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SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Each region of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) annually recognizes the outstanding performance and achievement of individual school administrators and classified managers in several categories.

This year, three San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) administrators were honored by ACSA Region 12 for their exceptional leadership in managing school programs, commitment to professional growth, commitment to educational quality and student achievement, and creativity in addressing issues facing public education.

The Region 12 Student Services Administrator of the Year for 2022 is Dr. Marlene Bicondova, the Director of Positive Youth Development for SBCUSD. Dr. Bicondova has a proven track record of creating positive outcomes for youth. As a principal, she transformed Curtis Middle School from one of the lowest-performing middle schools in the county into a high-performing school by implementing a proactive approach to student success that focused on daily assessments that informed teacher instruction. For the past four years, Dr. Bicondova has worked at the District level to reduce chronic absenteeism and suspension rates. Her signature accomplishment has been the creation of the SBCUSD Bullying Intervention System, which uses restorative practices and Undercover Anti-Bullying Teams as the key components, which work to change school culture to stop bullying before it starts and stop bullying when it does happen.

Pacific High School Principal Dr. Natalie Raymundo is the ACSA Region 12 Secondary Principal of the Year. Raymundo has been a principal since 2009 when she took the helm of Richardson PREP HI Middle School. She believes that education can change lives and even entire communities, especially when educators demonstrate respect for students, families, and stakeholders. Her leadership has helped create a safe and welcoming environment for students and instilled in them a desire to become leaders in the community, as evidenced by Pacific High winning the Civics Leadership Award in 2017, 2019, and 2020. She also implemented the fourth-period advisory program, which provides students with social-emotional learning activities, grade checks, goal setting sessions, and other academic and social development every Monday.

Shana Smith, Assistant Director of the Employee Development Department for SBCUSD, is Region 12’s Personnel Director of the Year. Smith began her SBCUSD career in 1995 teaching first grade. She began supporting teachers as a program specialist and new teacher mentor in 2000. After 17 years leading the Teacher Induction Program, she earned her place as the assistant director of Employee Development. In that position, she can combine her love of teaching with her love of mentoring the next generation of educators as she helps develop programs and instruct new teachers so they can be successful SBCUSD educators.

ACSA, which is one of the largest organizations for school leaders in the nation, is dedicated to developing and supporting educational leaders who meet the diverse needs of California students. ACSA Region 12 specifically serves educational administrators working in San Bernardino County.

 

MONTCLAIR, CA— One day shy of her 18th birthday, Gabriela Jimenez-Ramirez received a gift she will never forget – a new car courtesy of three local auto dealers.

Gabriela was among 68 Montclair High School seniors who qualified for a drawing to win the 2022 Nissan Altima SR. Qualifications were based on a variety of factors related to attendance and academics. Her name was drawn from a raffle drum during the school’s Senior Awards Night on Thursday, April 21.

“I came for an award from school, and I came out with a brand new car,” an exuberant Gabriela said as she and her parents stood in disbelief next to the dark blue sedan. “I was crossing my fingers during the drawing – and so was my Mom.”

The graduating senior plans to commute to Cal Poly Pomona next fall, and said her parents were planning on buying her a car. “You made it possible,” she said in thanking representatives of the three stores that came together to purchase the vehicle; Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge of Ontario, Empire Nissan and Ontario Hyundai – all part of the OREMOR Automotive Group.

“We’re excited about a Drive for Excellence program – to help a local high school, give back to our community and incentivize students to get through school without missing class,” said Jillian Romero Chaves, Marketing Director for OREMOR.

Josh Cho, Principal at Montclair, commended the 68 qualifying seniors for the perseverance during these past couple of years, as schools have moved back to in-classroom learning.

“The pandemic created a lot of disruptions to the learning environment, but these students all showed tremendous will and commitment, and we’re so proud of them,” Cho said.

Dr. Mathew Holton, Superintendent of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, thanked OREMOR Automotive Group and its local dealerships for supporting student success.

“We’re so grateful for their generosity and their commitment to our District and our students. The message that the Drive for Excellence program sends to our entire school community is a powerful one,” Dr. Holton said.

 

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) summed up what he viewed as the reason for low turnout and public engagement at the ninth meeting of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans.

