SACRAMENTO—Thirty-four California schools have been named recipients of the 2025 Civic Learning Awards, honoring and recognizing measurable schoolwide achievements in civics. The award program, now in its twelfth year, is co-sponsored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero.
“When young people advocate and raise their voices, they have the power to drive meaningful change in their communities,” said Superintendent Thurmond. “Education is fundamental to achieving our democratic ideals, and these schools have played an exceptional role in shaping the leaders of the future.”
“I find these award applications truly inspiring—each one is deserving of recognition,” said Chief Justice Guerrero. “They highlight the powerful stories of committed educators who, despite the challenges, are finding creative ways to ensure students can fully engage with and understand civics.”
Since their inception in 2013, the awards have been presented more than 500 times to traditional, charter, and magnet schools. In recent years, community schools and continuation schools have submitted high-ranking applications. This year, a court school applied for the first time.
Applications are reviewed and scored by a panel of judges comprised of representatives from the California courts and the California Department of Education (CDE) who are not tied to counties or districts in the pool.
In addition to the information provided by the applicant, points are added for schools in districts with Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs) that include terms and actions associated with civic learning. Applicants also earn points for participating in the Judges in the Classroom program and for creating processes and criteria related to the State Seal of Civic Engagement.
Mural designed, created, and installed by LMC art students to celebrate the 51st Commencement. Source: LMC
Honors 1,358 Class of 2025 graduates on Friday
By Juliet V. Casey,Director of Marketing, Los Medanos College
Pittsburg, CA – Los Medanos College is pleased to announce its 51st Commencement celebration to held at 2:15 p.m. on Friday, May 23 inside the LMC Stadium.
The ceremony honors 1,358 graduates who earned 2,266 awards, including 662 associate of arts degrees, 176 associates of science degrees, 228 associates of arts degrees for transfer, 302 associates of science degrees for transfer and 698 certificates of achievement.
The stadium is located at 2700 E. Leland Road in Pittsburg. Students should plan to arrive no later than 1:15 p.m. for check-in and line-up on the Softball Field.
“We are exceedingly proud of the Class of 2025,” LMC President Pamela Ralston said. “This group represents resilience and courage as well as an abiding hope for a brilliant future.”
As part of her address to graduates, Ralston will highlight graduating students for their achievements in the classroom, in their campus life and in the community. She will acknowledge the special status of several of the graduates who persevered as the first in their families to attend and graduate college. Others, she recognizes for their determination to expand their horizons even as they care for children or others. She also recognizes students who continued to work to support their families while attending college, veterans, and those who took courageous steps to start new traditions and events, contributing to the cultural wealth of LMC’s college community.
Featured graduation speakers Naw Shanyda Soe, Associate of Arts: Biological Science, Graduating with Honors and Mikayla Ari Hubbard, Associate in Science for Transfer: Business Marketing, Graduating with Honors. Source: LMC
Other featured speakers include honors graduates Naw Shanyda Soe, Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts: Math and Science, Associate in Science for Transfer in Biology, and a Certificate of Achievement in Intersegmental General Education, and Mikayla Ari Hubbard, Associate in Arts for Transfer in Business Administration and a Certificate of Achievement in CSU General Education. Los Medanos College Associated Students President Armon Gozalez and District Student Trustee Halena Neyazi will help lead the turning of tassels.
Ceremony Details
The 2025 ceremony will be held on May 23, 2025, at 2:15 PM inside the LMC Stadium on the Pittsburg campus. Students should plan to arrive no later than 1:15 PM for check-in and line-up on the Softball Field.
The ceremony is general admission and no tickets are required to attend. There is NO RESERVED SEATING at the stadium. The stadium bleachers have wheelchair access with limited seating for people with disabilities. Chairs will also be placed on the walkway at ground level of the field for additional seating and accessibility. Guests should arrive early for optimal seating.
Source: LMC
LMC Stadium Policy: Prohibited Items
Los Medanos College is committed to providing a safe, comfortable and enjoyable experience. Thank you for your cooperation with the following:
The following are not permitted anywhere on-campus:
1. Alcoholic beverages and smoking
2. Dogs/animals (except for service animals)
3. Weapons or explosives of any kind
The following are not permitted inside the Stadium:
Guests who attempt to bring the following inside the stadium will be asked to take them outside and/or return them to their vehicles.
1. Artificial noise-making devices
2. Glass bottles
3. Balloons
4. Signs/displays larger than 11”x17”. (All signs must be hand carried and may not be mounted on posts/poles/etc.)
5. Umbrellas larger than 42” are not permitted in the bleachers. (Larger umbrellas may be used in other areas of the stadium.)
