Rancho Mirage High student recognized for entrepreneurial plan along CV Link

A Rancho Mirage High School junior earned a $1,000 award from Friends of CV Link, the nonprofit supporting the CV Link's mission, for his winning entry in its inaugural Young Entrepreneurs Competition. His project aims to enhance the experiences of people with disabilities along the valley-wide pathway.

"It (the project) celebrates CV Link and it gives students an opportunity to think about career and business while they're getting their education and plans for their own careers," said Jim Rothblatt, a member at large with the nonprofit.

Also in this week's education roundup: Desert Recreation Center and Riverside County's commission on children and families have joined forces to offer free swim lessons across the Coachella Valley, educating children under 5 about water safety; a local update on the completion rates for the new federal aid application for graduating high school seniors; and a program spotlight for adult learners at Palm Springs Unified School District.

Did we miss a noteworthy education story? Raise your hand and send it my way: jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.

Rancho Mirage High School student recognized for entrepreneurial spirit after presenting CV Link project

A special ceremony took place Thursday morning in Palm Springs to honor Maxwell Johansson, the inaugural winner of the Young Entrepreneur Competition, a pilot program developed by the Friends of CV Link's youth development committee. The competition aimed to uplift and invest in youth by challenging middle and high school students to draft business plans offering services on the bike pathway.

Johansson, a rising junior at Rancho Mirage High School, drew inspiration for his winning business plan from his job, where he gained exposure to outdoor adaptive mobility. He proposed setting up stores along the CV Link where riders could buy, modify or lease mobility devices.

"A lot of people my age just don't have a lot of stuff going on and they don't really try to get ahead and try to do things that are more difficult and outside their comfort zone," Johansson said, "so having projects where you can work and see how well you can actually make a business plan or try your actual abilities is very important."

His forward-thinking business plan was progressive, breaking down the finances effectively, said Yurema Arvizu, board president of the nonprofit. "(Johansson) found that there was an accessibility gap and he went ahead and created something that would fit that gap. It's about starting these conversations," she said.

The idea to involve youth in local schools, particularly from the east valley, originated from Jerry Alcorn and Jim Rothblatt, a former and now retired counselor at Palm Desert High School. The COVID-19 pandemic later disrupted the committee's early plans to partner with schools in its initiative. Rothblatt credits Crystal Romero, a recent graduate from Desert Mirage High School in Thermal, as well as Arvizu, in reviving the project.

And in a full-circle moment, Vail Horton, a former student of Rothblatt's and co-founder of Incight, a nonprofit offering transitional services to people with disabilities, contributed funds for the $1,000 award. "There was no connection there, other than just pure coincidence," Rothblatt said. "I'm just pretty excited that we've arrived at this point because this is the real kickoff for us."

It'll be up to Johansson to decide if he'll continue to initiate his business plan, and will be supported by Friends of CV Link if he proceeds. For now, the nonprofit is focusing on fostering a sense of community among Coachella Valley's youth, aiming for a greener future.

For more information: Visit friendscvlink.org/youthdevelopment

Gear up for a safe summer with free swim lessons for kids under 5

Dive into water safety at an upcoming event hosted by Desert Recreation Center and First 5 Riverside County, the county's commission on children and families.

From 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, at the Mecca Community Pool, a lifeguard will highlight the importance of practicing safety during the swim season, particularly to protect young children from the dangers of water accidents and drowning.

Water accidents and drowning were the first and second leading causes of death in children ages 1 to 4 in Riverside County from 2018 to 2022, according to findings from the Riverside University Health System's Public Health Department.

The organizations will be on hand to help families apply for the free swimming lesson program, Ready, Set, Swim Jr. For families who are unable to make the event, hundreds of youth sign-ups are open for swim lessons at pools across the Coachella Valley through Desert Recreation District. First 5 sponsors free lessons for children ages 18 months to 5 years.