“Rudimentary, basic communications of alerting the community about meetings must be mandatory. That’s the part where we failed. We have a great story to tell but we are not telling it,” Bradford said April 14 during the second session of the two-day meeting.

“Frankly, I thought we’d have standing-room only these two days. I thought everybody in California wanted to be here. I think we missed the mark in promoting the first in-person meeting. That’s where the frustration is and where it is with me.”

Held at the Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, located in the city’s historic Fillmore District, the first in-person meeting since the task force convened in June 2021 was hosted by the Rev. Amos Brown, who is vice chair of the task force.

Brown, who is also president of San Francisco’s NAACP branch, said the panel’s communication’s strategy, or lack thereof, “has been compromised.”

The few dozen attending the meeting had no difficulty finding a seat in the large sanctuary of the historic church, which is a city landmark.

Founded 170 years ago, the Third Baptist has been a spiritual and cultural hub for local community leaders and hosted national icons, including WEB DuBois, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Josephine Baker, Adam Clayton Powell Jr, and Paul Robeson.

Leading up to the April meeting, there were simmering disagreements about the public relations strategy of the task force. The tensions came to a head when task force chair Kamilah Moore expressed her “concerns” with the firms contracted to handle communications at the March 29 meeting.

For nearly two hours at that meeting, the panel discussed challenges it has experienced with the contracted communications teams.

The Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA); Young Communications Group, a Los Angeles-based PR firm; and A/B Partners, a national social impact firm — were contracted to run the task force communication shop through the California Department of Justice.

No representative from the communication firms showed up at last week’s meeting, which was attended by six of the nine task force members on the first day. Eight task force members were present the second day.

Due to the high levels of tension that surfaced at the meeting in March, task force member Dr. Cheryl Grills said A/B Partners “resigned,” fearing harm to its reputation and the “vote of no confidence” in the company’s work as reflected in the statements of some task force members.

Concerns about the Bunche Center and two communications firms were related to “seven anchor organizations” charged with conducting community listening sessions.

Aside from the task force meetings, the anchor organizations are responsible for hosting public-engagement sessions in April, May, and June.

Grills, a professor of psychology at Loyola Marymount University, defended the Bunche Center, citing unique structural challenges hindering the organization because it functions under the umbrella state government. Grills said those problems delayed the center from performing its duties although it was “operating at warp speed” to make good on deliverables.

The bottom line, Grills shared, is that the Bunche Center has to abide by UCLA’s snail-paced process of handling contracts. The staff at the center missed two important “deliverables” in January and February waiting for greenlights from higher ups.

“The approval process is not under the purveyance of the Bunche Center,” Grills said. “We must understand that UCLA is a high-level bureaucracy of the state of California, which means that nothing happens quickly.”

Task force member Jovan Scott Lewis, chair of the Department of Geography at UC Berkeley, supported Grills’ explanation by providing his experiences with the UC system of schools.

UCLA’s Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) review and approve proposals and contracts before a research project is conducted. And each anchor organization is required to submit applications to be categorized as “vendors” by the university.

“I think that there is something to be said for the complications of getting something out of this process,” Lewis said. “When you add in the actual intellectual limits of the (anchor organizations), the requirements are typical for IRB. It’s quite reasonable to think about the delays. That’s the UC system’s (process).”

Michael Stoll, professor of public policy and urban planning, the new director of the Black Policy Project, which is housed at the Bunche Center, addressed some of the panel’s concerns by phone.

Grill said it has not been a smooth experience but offered assurances that the Bunche Center will respond to the anchor organizations’ needs and provide guidance for listening sessions.

“I think we’ve been fairly responsive,” Stoll said of addressing the anchor organizations’ needs. “Our goal was to plan and execute the listening sessions to their best potential as possible, and I think we are doing it fairly well.”

Young Communications Group (YCG), a Los Angeles-based public relations firm, did not attend the meeting in San Francisco.

While operating without financial resources, Grills said the task force, YCG and A/B partners were in the process of finalizing contracts and were ready to proceed with directions from the nine-member panel.

“Everything came to a halt at our March meeting,” Grills said. “Unfortunately, we may have put a negative spin on the reputations of communications firms that have spent years building credibility.”

