Rowland Unified Salutes the Class of 2018

Congratulations Class of 2018

Pictured Above: Santana High School Valedictorian Pedro Medina, Rowland High School Board Representative Nicholas Phillips, Nogales High School Board Representative Junica Ruaro and Rowland Adult School Graduate Carema Smith.

The Rowland Unified School District is proud of our Class of 2018! This year we had 1,041 graduates walk the stage, earning in excess of $5 million in grants and scholarships to top colleges and universities near and far.

Rowland High School IB students (above) and Nogales High School IB students (below) at graduation ceremonies.

Proud of RUSD's International Baccalaureate Program

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is the most rigorous and academically challenging courses that both Rowland High School and Nogales High School has to offer students.

The curriculum is made up of at least six college-level courses, an additional course called Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and students must also complete 150 hours of Creativity Action and Service (CAS) and a written original 4,000-word essay on an academic question of their choice. IB students are also involved in many other endeavors on campus such as music, ASB, athletics and various clubs.

Pictured Rowland High School Salutatorian Diana Ma and Valedictorian Mikaela Lim.

ROWLAND HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2018

Graduates: 539

Scholarships & Grants: More than $3 Million

· This year there were 23 International Baccalaureate students from Rowland High School that were accepted into prestigious colleges and universities such as Universities of California at Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Davis; private institutions such as MIT, University of the Pacific, USC, Loyola Marymount and Howard University.

· More than 80% of this graduating class will be attending either a four-year or two-year college in the fall.

· Athletic Accomplishments: Rowland High School won 9 Valle Vista League Championships, with many all-league and CIF placements as individuals, and 2 CIF Championships in Boys Swimming and Girls Swimming. Member Valle Vista League schools voted RHS the recipient of the 2018 Valle Vista League Sportsmanship Award, which marks the fourth year in a row for the school to receive this honor.

· The AVID (Achievement Via Individual Determination) program provides students the skills and support to attain and be successful in higher education. This class has continued a longstanding tradition of a 100% acceptance rate into a 4-year college or university.

· National Merit Scholars: Graduating seniors who score in the top 5% nationally of the graduating class are recognized as National Merit Semi-finalist and National Merit Commended Students. Those scoring in the top 1% nationally are designated as National Merit Finalists. Rowland High School had 2 National Merit Finalists, 1 National Merit Semi-Finalist and 8 Commended Students.

· There were 28 Career Technical Education Certificate Recipients: Rowland Health & Medical Services, Engineering & Architecture, Design, Visual & Media Arts, Education & Child Development, Public Safety, Arts and Communications. These courses of study are designed for students to complete a rigorous sequence of classes and career related experiences, including an actual on-the-job internship in their fields of specialization within each career pathway.

NOGALES HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2018

Graduates: 451

Scholarships & Grants: More than $2 Million

· There were 23 International Baccalaureate students from Nogales High School that were accepted into prestigious colleges and Universities and will be attending: UCLA, UC Berkley, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, The American University of Paris, Cal State Fullerton, Wellesley, Boston College, Wesleyan University, Whittier, UC Merced and Cal Poly Pomona.

· Athletic Accomplishments: This year Nogales won league championships in Football, Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, and Baseball and won the first CIF championship in Boys Basketball in the school’s 56-year history!

· There were 52 Career Technical Education Certificate Recipients: Nogales Health & Medical Services, Business and Family, Arts and Communications, and Consumer Science Certification Programs. These courses of study are designed for students to complete a rigorous sequence of classes and career related experiences, including an actual on-the-job internship in their fields of specialization within each career pathway.

Pictured Nogales High School Valedictorian Benjamin Filio, III.

Santana High School Valedictorian and Principal for a Day Scholarship Winner Pedro Medina with RUSD Board Member David Malkin and Asst. Superintendent of Human Resources, Dennis Bixler.

