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UPLAND, CA – National Football League linebacking legend Dick Butkus paid a surprise visit to Upland High School on Monday to present his namesake award to Highlander standout Justin Flowe.

One of the most heralded linebackers to come out of California in recent years, Flowe can now add Butkus Award winner to an impressive resume that includes his ranking as the top linebacker recruit in the nation.

Flowe was unaware that Butkus was on campus or that he had even won the award – given to the top high school linebacker in the country. When the moment arrived, in a quickly arranged ceremony at the high school library, Flowe was stunned, but grateful – and showed the humor and grace that have marked his four years at Upland High.

“I thought I’d gotten in trouble,” he said of getting pulled out of class earlier in the day, only to find his parents, teammates, coaches and staff all waiting for him.

Butkus, whose Hall of Fame career with the Chicago Bears earned him the distinction as one of the fiercest competitors ever to have played the game, said the choice was easy.

“Justin completely ran away with the award,” he said. “I would be honored to play with a guy like this.”

Where Flowe will play next is unclear; he’s still determining where he will go to college.

“Wherever he goes, that school will be getting an extraordinary player, and an awesome kid,” said John McNally, Upland High’s athletic director.

Justin’s father, Johnny, said he knew at an early age that his son had a gift for football.

“He was so intimidating at the age of 9 that the other teams (in youth football) would refuse to play if he played,” Mr. Flowe said.

The Butkus Award was instituted in 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, and is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, college and professional levels. Although the award recognizes prowess on the playing field, winning it is about more than football, Butkus said.

“I like to see their excitement and sincerity about winning the award,” the former linebacker said. “We hope that he understands that ‘OK, I’m the best of the best but I have a responsibility to give back to other people.’”

Flowe said he appreciates the opportunity.

“Thank you for giving me this award. It’s really a blessing. God’s watching over me.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) recently launched its San Bernardino Community College-funded Promise Program providing more students with access to a college education. Students receive two years of free college, free textbooks, $300 cash for school expenses and the use of a laptop to complete coursework or online classes.

“The program provides the opportunity for students in the Inland Empire to continue their education with resources available to them to accomplish their goals,” said SBVC Dean of Student Equity and Success Carmen Rodriguez. “Many of the students in the program are first generation college students, low income or come from single parent households and many do not have support in the home. We provide the motivation, support and, most of all, the opportunity for them to accomplish their goals.”

The program, which required students to apply by August 1, saw 1,316 students from across the Inland Empire apply to take advantage of the new program. The bulk of students, 127, 108 and 102, came from Rialto, Pacific and Cajon high schools, respectively. Large numbers of students from San Bernardino (94), Eisenhower (89), Colton (88), Citrus Valley (88), Indian Springs (83), Carter (82), San Gorgonio (79), Grand Terrace (60) and Bloomington (51) high schools also applied for the program.

Funding for the Promise Program is provided through a $10 million endowment established by the district last fall.

To participate next year, students should complete a Promise Application, campus application and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). No minimum grade point average or essay is required to apply and the program is available to students studying any major and for the completion of certificate, associate of arts or transfer coursework.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino Valley College is proud to usher in distinguished graduates to the Alumni Association and Athletics Halls of Fame, each recognized for their prize-winning accomplishments and service to the community. SBVC Foundation Board President Beverly Powell said the Foundation is honored to partner with the Athletics department to laud the achievements of SBVC alumni and former student-athletes.

“The opportunity to showcase some of Valley College’s best ‘success stories’ not only helps the Foundation raise funds necessary to help students achieve their dreams – but events highlighting our alumni also help inspire our current SBVC students to envision their own success and believe their own dreams are possible,” she said.

Inducted into the SBVC Alumni Association Hall of Fame is Dr. Louie F. Rodríguez, interim dean of the Graduate School of Education at UC Riverside. He received recognition for being a catalyst for many academic initiatives to benefit the community. He also serves as Bank of America chair in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Practice in the UCR Graduate School of Education. Among numerous awards and various posts, Dr. Rodriguez is also the Founding Director of the Center for Educational Transformation at UCR. His educational foundation began at SBVC. Later transferred to California State San Bernardino, where, as a McNair Scholar, he focused on research to help historically marginalized students.

From there, Dr. Rodriguez became a high school math teacher, and holds two master’s degrees, along with a Ph.D in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University. With his first years at SBVC campus, he recalls the indelible impact of a caring guidance counselor, Laura Gomez. He feels the primary objective for all students is to make the most of their academic goals, while never forgetting about what’s most important in life.

“Students, know who you are, identify a mentor, get connected to programs, dream big, surround yourself with excellence, and be a leader. After you graduate from SBVC, always find ways to give back to your community,” says Dr. Louie F. Rodríguez.

Inducted into the SBVC Athletics Hall of Fame are Kenneth Blumenthal, Michael Sola, Stan Sanchez, Eric Swanson, and 1982 SBVC Championship Football Team. Each of these athletes are acknowledged for both dedicating themselves to excellence in their sport, and also for their impact on the community and students. 

Former San Bernardino Valley College coach Kenneth Blumenthal has run the ball from the early days as captain of the Eisenhower High School football team in Rialto, and later as a student-athlete at San Bernardino Valley College. Through his journey, Blumenthal credits close friends, colleagues and faith for support through his remarkable athletic career at SBVC, where, under Head Coach Bob Smith, he set an unrivaled three-decade record for the most tackles in one season.

