Daniel Lee Rhine of Fillmore, earned a(n) Associate of Arts from University of Maryland Global Campus in fall 2024. Rhine was one of nearly 5,900 students worldwide who earned degrees from UMGC in the fall 2024 term.

University of Maryland Global Campus was founded more than 75 years ago specifically to serve the higher education needs of working adults and military servicemembers. Today, UMGC is the largest provider of postsecondary education in Maryland and continues its global tradition with online and hybrid courses, more than 175 classroom and service locations worldwide, and more than 135 degrees and certificates backed by the reputation of a state university and the University System of Maryland. For more information, visit umgc.edu.

This topic is very important and relevant in our world today. The contest will be held on Monday February 17, 2025, at 6:45pm at the Fillmore Lions Club Building located at 128 Sespe Ave. Parents, students, educators and the general public are invited to attend. The contest is open to all Fillmore high school students regardless of the school of attendance (including home school taught, those attending outside of the district and foreign exchange students). The deadline to apply by is Friday, February 14, 2025. More information about the contest and how to sign up can be found at www.fillmorelionsclub.org.

The winner will receive $100 and all qualified participants will receive $25. The speech must be at least 5 minutes but no longer than 10 minutes. The winners of each stage of the competition will receive a financial award and be invited to the next level of the contest. The ultimate winner will receive a total of $20,000 in scholarships to a school of their choice. Students interested in participating can sign up at www.fillmorelionsclub.org. If you have any questions about your speech or the contest, please contact either Ms. Brien at 360-521-5647 or Mr. Overton at Fillmore High School at 805-276-6070.
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Above is a photo of artwork by Fillmore High School’s Cristal Martinez, grade 12, titled “Best Memory”, acrylic on canvas.
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Story by Michael Torres, FHS Art Teacher

Join us for the 2025 Fillmore Student Art Show at the Santa Paula Art Museum, Cole Creativity Center, showcasing the creativity and talent of our Fillmore Middle School and Fillmore High School students. The show will be judged by members of the Santa Paula Society of the Art, who along with the SP Art Museum are sponsoring $1,000 in scholarship awards. A reception and awards ceremony will be held at the museum on January 31st from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with an opportunity to meet the artists and view their work. All students, families, and community members are invited to attend and celebrate our young artists!

Ventura, Calif.--The Ventura College Foundation received a $75,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco). The funds will enable the Ventura College Foundation and Ventura College to implement a Pathway to Health Careers For Low-Income Students program.

The grant will fund the conversion of course textbooks into zero-cost digital formats and contribute to a lending library for equipment such as microscopes, calculators, lab coats and safety goggles.

“Courses that lead to jobs in healthcare such as nursing require expensive books and materials that often create a financial barrier for low-income students to enter these professions,” says Anne Paul King, Ventura College Foundation executive director. “Digitizing textbooks and establishing a lending library for required equipment brings those costs down to zero. For many students, this grant will open the door to high-paying, in-demand medical jobs. It will also impact the entire county’s healthcare system as students graduate and enter the workforce.”

The grant is part of FHLBank San Francisco’s Access to Housing and Economic Assistance for Development (AHEAD) which funds programs that enable people living in lower-income communities to have the infrastructure and resources to fully participate in a changing economy.

The Ventura County Credit Union, a partner with FHLBank San Francisco, recommended Ventura College Foundation for the grant.

“We know the vital role Ventura College and the Ventura College Foundation play in lifting up students who come from lower economic households,” says Linda Rossi, president/CEO of Ventura County Credit Union. “The AHEAD grant will enable the college to make education for high-demand medical careers even more accessible and affordable.”

“We’re proud that for 20 years and counting, the AHEAD Program continues to make a positive impact by supporting important initiatives throughout the communities we serve, including the Pathways to Health Careers project by the Ventura College Foundation,” says Eric Cicourel, community investment officer for FHLBank San Francisco. “This innovative resource can be life-changing.”

Under the guidance of the Ventura College Dean and college science faculty in Biology and Chemistry, Aaron Jones will undertake the book digitalization. The process is expected to begin Spring 2025 and finish by Fall 2025.

For more information about healthcare programs offered by Ventura College, go to www.venturacollege.edu/career-and-major-communities/health-wellness.

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