Karri Hammerstrom, executive director, Fresno-Madera K-16 Collaborative, was selected by California Teaching Fellows Foundation as this year's Educational Leader award recipient. She was honored at its third annual Teaching Fellows Scholarship Gala.

Olga Nuñez, director of Educational Talent Search, recently presented at the Council for Opportunity in Education’s annual conference in San Diego. The conference brings together professionals from across the nation to discuss trends in college access and retention. Nuñez hosted the second of three workshops titled, “No Ph.D. or Dinosaurs Necessary (Part II) – An Overview of the Jurassic World Rule Your Future Curriculum -STEAM STRAND,” which introduced curricula focused on paleontology, robotics and animatronics, biology and DNA. By the end of the year, 35 TRIO pre-college programs will have piloted these lessons, and the curriculum will then be available to TRIO programs across the country.

TRIO is a group of federally funded college opportunity programs that motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of higher education. Over 790,000 low-income, first-generation students, students with disabilities and veterans are served nationally.

Max Tsai, interim director for Digital Transformation (Technology Services), was recently recognized by Amazon Web Services (AWS) as an AWS Education Champion.

The AWS Education Champions community recognizes, celebrates and supports individuals that embody and advocate for AWS Education’s mission of accelerating digital transformation of education with cloud computing. The individuals selected to be part of this community demonstrate innovative uses of AWS services to profoundly shape the experience of learners, educators, researchers, administrators and more.

Ger Xiong, director of TRIO Student Support Services Program and Student Support Services Veterans will receive the TRIO Advocate of the Year Award from CenCal: Central California Chapter of WESTOP. This award recognizes individuals who have increased TRIO awareness amongst their institution and community at large, and also highlights their efforts in taking the meaning and importance of TRIO beyond their job and responsibilities. She will be presented with the award on Oct. 5, at the CENCAL Professional Development Seminar in Santa Cruz.