Following great success at the local campus, a football scholarship paved the way to Long Beach State, where Blumenthal earned his bachelor’s in recreation, and another Bachelor’s in kinesiology. He also holds a teaching credential from California State University, San Bernardino. Among his many posts, Blumenthal served at Rialto Frisbee Junior High and his alma mater Eisenhower High School. He also holds a Master’s degree from Azusa Pacific University, and coached track in 1988 until he became full-time Defensive Coordinator/Head Track Coach in 1990. He is unmatched for conference championships. No other head coach has taken home as many wins as Blumenthal at SBVC, to which he acknowledges colleagues and coaches that have backed him along the way.

“The reason Valley College has produced so many championships is because, for the most part, our athletes are just plain tougher than most of our competition,” said Blumenthal. “Many of the student-athletes who come to Valley have faced tough times, but they are overcomers. They are thankful, respectful and proud to be here. I loved working to help them make their dreams come true.”

To read the current list of SBVC Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, visit www.sbvcathletics.com. For a list of current Alumni Hall of Fame inductees, visit www.sbvcalumni.org/HOF.

On Sunday, December 22, the Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation (YWE) had the pleasure of treating youth from CHORDS to a Holiday Lunch in appreciation for all the dedicated and committed work that the founder of CHORDS, Edwin Johnson Jr., does for the community.

On Saturday, December 21, Kappa Alpha Psi gave back to the community by partnering with God’s Pantry. The two organizations paired up to give away food at Fontana Middle School.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— Damon Alexander, S B City Council Candidate and Cannabis advocate, Lanny Swerdlow,  were guests on the “Empire Talks Back” (ETB) radio broadcast. The thought provoking conversations are available on most podcast carriers, including iHeart Radio.

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ETB is broadcast live each Sunday morning at 10:00 on KCAA 1050 AM, 102.3 and 106.5 FM, streaming live video via www.kcaaradio.com.

If you would like to be a guest on ETB, call Porscha at (909) 384-8131.

By Naomi K. Bonman

When perseverance, patience and faith work together, they all pay off for good! The highest paid woman football player, Santia Deck, just signed a multi-million-dollar contract with the Women’s Football League of America (WFLA).

She announced the good news via LinkedIn on Wednesday, December 11.

“I signed a multimillion-dollar contract with the WFLA!” she explains. “This still doesn’t feel real to me. I was told a few months ago that I wasn’t going to make the Olympic team for rugby because I wasn’t “developed” enough because I put my body and mind through the ringer in preparation for a USA tryout. I was so exhausted and burnt out by the time I finally got a chance to compete in front of the USA coach I had nothing left; It was the worst performance of my life!”

After that ordeal, Deck stated that she started questioning her worth, her abilities and even God. It took her awhile to pull herself out of the slump, but to her dismay, He was preparing her for something BIGGER. And that something bigger was to make history and to solidify her family and future kids’ futures. 

“I didn’t understand at the time what God was doing, all I could see was I had failed, again, and I was broken. I’m so glad I got on my knees that night and told God ‘I surrender, I don’t know what is happening, but I trust you and I give you the reigns over my life’“ because when I did, my life changed forever. Thank you, Lord, for never leaving,” Deck explained.

This story is a true testament to never give up on your ultimate goal. When they try to tell you that you are not “experienced” enough (when you actually are) or that you lack something, just remember that something much bigger is stirring in the pot that you just can’t see yet. What is not for you at the current time is not for you, but what IS for you right now IS for you. Keep striving. What one doesn’t see in you, the next one does.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- On Tuesday, December 10, Gwen Rodgers was elected to serve as the President of the San Bernardino City Unified School District Board of Education. It is an honor that is well deserved. 

Write Up By Naomi K. Bonman

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- It is always critical that we acknowledge and honor community legends while they are here. Dr. Margaret Hill has been an instrumental key to the community at large and to the San Bernardino Unified School District. She serves on the Board of Education where she was first elected in 2011 and since then she has made tremendous strides. Dr. Hill was honored for her work and dedication to excellence in education and the community on Tuesday, December 10 with a dedication and ribbon cutting of a community room in her honor.

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By California Black Media Staff

On January 1, 2020, California will enact a new law, the CROWN Act or Senate Bill 188, that protects Black women and men from discrimination in the workplace for wearing natural hairstyles.

 Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the law, the first of its kind in the nation, in July. 

Authored by state Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), who is African American, the bill expands the definition of racial discrimination to include hair. 

“We believe this is just the beginning of the end to hair discrimination. It’s another chink in the armor of racial discrimination in this country and I’m just proud to be part of the movement,” Mitchell said when the governor signed her bill. 

Just weeks before the law takes effect, news broke that SAG-AFTRA, the Los Angeles-based labor union representing more than 160,000 television and film industry professionals, is investigating the circumstances of popular actress Gabrielle Union’s dismissal from her job as a judge on the NBC television series “America’s Got Talent,” partly because of her rotating natural hairstyles. 

Four sources who claim to have insider information about the way decision makers at the television competition series treated Union say the actress received more than six notes describing her hairstyles as “too black.”  

Union, known for her roles in more than 25 films and as the star of the long-running BET series “Being Mary Jane,” has not made public comment about the incident. But her husband, NBA star Dwayne Wade, has tweeted about her firing. 

If Union decides to sue NBC or the show’s producers for hair discrimination, she will not be able to stand on the CROWN act, which stands for Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair, because of the timing of her case. 

But the show producers have confirmed that they are speaking with Union’s representatives to resolve their differences. 

Some Twitter users are calling for a boycott of the show.