YBARRA SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
Congratulations to the Ybarra Academy of the Arts and Technology Science Olympiad team on its success in this year's competition. Ybarra is located in Walnut, but a member of the Rowland Unified School District.
Ybarra's team won a gold medal at the March 7 competition at Cal State Los Angeles. The team was coached by Don Mesias and Linda Oronoz.
The talented team members are Tiffany Chin, Erin Chiang, Alexandra Geer, Jonathan Huy, Brandon Phan, Andy Li, Caroline Huang, Stanley Zhao, Hyun-Seo Ahn, Valerie Lau, Nicole Perez, Kathleen Gani, Rachel Villareal, Benjamin Cho and Joseph Cho.
PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY
"Principal for a Day," an annual business and education partnership program that is sponsored by the Bassett, Rowland and Hacienda La Puente Unified School Districts, has taken place for more than 22 years.
This year's event occurred on March 18. Business leaders were assigned to one of the 72 schools in these districts to accompany a principal on a normal morning schedule. Principals and guests gathered for a lunch at the Industry Hills Expo Center. Its theme was "Growing Leaders for Tomorrow." Bassett Unified School District Superintendent Robert Watanabe served as chairperson.
The theme - "Growing Leaders for Tomorrow" - was appropriate for the keynote speaker, master gardener and radio talk show host Nick Federoff. He likened the process of planting and nurturing a seed to a child in school whose education (the soil) turns him or her into a productive adult.
The luncheon featured entertainment by the Nogales High School Choir, directed by Bryant Aquino; the Nogales High School Band, directed by Brad Pollock; and the Nogales High School Cheer Squad, coached by LaToya Jefferson.
The donations of several general sponsors funded scholarships that were awarded to 14 students.
The winners were: Susie Cabeza, La Puente Valley Regional Occupational Program; Stephanie Torres, Bassett High School; Jorge Lopez, Nueva Vista Continuation High School; and Juana Garcia, Bassett Adult School.
The Rowland Unified School District winners were Marison Tapia, Nogales High School; Taruna Sawhney, Rowland High School; Jessica Velderrein, Santana High School; and Elizabeth Chavez, Rowland Adult and Community Education.
There were six winners from schools in the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District. They were Carlos Gomez, La Puente High School; Leslye Osegueda, Los Altos High School; Crystal Connacher, Wilson High School; Brisa Pena, Workman High School; Justeen Yang, Valley Alternative High School; and Kris Divinagracia, Willow Adult Education.
Pictures from Principal for a Day event