its designation as the creative capital of the nation. For sponsorship, special events and advertising information contact the LA Carnival corporate offices at (213) 761.4475 or (213) 656.3663 or lacarnivalarts@gmail.com.

For more details and information about attending the LA Carnival, go to losangelescarnival.com or email the Los Angeles Carnival’s production office at lacarnivalarts@gmail.com.

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

You see, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul wrote of the time of the great apostasy that is to come in the last days. Paul wrote of the coming of the lawless one and that he would come to the world according to the working of Satan with power, signs, lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception [2 Thessalonians 2:8-10]. And in [Matthews 24:24] Jesus said they will do this with the intent of deceiving people into following them. So, “Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come for You, Bad Boys, Bad Boys?”

Understand, our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” [Ephesians 6:12].

I encourage you to receive Christ as your Savior. For Christ is the only way of escape. Don’t wait until it’s too late! Remember, God invited Noah and his family aboard the ark with the words, “Enter the ark” [Genesis 7:1]. That’s His invitation to you today. God has not yet closed the door of salvation. At the end of the Bible, after warning of the judgment to come, God’s final appeal is, “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. [Revelation 22:17].

I do not know any language I can use to plead with you any more plainly. Turn to Christ before it’s too late! Do not be outwitted by Satan. Understand Satan seeks our ultimate destruction, which would be being thrown into the fiery pits of hell and then into the lake of fire [Revelation 20:10].

Be reconciled to God. [2 Corinthians 5:20]. The time is near!

ONTARIO, CA— Game after game, A.C. Green showed up, setting a National Basketball Association record for durability and helping the Los Angeles Lakers to three world championships.

On Sunday night (June 30), Green will join four other legends – University of Southern California All-American and 15-year National Football League quarterback Rodney Peete, San Diego State and NFL superstar Marshall Faulk, baseball super-agent Scott Boras and reknowned sports photographer Andrew D. Bernstein – as the newest members of the California Sports Hall of Fame.

Roy Firestone (Hall of Fame Class of 2022) will be the Master of Ceremonies for the Inductee Gala, to be held at the Ontario Convention Center.

“A.C. Green was a true basketball Iron Man, never missing a regular season game over the course of a decade and a half while playing championship basketball and serving as one of the great role models for our youth. It is a privilege to welcome him as a Hall of Famer, an honor he has earned through his performance and the example he set,” said Christian Okoye, a former NFL star who founded the California Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.

Green was born in Portland, OR, and was a standout in basketball at Oregon State University, where he finished second in school history in rebounding and fourth in scoring and would eventually earn a place the Pac-12 Basketball Hall of Honor.

He was a first-round draft pick of the Lakers in 1985 and helped the team capture back-to-back titles in 1987 and 1988. He led the Lakers in rebounding for six of the eight years he was with the team and in 1990, was voted a starter for the Western Conference All Star Team.

Green spent time with the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks before returning to the Lakers for the 1999-2000 season, which culminated in another championship. He finished his career the following year with the Miami Heat.

Green’s missed just eight games during his career, amassing a record-setting streak of 1,192 consecutive games played between November 1986 and April 2001.

A devout Christian, Green established the A.C. Green Youth Foundation, which operates youth camps to promote abstinence until marriage. In 2011, he was awarded the Bobby Jones Award by Athletes in Action for character, leadership and faith in the world of basketball, in the home and the community. Green’s humanitarian efforts earned him a spot in the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.

“Treat people the way you want to be treated. Character is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Always be the best version of yourself,” Green said.

Tickets are still available for the California Sports Hall of Fame Gala at: https://californiasportshalloffame.org/induction-ceremony-golf-event/. The event starts with a reception at 4 p.m., followed by a dinner and induction ceremony beginning at 5 p.m.

In honor of Pride Month, Black Public Media (BPM) brings viewers a new short film that is an Afrofuturistic homage to Black Queer culture, as Artificial Intelligence meets Black Queer ASL (American Sign Language) meets vogue and flex dance styles to create a one-of-a-kind visual and sonic experience.

From the mastermind of acclaimed artist Rashaad Newsome, Hands Performance focuses on a performance by Being the Digital Griot, an AI in a non-binary robot body, who takes audiences on a unique exploration of movement and Black Queer ASL to Newsome’s original poetry. The Oakland-based creative premiered Being the Digital Griot during his exhibition Assembly at the Park Avenue Armory in 2022 and they were more recently seen as part of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Now audiences across the country have the opportunity to experience Being as part of the AfroPoP Digital Shorts series from BPM.

