Fontana High honors Ophelia Hana Hosa for leadership and student advocacy

Fontana High School honored Ophelia Hana Hosa with an award, speakers said, praising her long-standing leadership, commitment to students and contributions to the school’s career-technical education programs.

Speakers at the ceremony said Hosa’s work reflects a consistent dedication to students and the school community. "She wears maroon, I think every single day to work. That's how committed she is," one speaker said, adding that the recognition "says a lot about not only Fontana High School, but Fontana Unified School District as a whole."

The principal of Fontana High School (name not specified) said she has made student opportunity a priority and that her own experience being told she was "not college material" shaped her approach. "If I ever become principal, I'm gonna make sure that... no adult tells them that they can't be what they can be," the principal said. The principal credited belief in students and staff empowerment with improving outcomes, saying, "When we believe in them, they will change the world."

Speakers credited Ophelia Hana Hosa, the honoree, with helping build the school's career-technical education (CTE) pathways and noted school recognitions. "I attribute a lot of the work that we do and the strong career technical pathways... to her leadership," one speaker said, and also referenced the school's AVID national demonstration school recognition. Speakers described Hosa as a long-serving leader who helped foster a "secure, nurturing, positive school environment" and promoted a culture summed up in the phrase "Live Maroon," which they described to mean taking pride in the school and supporting one another.

Remarks at the event combined personal anecdotes and program-level praise: speakers highlighted Hosa's visible daily support for the school community, efforts to encourage staff, and a stated focus on ensuring students have opportunities and confidence to pursue further education. No formal board action or policy changes were recorded during the remarks.

The program concluded with speakers urging continued commitment to the standards and culture Hosa represented and noting that her legacy includes sustained emphasis on CTE pathways and schoolwide supports for student success.