University Students Make a Difference in Colton Students

Most times, acts of service done behind the scenes go unnoticed. Yet at a recent Colton Joint Unified School District board meeting, one group’s acts of service were noticed and honored. The Sociology Club at Cal State San Bernardino was given the school district’s Education Partner Award for its continuing work to mentor and help district students. “The Sociology Club’s professionalism and activism in promoting leadership, mentorship and equal access to education contributes to the ideals and goals of Colton Joint Unified School District,” said Nina Torres, a counselor for Cooley Ranch Elementary and Woodrow Wilson Elementary schools who nominated the club for the award, at the May 6 school board meeting where the CSUSB students were honored. The award recognizes “the outstanding contributions by our community partners,” said Katie Orloff, the school district’s communications manager. “It allows us as a district to thank some of the extremely generous and involved individuals and organizations who help our students and schools in so many ways.” “I honestly didn’t expect this,” said Alejandra Santana, the club’s president. “When Nina sent me the email and told me that we had won this award, I was in shock. I was like, ‘You nominated us in the first place?’ So it was truly an honor to be recognized. “I guess you really don’t see that a lot because that’s not what we’re here for, to be recognized,” Santana continued. “A lot of times we’re behind the scenes, pushing everything, moving people here and there, making things work. And to be recognized for it, it’s definitely an amazing experience. For others to see that, especially the Colton Joint Unified School District, that’s amazing.” As she presented the club with the award, Torres listed many activities the club’s students were involved in outside of the district, including projects with Habitat for Humanity and the annual walk-a-thon for Option House, which on May 2 raised $20,000 in the organization’s effort to end domestic violence. Even with all that, the club found time to help Colton district high school and elementary school students. “One particular program the club adopted was Washington High School’s Success by Choice mentorship program, which served at-risk youth from 2007 to 2014,” Torres said. “The Sociology Club worked collaboratively with Washington High School staff to help organize the foundation of this mentorship program.” She continued, "What makes this award so amazing is that this is exactly the goal that Colton joint Unified School District Community Cabinet, under the leadership of superintendent Jerry Almendarez, has made for the community of Colton." Among the activities CSUSB students led were a trip to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, college campus tours and several community projects. As a result, the club was honored with the 2012 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Award, Torres said. In the 2014-2015 school year, the club began working with Woodrow Wilson Elementary School’s Make a Change Club “to encourage students to be leaders in their community and to support their cause of preventing bullying in their school,” Torres said. In addition, the Sociology Club arranged for some of the school’s students to attend the College Making It Happen event at Cal State San Bernardino. Said Torres: “This trip helped students understand the importance of early academic planning in order to have choices after high school graduation.” Santana thanked Torres and the club adviser sociology professor Marcia Marx for their support. “We’re just a group of students who want to reach out to our community, who want to impact lives, who want to make a difference,” Santana said. “We’ve realized that with small acts we can make a difference.”