Taking place on a space station, Hands Performance transports viewers to outer space where a voiceover announces that the performance is “for the deaf and hard of hearing girls” while asking them to “listen with your eyes.” As Being twists, dips and slides with the skill and precision of top vogue and flex dancers against a backing pulsating score, they also translate Newsome’s poem, signing the words using Black Queer ASL.

An unique union of short film, AI and music video, Hands Performance takes its title from the well-known element of vogue fem, highlighting a dancer’s ability to tell a story with their hands while showcasing their musicality.

The film continues Newsome’s exploration of mapping Black cultural production as a form of movement research, data storage and collective wayfinding. Working with a team of Black Queer ASL interpreters, various vogue fem performers, flex dancers and motion capture technologists, Newsome translated his original poetry into a movement dataset exhibiting the uniquely Black and Queer aspects of sign language. Set against the backdrop of stunning visuals and a futuristic score filled with booming bass, synthetic snares, snaps, claps and glitchy computer sounds, Hands Performance is a must-see. Now viewers can stream it as part of BPM’s AfroPoP Digital Shorts by visiting the BPM YouTube page here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPPyVyE-bMQ.

Black Public Media is a Harlem-based national nonprofit which has funded and distributed films about the Black experience since 1979. For more information on the AfroPoP Digital Shorts series and other programs and events from BPM, visit blackpublicmedia.org or follow them on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook at @blackpublicmedia and on X at @BLKPublicMedia.

RIALTO, CA— Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Eta Nu Omega Chapter of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, hosted its Annual Graduate Recognition Scholarship Brunch at the Sierra Lakes Golf Course in Fontana, CA. One of our own, Daima Calhoun, Chief Deputy District Attorney of Riverside County, gave the keynote address titled “The Uphillers,” in which she inspired our graduates with three nuggets to carry with them on their educational journey. She stated, “Uphillers should Work hard, Dream big, and Don’t be afraid of failure.”

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Eta Nu Omega Chapter awarded two outstanding community members the Community Service Award: The Honorable Judge Joshlyn Pulliman of Riverside County and Dr. Jamal Myrick, of University of Riverside (UCR), with the Educational Leadership Community Service Award.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Eta Nu Omega Chapter and The Inland Ivy Foundation awarded 22 students from San Bernardino and Riverside County School Districts $34,000 in scholarships to continue their educational journey. In addition to the Eta Nu Omega and the Inland Ivy Foundation scholarships, there were specialized scholarships awarded to the students: Memorial Scholarships personalized by members of Alpha Kappa Sorority Inc., Eta Nu Omega Chapter in memory of their loved ones. The six memorials honored were: Lisa Blacksher, Gracie Mae Poole, Harriette Moore, Keturah McEwen, Hazel Hawkins-Russell, and Irma L. Sutton. Specialized scholarships (Honey Do) in the name of the spouses of the women of Eta Nu Omega Chapter and four HBCU scholarships were also awarded.

April Outstanding Achievement Awards Recognize District Students, Parents and Staff

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—In April, the Board of Education presented the Outstanding Achievement Awards to students, parents and staff of Mt. Vernon and Muscoy Elementary Schools, M.L. King Jr. Middle School and San Andreas High School.

The Board recognizes Outstanding Student Award winners to honor excellence in academics, athletics, fine arts, citizenship and most improvement. The Board also presents the Outstanding Parent/Grandparent/Volunteer Award and Outstanding Employee Award to individuals who embody the District’s dedication to student achievement and well-being.

Mt. Vernon Elementary School, Principal Sylvette Del Llano:
Gabriel Rios is a fourth-grader and Outstanding Student. Rios shines as a beacon of academic excellence and outstanding citizenship. Beyond consistently achieving stellar grades, Rios is also kind, helpful, and he follows the rules. Rios wants to become a surgeon.

Dalilah Reyes Chiman is a sixth-grader and Outstanding Student. Dalilah stands out for her exceptional academic achievements and citizenship. She demonstrates commitment to her studies and she earns praise for her outstanding grades. Dalilah also has a kind and helpful nature. Dalilah is working towards her goal of becoming a veterinarian.

Outstanding Parent Award winner Rubi Barrios-Vallejo is a dedicated and proud mother of two children. She plays a pivotal role in her children’s academic journey while maintaining strong involvement as a parent committed to the betterment of the Mt. Vernon Elementary community.

Attendance Verifier Viviana Enciso epitomizes excellence in her role as an attendance verifier and as an out-of-class secretary. Her exceptional work performance is characterized by her tireless work ethic and remarkable attention to detail.