For more ceremony details for the Class of 2025, please visit the LMC Commencement website. Additional details regarding the event will be available soon. Keep checking that page for more information.
About Los Medanos College (LMC): LMC is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District, serving the East Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs, support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. LMC’s Pittsburg Campus is located on 120 acres bordering Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.
Supporting The Pride of Antioch High School and Deer Valley Marching Band and Color Guard
Get ready for the most thrilling night of the year at the 4th Annual Texas Hold’em Tournament!
Join us for an unforgettable evening supporting the AHS and DVHS Marching Band and Color Guard. This event is packed with excitement, including:
Fantastic prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners
A delicious dinner to satisfy your taste buds
Exciting raffles with amazing prizes
A lively atmosphere with great company and lots of fun
Whether you’re a poker pro or just looking for a fun night out, this event has something for everyone. The cost is $75 for the full event, or $20 for the Dinner Only option.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to support our talented musicians and performers while having a blast. Mark your calendars, gather your friends, and get ready for a night of fun, excitement, and great memories!
Join us for the second event of the awareness and education series — a screening and community discussion of Fentanyl High, a powerful short film exploring the hidden dangers of fentanyl. Monday, April 29 | 6–8 PM | Antioch Community Center, 4703 Lone Tree Way Register at https://bit.ly/3R2fOSQ
Please SHARE this! Together, we can educate, empower, and protect our youth.
The Antioch Rotary Club will hold its 9th Annual BunnyHop 5K fundraiser on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Corteva (formerly Dow) Wetlands in Antioch. Proceeds will go directly toward scholarships and sports programs at AUSD high schools. The race will happen rain or shine!
All Finishers will receive a BunnyHop 5K Medal. First Place Overall in Men’s and Women’s divisions will receive a plaque, and a Gift Card. Age Group Medals will go to the Top 3 in each of these Age Groups: 9 and under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, & 70 and up.
Registration is $40 plus, fees. The fee for our Annual Kids’ Kwik Dash is still $0. To register visit 9th Antioch Rotary Club Bunny Hop 5K and click the Sign Up button.
Instructions
Race start time is 9:00 a.m. Please park in the Antioch Marina lot at 5 Marina Plaza at the foot of L Street. The Bunny Hop Start Line is about 3/4-mile from the parking lot – please plan on a 20–30-minute nature walk. Plan on arriving at the Antioch Marina by 8:00 a.m. – there will be plenty of parking and porta potties.
For participatnts from the Antioch Unified School District – please arrive at the Antioch Marina by 7:30 a.m. to pick up your Race Bibs and GoodyBags – There will be a special line for AUSD-sponsored runners.
Cheer teams from Antioch Charter Middle School (left), Dallas Ranch Cheer (center) and Park Middle School (right) won at the JAMZ NorCal Challenge Cup Competition on March 29th. Photos courtesy of Jazmine Vega Zanders
By Jazmine Vega Zanders, MSW
Three Antioch middle school-aged cheerleading squads went to JAMZ NorCal Challenge Cup Competition on Saturday, March 29th and all competed in the same division. All teams did a great job representing Antioch at Adventist Health Arena in Stockton, CA.
The Dallas Ranch Cheer team members display their 2025 JAMZ NorCal Challenge Cup Competition championship banner, ribbons and rings.
Dallas Ranch Cheer powered by Vega Stars Elite took first place and went home with Champion Rings. Park Middle took second place, and Antioch Charter took 3rd.
Dozier-Libbey Medical High School student and 2024 Antioch Youth of the Year Mina Aljanaby is joined by Mayor Ron Bernal (left) and Tom Hartrick of the Delta-Antioch Rotary Club (right). Jim Becker, Executive Director of RCF Connects offers his gratitude for the organization being honored as the 2024 Antioch Non-Profit of the Year. Photos by Kord Holland
Mina Aljanaby, RCF Connects receive awards
Teresa Glenn is the 2025 Chamber Board Chair
By Antioch Chamber of Commerce
During the annual Gala on Friday, March 28, 2025, the Antioch Chamber of Commerce honored 2024 Youth of the Year Mina Aljanaby, a Dozier-Libbey Medical High School student, and Non-Profit of the Year RCF Connects. In addition, Teresa Glenn of TreVista Senior Living Antioch was installed as the Chambers new Board Chair for 2025. The event was held at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center.
Youth of the Year Award – Mina Aljanaby Mina exemplifies excellence in academics, leadership, and service, making a profound impact on both peers and the community.
As a lead teacher CPR instructor for middle school students, Mina has demonstrated outstanding mentorship and a commitment to educating younger students in life-saving skills. She has also played a key role in organizing medical field days, ensuring that students gain exposure to the healthcare field.
