By Ethan Wang
Staff Writer
Photography Competition
Seniors Olivia Gonzalez and Livia De Paula finaled in Pasadena City College’s 2026 William G. Ericson Photography Competition and Scholarship. The South Pasadena Arts Council Gallery displayed their photographs alongside other finalists at the 2026 Student Photography Exhibition from April 2 to May 2.
“I was confident in my work, but I was still surprised when I ended up winning an award,” Gonzalez said. “I didn’t know that my own work would translate to other people, so it feels nice to have things that I worked hard on seen by others.”
The William G. Ericson Photography Competition is an annual contest open to all seniors attending public high schools around PCC. Students can submit photographs in four categories: Abstract, People, Places and Things. De Paula and Gonzalez both entered in People’s photography, with Gonzalez winning first in the category.
Category winners obtained a $2,000 scholarship while overall winners received $10,000 for first, $7,000 for second and $5,000 for third place. Ericson Foundation Board members narrowed down over 100 competitors to 44 finalists and chose eight Honorable Mentions, while a panel of professional photographers selected the category and overall winners. The competitors received their awards at an opening reception on April 11.
ELD Mentoring Restructure
After 12 years of lunchtime tutoring and cultural celebrations helping hundreds of English Language Development students find a home on campus, ELevate coordinator Teresa Huang is stepping away, leaving uncertainty about the program’s future.
“I’ve enjoyed this program immensely and I still keep in touch with many of the mentors and mentees who’ve graduated,” Huang said. “One of the things I’ve enjoyed is watching ELD students becoming mentors themselves, because their English has improved so much. They can give back by mentoring someone else. That’s the biggest joy.”
Huang will step down to spend more time with her husband, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and to continue teaching piano full time at her music studio. School administrators are unsure about changes to the program following Huang’s leave.
Huang launched ELevate Mentoring 12 years ago, under former Principal Mary Jo King. The program pairs student mentors with ELD students for weekly meetings, most often during lunch or office hours, and focuses on providing social and emotional support throughout the acculturation process. As program coordinator, Huang provided curriculum for mentors and organized cultural celebrations.
“I’m really proud of this program,” Huang said. “It started by matching up a few English speaking students with ELD students, but it has developed and grown so much over the years.”