The evening began with a heartfelt recognition of the District’s 2024-25 Student Board Members: Jasmin Sivakumaran from Baldwin Park High School, Lathanyel Lee from North Park Continuation High School, and Jason Avendano from Sierra Vista High School. These students were elected by their peers to serve as liaisons to the Board of Education, providing regular updates on school events, sports, student perspectives, and offering preferential votes during meetings. Each student received a plaque in appreciation of their service, and Jasmin and Jason posed for a commemorative photo with the Board. The evening marked the final meeting for Sierra Vista’s Jason Avendano, who completed his term.
The Board of Education and the Valley County Water District (VCWD) also recognized winners of the 2025 Valley County Water District Aquacademy Media Program Scholarship. The VCWD asked graduating seniors to submit persuasive videos on the importance of measuring California’s snowpack and its impact on the state’s water supply amid climate change. Colleen Malaiba, Executive Assistant and Board Liaison for the Valley County Water District, presented scholarships to the following Baldwin Park High School students:
- Wilfredo Calderon – 1st Place ($1,000)
- Jasmin Sivakumaran – 2nd Place ($750)
- Eva Limon – 3rd Place ($500)
The scholarship program highlights the importance of environmental awareness and creative communication, and reflects the Water District’s dedication to youth engagement.
Another highlight of the evening was the 2025 Mark Daniel Flores (MDF) Music Foundation (MDFMF) Scholarship presentation. The MDF Music Foundation honors the memory of Sierra Vista High School alum, BPUSD employee, and music lover Mark Daniel Flores, who passed away in 2009. His parents, Elvira Flores and Mark Flores, created the foundation to support the aspirations of young musicians in the community. This year’s recipients, both from Baldwin Park High School, were:
- Wilfredo Calderon – Piano
- Kimberly Mendieta Rivera – Flute
The scholarship celebrates both musical excellence and the lasting impact of Mark’s legacy.
The spotlights concluded with a presentation by Director of Student Achievement Dr. Russhell Martinez on the upcoming 2025 “California Colleges Tour,” a four-day, three-night, all-expenses-paid college field trip scheduled for July 21–24. Thirty - 10th and 11th grade students from Baldwin Park, Sierra Vista, and North Park Continuation high schools were selected from a competitive pool of 81 applicants. The selection process included a short essay, a vision board, and an oral presentation evaluated by a panel of educators.
The students will visit five college campuses – CSU Channel Islands, UC Santa Barbara, CSU San Luis Obispo, CSU Monterey Bay, and UC Santa Cruz – and explore historical and cultural sites in surrounding communities. The tour underscores the District’s commitment to equitable access to college and career readiness opportunities. Several selected students shared their goals and excitement about the trip during the meeting.
The next Board Meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 27.
Photos
2025 Student Board Recognition
2025 VCWD Scholarship Board Photo
2025 MDFMF Winners
2025 College Tours Participants