SANTANA HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2018

Graduates: 27

"This year as a school we focused on exposing our students to college and career opportunities with student field trips to various colleges to learn what each specializes in such as Cal State Long Beach, Citrus and Rio Hondo Community Colleges," said Santana High School Principal Gregory Perez. "We also held our annual Career Fair where counselor Paulo Duran reached out to the community and students met a wide variety of professionals representing the legal industry, the National Guard, several mental health organizations, and representatives from Azusa Pacific University and Mt. SAC. Our seniors are bound for college and the career sector and we are very proud of our Class of 2018."

Congratulations to the following students who received The Chapman Awards in the following areas at the La Puente Valley ROP Student Recognition Dinner:

Service: Sujeily Bombela

Leadership: Jacob Espinoza

Social Science: Franz Dar

Science: Neo Williams

Engineering: Pedro Medina

Graphic Arts: Justin Garcia

Medical: Guillermina Velazquez

Auto Mechanics: Richard Santa Cruz

Networking: Julio Sanchez

Child Care: Natalie Ceballos

Santana High School Student Angel Galvan accepting his Outstanding High School Student and Michelle Illingworth scholarship awards at the La Puente Valley ROP Student Recognition Dinner.

Community Day School Transition Students Graduate

On June 6, 2018, nine STARS Transition Program students celebrated their last official year with Rowland Unified School District. These students have excelled in the areas of social, employment, life and advocacy skills. Each student contributed something special to the program and they will be missed. All of the administration, teachers and support staff were also there to wish these students the best of the luck in the future.

Rowland High School Hall of Fame

Rowland High School Hall of Fame alumni network with RHS seniors at the first Hall of Fame luncheon. Pictured left to right: Hall of Famers Cathy Blackler, Julian White and Bruce Rogers with RUSD Superintendent Dr. Mitchell. RHS students Kayla Park, Desiree Tabizon, Alex Silaphet and Alexa Stephano with Former Rowland High School Principal Thom Aney with his wife Shirley.

Since 1991, Rowland High School honors outstanding alumni who excel in their chosen fields of endeavor and who have made significant contributions to society by inducting them into the "Rowland Hall of Fame." A $1,000 Hall of Fame scholarship is also presented to a deserving senior. This year the program has expanded with a unique opportunity for Rowland High School senior students to be introduced to a Hall of Fame (HOF) member to become their mentor.

"The Hall of Fame Committee is very proud of the educators, administrators and exceptional students of RHS. Each applicant of the HOF Scholarship met their RHS Hall of Fame Mentor at a special luncheon where the Raiders of today, networked with the Raiders of yesterday. They talked about goals after high school, through college and into their career. It is the goal of the HOF Committee to connect Raiders for life through an alumni association," said HOF committee member Julian White, owner of Web Video Vision and RHS Hall of Fame Inductee from 2015.

Above: Hall of Fame Scholarship Winner Derrick Leong with RHS Principal Mitch Brunyer. Below: Hall of Famer and retired RUSD teacher Cathy Blackler with student Kayla Park.

Nogales Dream Scholars

In a partnership with Mt. SAC, theDream.US scholarship provides up to $12,000 for Dreamer students attending a partner community college and up to $26,000 for those planning to attend or transfer to a partner 4 year-university. "All Dreamer students and winners who attend Mt. SAC will be receiving wonderful academic services from the Mt. SAC Dream Program, such as peer advisement, academic counseling, referrals to on campus resources and much more," said Joel Monroy, Interim Director of Office of Instruction for Mt. SAC. "It is a privilege to present the 2018 scholarship to two amazing Nogales High School young ladies, Areli Patino and Liliana Medina.”

Congratulations RACE Graduates

Rowland Adult & Community Education Director Rocky Bettar (left) presents Antonny Luo the Director's Award for outstanding educational achievement.

The Class of 2018 consisted of 29 graduates who earned their high school diploma or GED.

June 12, 2018 Issue Questions? Contact RUSD News Editor gward@rowlandschools.org

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