Since the start of 2022, national media coverage of the task force has increased, including Moore’s appearance on MSNBC’s Tiffany Cross Show to discuss the panel’s decision to use lineage over race as the factor that determines who is eligible for compensation. That decision squeaked through with a 5-4 majority vote.

Lewis was interviewed by NBC Nightly News for a reparations-related clip involving Black Gold Rush pioneers who may have lost their land to the state in the 1940s. Other members of the task force have made their media rounds as well.

Members of the task force say they want the community-engaged listening sessions to happen without a hitch.

Seven anchor organizations will host public listening sessions that will help the task force hear various perspectives of Black Californians as it assesses the state’s involvement in slavery and Jim Crow discrimination.

Chris Lodgson, a founding member of the Coalition for A Just and Equitable California (CJEC), one of the host organizations, told the task force in San Francisco to add more communications firms.

“I gotta keep it business with you but the performance of the communications firms has been subpar,” Lodgson said. “I want to encourage (the task force) to find additional firms to get the word out to the community.”

Before the April meeting ended, Moore who is listed on the ballot as a candidate for the 28^th District Senate seat, was officially appointed the task force’s spokesperson. She and Grills will serve on the “solutions-oriented” Advisory Board Committee working directly with the Bunche Center and Young Communications to “triage” media and public affairs activities, Moore said.

“What we’re dealing with can be complex and convoluted,” task force member Monica Montgomery-Steppe said. “And getting that across on a national stage, because we are the example of what we hope for this nation, does need a larger strategy…a level of experience.”

By statute, the task force will issue a report to the Legislature by June 1, 2022, which will be available to the public.

Bradford said the communication shop can be instrumental in writing press releases and speeches, conducting research, problem-solving and disseminating information.

“This (Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations) will sell itself if we get it to the right people,” he said.

VICTORVILLE, CA— This past weekend, Burning Bush Church in Victorville and VaccinateALL58, hosted a ‘Party with a Purpose Easter Extravaganza’. The event was led by Bishop David Denson, Jr. where the community celebrated Easter with a day of family fun, fellowship and wellness. COVID-19 vaccines, boosters and testing were available for ages 5 and older.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Recently, Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. hosted his first “College and Career Day” for over 200 high school seniors that are a part of San Bernardino, Rialto, and Colton Joint Unified School Districts. The event took place at the Workforce Inland Center in San Bernardino and was meant to assist high school seniors explore their options after high school. The event had over 20 vendors that had informative and interactive information regarding both jobs and college education opportunities after high school, for students who were interested in either. They were taught how to create a strong resume, how to dress for an interview, and even explore various jobs with our County Fire, Police, and EMT departments and dozens of other workforce departments and explore post-secondary opportunities.

“Not every student knows what their future is going to look like after high school. Not everyone has a set plan and that is okay. But to sit and have no plan is what is not okay. Opportunities for personal growth in our community, especially in our youth are endless. I hosted this event because I wanted the students in our district to know there are opportunities out there for them no matter what they choose to do. Success after high school is possible for these young adults and all they must do is work hard and set their minds to any goal that they want to personally achieve. This event opened doors for lots of students in our district and let them know that our County is always right behind them every step of the way. We couldn’t have done it without all the vendors who came out to spread the word, so I thank you all for coming out to support our students and their future.” -Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.

By Wallace J. Allen IV and C. Dixon

EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- About 150 enthusiastic residents attended a Mayoral Candidate forum on April 11, 2022 at the Woodward Leadership Academy Campus, located on Baseline Ave. in the middle of San Bernardino’s 6th Ward. Of the (7) seven candidates running for office there were (5) five in attendance. Incumbent John Valdivia, Henry Nickel, James Penmen, Dr. Treasure Ortiz and Helen Tran. (Missing were Mohammad Khan and Gabriel Jarimilo)

The forum, moderated by Channing Hawkins, Esq. maxed out seating capacity leaving standing room only for a group of concerned citizens eager to hear and meet the candidates. The candidates were presented with a list of questions prior to the forum as well as questions generated at the event by the very vocal, but polite attendees… However, there were two notable short examples of emotional outbursts… One from past 6th Ward councilman Rikki Van Johnson and the other from the sitting 6th Ward councilwoman Kimberly Calvin. Both incidents were quickly and politely handled by the moderator, Channing Hawkins.