Additionally, Mina helped organize and host bone marrow donation programs, showcasing an incredible dedication to health advocacy and service. Beyond academics, she has excelled in leadership, serving as the Vice President for two years, fostering a positive school environment.
Mina’s hard work has been recognized through the Barbara James Service Award and the Red Cross Merit County Award. Her dedication, initiative, and compassion make her a truly deserving recipient of this award.
During the ceremony, Mina was presented with a scholarship funded by the Antioch and Delta-Antioch Rotary Clubs.
Over 300 guests attended the Chamber’s annual Gala at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center. Photo by Kord Holland
Non-Profit of the Year – RCF Connects RCF Connects has been an exceptional champion for positive change in the Antioch community, exemplifying its commitment to creating opportunities and addressing pressing community issues. Since 2018, RCF has partnered with local government, community leaders and organizations like the Robin Hood Foundation to raise $1.5 million in support of the Sycamore Drive neighborhood, helping to transform it through projects such as renewed community parks, college and career pathways, and pilot programs like guaranteed income.
The foundation has also made impact in homeownership accessibility by bringing a down payment assistance program to Antioch, raising $1.8 million to help low- to moderate -income first time homebuyers.
The Equity for Black Women and Girls initiative has empowered 24 local women entrepreneurs with a comprehensive business development program, helping to launch 21 new businesses in Antioch in just two years
As RCF continues to address critical needs like transportation gaps and the development of community economic strategies, their impact on Antioch residents’ lives is undeniable. Their efforts to connect people with resources and opportunities truly make them deserving of the Non-Profit of the Year Award.
2025 Chamber Board Chair Teresa Glenn with MC Rick Marchoke. Photo by Kord Holland
New Chamber Board Chair Teresa Glenn of TreVista Senior Living Antioch was installed as the 2025 Board Chair for the Antioch Chamber of Commerce. She moves up from the position of Ambassador Committee Chair and takes over from Michael Gabrielson of Willow Park Mercantile.
Two of the six students featured, Kadynce and Ebei at DVHS Cheer Practice in Antioch, CA. Source: Three Frame Media
Watch first episode tonight at 9 pm on KQED Channel 9
A six-part limited docuseries entitled, “The Class” following six students from Deer Valley High School in Antioch, CA as they pursue higher education dreams during a challenging pandemic year, begin airing tonight, Monday, March 24, 2025, on KQED Channel 9 at 9:00 p.m. It premiered on PBS stations beginning March 18, 2025.
The series arrives exactly five years after the COVID-19 Pandemic shut down schools across the U.S. in 2020. The Class is made available to PBS by KQED Presents, the national distribution service of KQED, the San Francisco-based PBS and NPR member station.
From Tony- and Grammy-winning Executive Producer Daveed Diggs (Blindspotting, Snowpiercer, Hamilton), Executive Producer Nicole Hurd (President, Lafayette College) and award-winning filmmakers Jaye and Adam Fenderson (First Generation, Unlikely), this dramatic six-part series was filmed over the course of the 2020-2021 school year and documents the remarkable challenges faced by these high school students during the pandemic and a particularly critical moment in their personal and academic development. With resilience and determination, they face obstacles head-on, inspired by their dedicated college adviser, known as “Mr. Cam.” His guidance empowers them to overcome barriers and unexpected challenges toward their dreams of a college degree.
“We hope these students’ stories restore faith in the promise of college and the opportunities it provides for those who came of age during the pandemic. It has been an incredible journey to make this series, and we’re so grateful to Daveed, Nicole, KQED, and the extended village that has come alongside to make it possible,” stated Jaye and Adam Fenderson of Three Frame Media.
The Fendersons connected with Nicole Hurd through College Advising Corps, the organization she founded, and were immediately drawn to its model of training recent college graduates to serve as advisers in public high schools. When planning the project during the early days of the pandemic, their vision was to capture an adviser guiding students who had missed the end of their junior year—along with crucial milestones like SATs—through the college application process. However, when production began during the summer of 2020, the pandemic was far from over, and the story evolved into something far more complex and powerful than they had originally imagined.
A wide virtual search for potential advisers across the country found Mr. Cam, with his charisma and passion for the work shining through, making him an essential subject for the series. With him and Deer Valley High School on board, the team met with many incredible students and selected six seniors – Ahmad, Ebei, Emily, Javonte, Kadynce, and Raven – as subjects who represent a wide range of voices and perspectives shared among their generation.