For more information: Visit myrecreationdistrict.com/class/scholarships-free-youth-swim-lessons

FAFSA issues lead to 11.6% drop in students submitting the financial aid form, but some Coachella Valley schools increased their completion rate

Amidst unprecedented delays, this year's rollout of the Better FAFSA revealed an 11.6% drop in students completing the financial aid form compared to last year, according to data from the National College Attainment Network.

More: Unprecedented delays in the financial aid process challenge local students headed to college

Nationally, 46% of this year's graduating class completed the FAFSA by June 28. In California, about half of all high school seniors filled out the form — ranking the state 12th nationally. California increased submissions by 9% this year, a boost since the state began requiring students to complete college financial aid forms in 2022.

Locally, here's how the three public K-12 districts did:

• Coachella Valley Unified School District: An estimated 62.5% of graduating seniors completed the FAFSA, a drop of 5.8% from last year;

• Desert Sands Unified School District: An estimated 75.2% of graduating seniors completed the FAFSA, a drop of 5.8% from last year; and

• Palm Springs Unified School District: An estimated 49.7% of graduating seniors completed the FAFSA, a drop of 12.7% from last year.

A select few high schools experienced an increase in completions of the federal financial aid form:

• Horizon High School in La Quinta saw a 51.7% increase compared to last year, with 81.5% of graduating seniors completing the FAFSA;

• West Shores High School in Salton City saw a 14.6% increase compared to last year, with 69.6% of graduating seniors completing the FAFSA;

• Amistad High School in Indio saw a 5.1% increase compared to last year, with 60.3% of graduating seniors completing the FAFSA;

• Desert Mirage High School in Thermal saw a 2.3% increase compared to last year, with 64.7% of graduating seniors completing the FAFSA; and

• Shadow Hills High School in Indio saw a 1.2% increase compared to last year, with 83.8% of graduating seniors completing the FAFSA.

The following high schools, including Horizon, were the sites that achieved over 70% FAFSA completion rates:

• Palm Desert High School in Palm Desert: An estimated 83% of graduating seniors completed the FAFSA;

• Cathedral City High School in Cathedral City: An estimated 70.1% of graduating seniors completed the FAFSA;

• La Quinta High School in La Quinta: An estimated 74.4% of graduating seniors completed the FAFSA; and

• Indio High School in Indio: An estimated 73.3% of graduating seniors completed the FAFSA.

While the state's priority deadline for the FAFSA and the California Dream Act Application was May, students can still explore their options for college or career school. Those who decide to enroll at a California community college — like College of the Desert — have until Sept. 3 to apply, though earlier FAFSA submissions are encouraged.

For more information: Visit studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa or dream.csac.ca.gov

Program Spotlight: Palm Springs Unified School District's Parent Academy connects family to resources

This upcoming school year won't just be a time for students to attend classes; parents at Palm Springs Unified School District will also have the opportunity to sharpen their pencils and take notes.

The district's Parent Academy will share resources, technology training, academic support, professional development, parent classes and more at the following locations starting this fall:

• Palm Springs Family Center, located at 333 S. Farrell Drive in Palm Springs, from 5 to 6 p.m. every Tuesday from Sept. 17 to Nov. 12; and

• Desert Hot Springs Family Center, located at 11-625 West Drive in Desert Hot Springs, from 5 to 6 p.m. every Thursday, from Sept. 19 to Nov. 14.

Parents who are interested in enrolling in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes throughout the 2024-25 school year are encouraged to do so via Coachella Valley Adult School. PSUSD will also offer free bilingual citizenship classes to prepare for the U.S.citizenship exam. Families can sign up online at bit.ly/psusdciudadania.

Those interested in enrolling in adult Spanish classes can fill out PSUSD's interest form at bit.ly/learnspanish2024.

For more information: Visit familycenter.psusd.us or linktr.ee/psusdfamilycenter, reach out via email at familycenter@psusd.us or by phone at 760-416-1374

Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Rancho Mirage High student recognized for entrepreneurial plan along CV Link