The Northwest Project Area Committee hosted the very smooth moving event, that lasted about two hours as planned. “We are happy with what we think was a successful event for our concerned voters”, said Charlene Dixon, the Chair of the organization.

The NWPAC team provided the community guests with water and chips as they left with a better understanding of who each candidate is and what they need to make an informed choice at the ballot box on June 7, 2022.

 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Four distinguished young men were presented to society on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at the beautiful campus of California State University. The 55th Annual Beautillion Ball was no disappointment to a packed house of spectators as each young man was introduced along with their courts. Elegance, excitement, and suspense were thick in the air as the Knights and their courts performed dances with precession for their guests.

The Keynote speaker was Dr. Anthony Blacksher, faculty chair of sociology at San Bernardino Valley College with concentration in Africana Studies. He is the son of late Anthony and Lisa Blacksher, where he spoke truth, life and history into the young men as well as shared his spoken word through his poetry.

The evening concluded with the swearing in of our newest Sir Knight Kuzari Jelani Akinlana Osonduagwuike was dubbed Sir Knight, receiving over $10,000.00 in scholarships and awards for the prestigious title. Additionally, Kuzari received $6,000.00 for the Social Lites, Inc., Evan T. Carthen Emerging Leadership Memorial Award, and $1,500.00 for the Lisa Blacksher-Owens Memorial Award. Cumulatively, Sir Knight Kuzari was awarded over $18,000.00 and received countless gifts for college expenses to allow him to pursue his dream to become a Documentary Producer for the big screen.

Syrano Ware and Talmadges Hughes lll were both awarded 1st Runner – ups with receiving $2,000.00 each, MacBook laptops and accessories. Syrano Ware also won the Social Lites, Inc., Lisa Blacksher-Owens Social-Lites Memorial Awarded of over $1,500.00, in addition to other gifts of his choosing for his college education.

Talmadges Hughes lll was awarded 1st Runner up receiving an additional $1,000.00 for the Social Lites, Inc., Evan T. Carthen Emerging Leadership Award, and $500.00 for the Social Lites, Inc., Lisa Blacksher-Owens Social-Lites Memorial Award, in addition to other gifts of his choosing for college expenses.

Freddie Fletcher received over $1,000.00 for the Alumni Award and the Social Lites, Inc., Lisa Blacksher-Owens Memorial Award. Each young man received a host of Resolutions and Proclamations by local mayors and dignitaries.

As we conclude our ceremonial event, our work is NOT over. With your help, we are seeking our next black and brown young men to set on the path toward higher levels through their education. The Social Lites program is a non-profit (501c3) program that created the Beautillion Program. It was started in the Inland Empire out of concern for the future and survival of the young black and brown men in the community in which they live and serve. This program is designed to help young men who are seniors in high school prepare for college through the solicitation of ads, leadership development, accountability, responsibility, etiquette, attire for all occasions, spiritual growth, public speaking, and community service.

If you know any boys or young men 6 yrs old to 1st year in college who aspire to improve with their educational aspirations. Please reach out to us so that we can bring them into the program. If you would like to donate to our cause, we appreciate all contributions. To date, we have we have given out approximately 2.5 million dollars in scholarships to our college bound young men.

For more information, please call chairperson, Sheri Lewis at (909) 320-0799 or co-chairperson, Elsie Paulino (951) 205-8823 or publicity chairperson, Marlene Davis at (909) 709-5502.

 

Senate has confirmed Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jackson was confirmed 53-47. Three Republican senators — Mitt Romney (Utah), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), and Susan Collins (Maine) — joined all 48 Democrats and two independents in voting to confirm Jackson to the nation’s highest court.

Jackson, 51, will become the Supreme Court’s 116th justice and the first Black woman ever to sit on its bench.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the nation’s first woman, first Black person, and first Asian American to hold that office, presided over the historic vote.

“In the 233-year history of the Supreme Court, never has a Black woman held the title of justice,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a speech before the vote. “Ketanji Brown Jackson will be the first, and I believe the first of more to come.”

Jackson watched the vote unfold with President Joe Biden at the White House.