Set in the East Bay, the series captures the essence of the community—from the local crew to the musical artists featured—creating a deeply authentic reflection of the place the students call home. Hurd introduced longtime friend and Oakland native Daveed Diggs to the project and he signed on to Executive Produce, lending his song “Night Time” to the series’ main title theme.
“High school has always been a challenging time, but in the age of COVID, it took an extra dose of courage and perseverance to succeed. As an Oakland native and a fierce advocate for expanding opportunities in education, I am proud to be a part of ‘The Class, ’ which highlights the stories of six incredible Bay Area teens as they fight to achieve their dreams,” stated executive producer Daveed Diggs.
Throughout the launch of the series, the filmmakers will engage in a national impact campaign, encouraging audiences to discuss their experiences living through the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has affected their mental health and overall well-being as it pertains to their academic and social lives. The series and impact campaign is made possible with support in part from the John M. Belk Endowment, Lumina Foundation, Gates Foundation, Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, Ascendium Education Group, Ballmer Group, Uplifting Capital, Ellucian, and ECMC Foundation.
The Class debuted on PBS on March 18, 2025 (check local listings), with new episodes airing weekly and streaming on the PBS app. It airs on KQED channels as follows: Fridays at 8pm on KQED 9 starting 3/21, Saturdays at 6pm on KQED 9 starting 3/22, Mondays at 9pm on KQED 9 starting 3/24, and Sundays at 8pm on KQED Plus starting 3/23.
The Class cast – Top Row (L-R): Mr. Cam, Ahmad, Ebei and Emily. Bottom Row (L-R): Javonte, Kadence and Raven. Photos: Three Frame Media.
ABOUT THE CAST Mr. Cam Originally hailing from Oakland, Cam has returned to his alma mater Deer Valley High School as a college adviser. A first-generation college graduate himself, Cam is the only college adviser on a campus with 2000+ students and works tirelessly to empower his students as they navigate the ups and downs of this unprecedented school year
Ahmad Basketball means everything to Ahmad who transferred to Deer Valley High School to play for their championship winning team. But with indoor sports on hold, this year’s season remains uncertain and Ahmad worries about his sports prospects.
Ebei A highly decorated track and field star, Ebei is the youngest of five siblings. On top of being a dedicated student, Ebei juggles a busy schedule as an ASB leader and cheerleader and strives to keep school spirit alive despite the unprecedented start to their senior year.
Emily Hailing from a close-knit family, Emily is the middle child of five sisters. While the pandemic sent students home to learn, Emily’s frontline job in food service remained in-person. Now she juggles working part-time while trying to keep up her grades to get into college.
Javonte Javonte has come into his own during high school emerging as an outgoing leader. He has the grades and accolades to go on to college, but with so much uncertainty in the world he starts to reconsider his options.
Kadynce As a cheerleader and member of the Mock Trial Team, Kadynce is quick to let her voice be heard. She dreams of attending a 4-year university, going on to law school, and fighting against issues of injustice but the COVID pandemic has made even her best laid plans feel uncertain.
Raven A self-taught musician, Raven picked up his first instrument at the age of 7 and enjoyed being part of the Deer Valley High School award-winning choir. Raven aspires to attend a 4-year university but with the challenges of remote learning, he worries about his grades and chances of getting in.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS: Adam Fenderson and Jaye Fenderson, Directors and Producers The Fendersons are an award-winning husband and wife filmmaking team and the founders of Three Frame Media, an independent production company focused on character-driven storytelling that engages audiences and drives impact. Together, they directed and produced the critically acclaimed documentary First Generation, which follows four high school students striving to become the first in their families to attend college. The film’s success led to Go College! Now, an educational initiative with Wells Fargo aimed at breaking down barriers to college access. Their follow-up documentary, Unlikely, investigated America’s college dropout crisis and featured influential voices, including LeBron James, Howard Schultz, and leading experts in higher education. The Class is the duo’s first original television series directed and produced through Three Frame Media.
ABOUT THREE FRAME MEDIA: Founded by award-winning husband and wife filmmaking team Adam and Jaye Fenderson, Three Frame Media produces original documentary content that entertains audiences, fosters dialogue, and inspires lasting change. Their award-winning debut film, First Generation, garnered international acclaim as it followed four high school students striving to be the first in their families to go to college. Through theatrical releases, film festivals, and credits spanning NBC, ABC, Lifetime, Discovery, CNBC, and more, their work continues to engage and impact people from across the globe, reinforcing the power of storytelling to connect and inspire.
ABOUT KQED: KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. An NPR and PBS affiliate based in San Francisco, KQED is home to one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services and an award-winning education program helping students and educators thrive in 21st-century classrooms. A trusted news source and leader and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas. kqed.org
