Introducing PSP’s Class of 2025, El Monte Cohort

Eight new 7th grade scholars join PSP at induction ceremony

Partnership Scholars Program started the New Year in high spirits as we inducted eight new students from El Monte into PSP’s Class of 2025 cohort. Board members, donors, alumni, current scholars, and the principal and staff members of Charles T. Kranz Intermediate School joined the PSP community to celebrate this momentous event for all the new students.

Before the new 7th grade scholars were presented, we heard from the current 8th grade scholars, who shared their experience and advice from the past year. With guidance from Kranz teacher and long-time PSP mentor Camille Osburn, the students created presenations that they shared – along with laughs and advice for PSP’s newest students.

Click to see the 8th grade presentations:    

Hannan & Johnny       Francess & Jazmin    

Aaron, Frankie & Daniel        Jacqueline & Katherine   

Click here to learn more about mentoring PSP students. 

But first, to kick off the ceremony Charles T. Kranz Intermediate School Principal David Herrera welcomed the community to his school. PSP Board Member Raymond Andry, who also serves as Mountain View School District’s Assistant Superindendent of Educational Services, reflected on PSP’s history in the El Monte community. Throughout the evening, George Schonborn, Mountain View School District’s Director of Pupil Personnel Services, brought humor as he MC’ed the induction. 

Older PSP students and alum also shared their experiences as part of PSP. Denisse Tafolla and Rachel Perez, both seniors who have been part of tPSP since the 7th grade, shared how the support of their mentor and all the new experiences they had in PSP helped them feel ready for the next phase of their lives. Alums Armando Torres, a PSP alum currently working toward his Ph.D. at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne,  and  David Godinez PSP alum transferring to USC this fall, both spoke about how PSP impacted their college and professional careers.

To close the night, Ms. Arlene LeGaspe, Kranz teacher and PSP Coordinator at El Monte, and Ryan Smith, a PSP mentor and Kranz Assistant Principal, presented certificates and gifts to the newest PSP scholars.

These 7th grade scholars were selected from over 100 applicants at Kranz Intermediate School. Each of them demonstrated a passion for learning a focus on their college aspirations!

The ceremony was truly a celebration, bringing together students, families, volunteers, school district leaders and community partners.