Jackson will take her seat when Justice Stephen Breyer retires this summer. She will be the third Black justice, after Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas, and the sixth woman.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The 32nd Annual San Bernardino County History Day competition featured more than 110 projects from nearly 180 participating students this year. The winners were honored during a virtual awards ceremony held on March 10.

 

“I applaud all the students involved in this year’s San Bernardino County History Day,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “They exemplify our best and brightest, and they’ve worked diligently to research local, national and worldwide events in preparation for this competition.”

 

History Day is an interdisciplinary program that encourages students to increase their knowledge of history through classroom activities within the content and process of social studies and language arts curriculum. This year’s theme was “Debate & Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences.” 

 

History Day provides students an opportunity to compete in a variety of categories within three divisions:

·  Elementary (grades four through five) 

·  Junior (grades six through eight) 

·  Senior (grades nine through 12) 

 

The elementary division competes in the poster and podcast categories.

 

Both junior and senior divisions compete in exhibit, podcast, documentary, performance, website and research paper categories. Submissions are judged by historians, educators and other professionals in related fields.

 

Participating school districts include: 

·      Adelanto Elementary

·      Barstow Unified

·      Central School District

·      Chaffey Joint Union High

·      Cucamonga 

·      Hesperia Unified

·      San Bernardino City Unified

·      Snowline Joint Unified

·      Upland Unified

·      Victor Valley Union High

 

Individual and group qualifiers will advance to the upcoming California History Day competition in May. 

 

2022 San Bernardino County History Day Champions:

 

Elementary Division

Poster, Individuals

·       Alanis Acuna – Cucamonga Elementary School, Cucamonga School District

·       Ariana Nares – Victoria Magathan Elementary School, Adelanto Elementary School District

·       Oliver Nieto – Victoria Magathan Elementary School, Adelanto Elementary School District

 

Poster, Groups

·       Juliet Araujo, Jay’Len Dews – Cucamonga Elementary School, Cucamonga School District

·       Lizette Acosta, Mariah Bautista, Alissa Garcia, Tajhe Thomas – Victoria Magathan Elementary School, Adelanto Elementary School District

·      Madrid Carcano, Ailani Garcia Mendoza – Cucamonga Elementary School, Cucamonga School District

 

Junior Division 

Documentary, Individuals

·       Jennifer Camacho Duenas – Cucamonga Middle School, Central School District

 

Exhibit, Individuals

·       Emma Aldrete – Cesar E. Chavez Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified School District

·       Sebastian Gutierrez – Lenwood Elementary School, Barstow Unified School District

·       Logan Loya – Cesar E. Chavez Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified School District

 

Historical Paper, Individuals

·       Anamarie Garay – Cesar E. Chavez Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified School District

·       Heather Kohler – Cobalt Institute of Math and Science, Victor Valley Union High School District

·       Leah Todd – Cobalt Institute of Math and Science, Victor Valley Union High School District

 

Performance, Individuals

·       Alina Hazen – Pinon Mesa Middle School, Snowline Joint Unified School District

 

Podcast, Individuals

·       Genesis Caro – Pinon Mesa Middle School, Snowline Joint Unified School District

·       Riley Hunter – Pinon Mesa Middle School, Snowline Joint Unified School District

·       Zayda Mercado – Cobalt Institute of Math and Science, Victor Valley Union High School District

 

Website, Individuals

·       Matthew Martin – Pinon Mesa Middle School, Snowline Joint Unified School District

·       Lucas Schultz – Cesar E. Chavez Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified School District

 

Documentary, Groups

·       Subhan Ahmad, Babur Barakzai, Kaden Batcheller, Hajed Bhri, Nebiy Habtie – Cucamonga Middle School, Central School District

·       Andrea Mejia Flores, Norah Gallegos, Allison Jimenez-Galvan – Lenwood Elementary School, Barstow Unified School District

·       Kiara Mann, Violet Valdez – Lenwood Elementary School, Barstow Unified School District

 

Exhibit, Groups

·       Izabella Cachora, Jamyah Lindsay – Lenwood Elementary School, Barstow Unified School District

·       Aubrey Chavez, Kendra Cloyd – Lenwood Elementary School, Barstow Unified School District

