Christina Latham is among 300 band directors invited to make up a marching band of music teachers from around the country at the Jan. 1 Rose Parade in Pasadena.
Education
Posted inEducation
Watsonville High student named semifinalist for Coca-Cola Scholars Program
Azucena Sandoval, a senior at Watsonville High School, has been named a semifinalist for the 2026 Coca-Cola Scholars Program, placing her in the top 1% of 107,000 applicants nationwide.
Posted inEducation
Cabrillo College governing board appoints former Watsonville mayor as new trustee
The Cabrillo College governing board voted 4–2 to appoint former Watsonville mayor Francisco “Paco” Estrada to fill the Area V trustee seat left vacant by the death of Manuel Bersamin. The board cited Estrada’s community ties, leadership experience and connection to Bersamin’s legacy in selecting him to serve through the 2026 election.
Posted inEducation
Fewer international students are coming to the U.S. What this means for California
The number of new international students enrolling in college in the U.S. is dropping. Their losses will be felt beyond classrooms, as foreign students in particular drive scientific research and advancement. As the state with the most international students, California will likely feel the biggest impact.
Posted inEducation
Colorado-based nonprofit tapped to temporarily run Santa Cruz County Head Start after Encompass exit
Encompass Community Services will hand off Santa Cruz County’s Head Start program to Denver-based Community Development Institute Head Start, which is expected to arrive Monday to begin reopening services that have been shuttered since Oct. 31.
Posted inEducation
Misinformation spreads as Trump moves to cut aid for some California students
The Trump administration is suing California, asking the state to end its policies allowing students without legal status to access in-state tuition and financial aid. But the administration’s legal argument is weak, according to top legal experts.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Encompass Community Services to stop Head Start child care program after over 40 years
Santa Cruz County nonprofit Encompass Community Services announced Tuesday that it was stopping the Head Start and Early Head Start programs, but did not rule out resuming operations in the future. The organization has run Head Start locally since 1983.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Pianist Benny Green takes the stage alongside UC Santa Cruz Jazz Big Band on Dec. 7
The UC Santa Cruz Jazz Big Band is holding a concert on Dec. 7 at the Music Center Recital Hall, with guest artist Benny Green under the direction of UCSC music lecturer Charles Hamilton.
Posted inEducation
UC Santa Cruz extends faculty hiring slowdown in bid to close $80 million deficit
UC Santa Cruz will extend its faculty hiring slowdown to address an $80 million deficit, planning to hire only five professors this year and none next year while allowing its faculty ranks to shrink by about 11% through attrition.
Posted inEducation
UC Santa Cruz announces $750 million fundraising campaign through 2030
UC Santa Cruz has launched a public campaign to raise $750 million by 2030, building on the $360 million already secured since a quiet 2020 kickoff to support student programs, scholarships, research and new facilities.