Fifth-Grade Teacher Donna Kosman constantly embodies the spirit of service and leadership. Donna fosters a dynamic learning environment where students can explore their interests and develop critical skills. Her tireless efforts and commitment exemplifies her outstanding professionalism and dedication to excellence.

Muscoy Elementary School, Principal Dr. Dana Jamison:
Eduardo Sandoval Soto is a third-grader and Outstanding Student. Eduardo is hardworking and dedicated to his academics. He is kind, friendly and has a loving heart. He loves to make people smile and laugh. And Eduardo loves school so much that his career goal is to be a teacher.

Daniel Vazquez is a fourth-grader and Outstanding Student. Daniel is being honored for academic excellence and citizenship. He is a shining example of a student who has grit and constantly strives for improvement. He is kind and goes out of his way to make others feel welcome. Daniel dreams about becoming a paleontologist.

Outstanding Grandparent Award winner Leticia Murrieta has displayed unwavering dedication to the education and well-being of Muscoy students. Her grandson, Daniel, was honored as an Outstanding Student Award winner. Leticia invests many hours to support Muscoy Elementary by attending meetings and family events, and she still offers to do more.

Bilingual Office Assistant/Health Aide Karen Cordova is an Outstanding Classified Employee. She excels at providing excellent health services to students, and she engages families so students can thrive. Just this school year, Karen has set up more than 400 Hazel Health telemedicine visits so Muscoy students receive the medical care they need.

Fifth-Grade Teacher Laura Cortez Cuevas is an Outstanding Certificated Employee. As Muscoy’s English Language Facilitator, Laura has assisted in the reclassification of over 34 students as English Proficient. She has helped to increase fifth-grade academic scores by analyzing student data and planning with her team how to increase student achievement.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, Principal Ernesto Calles:
Seventh-grader Christopher Martinez is an Outstanding Student. He is a true representation of King scholars, showing exceptional character inside and outside the classroom. He is the ASB president, where he serves and leads the entire King Middle School student body. Martinez wants to attend university after high school.

Brittanny Melchor is an eighth-grader and Outstanding Student. Melchor excels in academics, citizenship and art. She is respectful, responsible and helps to provide a safe learning environment, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA, which earned her recognition at the King Middle School academic award celebration in February. Melchor is focused on her goal of attending university after graduation.

Lydia Urrutia is an Outstanding Parent. She has been a positive partner with King Middle School. School staff appreciate Urrutia’s communication with administration and parents via the School Site Council, and she can always be depended upon to provide input to support the success of King scholars.

Custodian I Sam Arenivar is an Outstanding Classified Employee. Arenivar consistently demonstrates pride in his work. His enthusiasm and passion for upholding King’s values and fostering a positive learning environment serve as an inspiration to those around him.

History and Social Science Teacher Robert Almanza is an Outstanding Certificated Employee. Every Monday, he prepares and produces student-created videos to support the open communication and information that is vital to students and staff. Almanza’s leadership, including serving as department chair, exemplifies his commitment to students and staff.

San Andreas High School (SAHS), Principal Dorie Stratton:
Alaysha Nash is a senior and an Outstanding Student. Nash is involved in everything from the Student Leadership Advisory Council to dual enrollment in college and several extracurricular activities. She always has a smile on her face and is happy to help as needed. Nash plans to be a social worker because she loves helping people.

Senior David Renteria is an Outstanding Student. He is an outstanding scholar who excels in academics and citizenship and is a standout student in the Health Pathway Program. Renteria is a quiet leader, always ready to lend a helping hand, and actively engaged in extracurricular activities and leadership roles. He will be attending a certified nursing assistant program in June and hopes to become a Physical Therapist in the future.

Amber Ploehn is an Outstanding Parent, with two children attending Cajon High and one at San Andreas. Ploehn is active in the School Site Council and serves as the school’s District Advisory Council representative. She is always ready to help as needed, even bringing in lunch treats.

Bilingual Attendance Technician Cristina Topete Velazquez is an Outstanding Classified Employee. She is a very resourceful problem solver. Velazquez helps ensure that students are in class daily and connects families to important resources in the community. She has been an integral part of the San Andreas attendance team, helping to launch the Attendance Campaign.

San Andreas Teacher Rawan Fakhoury is an Outstanding Certificated Employee. Fakhoury’s tireless efforts have resulted in a rich and positive school culture where inclusivity and respect are paramount. She has transformed countless lives and empowered students to reach their full potential.