·       Vincent Felix, Miguel Lucero, Amari Newton, Angel Silva – Lenwood Elementary School, Barstow Unified School District

 

Podcast, Groups

·       Benjamin Lopez-Lobos, Matthew Rosales – Cesar E. Chavez Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified School District

 

Website, Groups

·       Violet Figueroa, Madelyn Sweda – Cucamonga Middle School, Central School District

·       Jaiden Hunter, Chloe Millet – Lenwood Elementary School, Barstow Unified School District

 

Senior Division

Historical Paper, Individuals

·       Jairus Ah Ching – Barstow High School, Barstow Unified School District

·       Annalise Delgado – Chaffey High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District

·       Justin Jaramillo – Barstow High School, Barstow Unified School District

 

Documentary, Individuals

·       Jaden Dominguez – Etiwanda High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District

·       Maximus Hernandez – Cobalt Institute of Math and Science, Victor Valley Union High School District

·      David Zavala – Barstow High School, Barstow Unified School District

 

Exhibit, Individuals

·       Sandra Martinez Rivera – Oak Hills High School, Hesperia Unified School District

·       Danielle Mitchell – Oak Hills High School, Hesperia unified School District

·       William Ortega – Chaffey High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District

 

Performance, Individuals

·       Elizabeth “Snow” Cameron – Upland High School Upland Unified School District

 

Podcast, Individuals

·       Julia Ann “Ell” Escano – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

·       Miko Duterte – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

·       Luke Tan – Chaffey High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District

 

Website, Individuals

·       Angela Liu – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

·       Adrianna Rios – Cobalt Institute of Math and Science, Victor Valley Union High School District

·       Tania Torres-Gomez – Chaffey High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District

 

Documentary, Group

·       Alison Goetz, Julia Mendoza, Alexandra Ruel – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

·       Kayla Logan, Emily McConnell – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

·       Martin Shiekh, Oliver Shiekh – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

 

Exhibit, Group

·       Christina Godinez, Christian Gonzalez, Steven Guevara – Oak Hills High School, Hesperia Unified School District

·       Denise Hernandez, Marbella Santiago – Chaffey High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District

·       Sarah Thomas, Emily Wright, Jessica Zapata – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

 

Podcast, Group

·       Jazmin Gonzalez, Christopher Hartman – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

 

Website, Group

·       Chloe Butarbutar, Monique Robles – Upland High School, Upland High School District

·       Harrison Cameron, Thomas Chang – Upland High School, Upland Unified School District

·       Lila Hernandez, Marco Hernandez, Aliitasi Josephine Lealofi, Leslei Minguela Navarro, Hailey Stradling – Barstow High School, Barstow Unified High School

 

For more news and information, visit the SBCSS Newsroom and follow us @SBCountySchools onFacebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.#transforminglives.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY— The First District office was pleased to award three $500 scholarships to deserving High Desert seniors during this week’s State of Education event at the Victorville Conference Center.

Hosted by the Greater High Desert Chamber of Commerce, the event celebrated the many accomplishments of their county schools over the past year.

Constituent Services Director Samuel Shoup was pleased to honor the following seniors with $500 scholarships on behalf of our San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors First District Office. The funds will go toward the schools of their choice.

• Samantha Allen of Oak Hills High School is graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Favorite quote: “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” – Forrest Gump
• Daniel Orellana of Apple Valley High School is also graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Favorite quote: “Reach for the stars so if you fall, you land on a cloud.” – Kanye West
• Emilia Yuja Matute of University Preparatory, is graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Favorite quote: “An action is worth more than a thousand words.” – Emilia Yuja Matute

A total of 27 scholarships were presented during the ceremony. Additional recipients included Ryleigh Ades, Navaho Augsburger, Tayler Avila, Ashely Awad, Sage Ginorio, Christopher Grantham, Isabella Jackson, Caitlynn Kelly, Jacob Kleinsmith, Anna Komonita, Regan Lafever, Matthew Miura, Stephanie Montealegre, Elshaddai Netsereab, Enrique Ordinal, Amara Pszoniak, Max Quijada, Bibianna Rodrigues, Gabriel Soto, Alexis Suttle, Stephenie Udeze, Brianna Vazquez, Veronica Vazquez, and Sara Wahl.