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November 19, 2025
Celebrating 70 years of utilizing the First Amendment
Volume 70 | Issue 3
Día de los Muertos tradition
KASSANDRA LÓPEZ/TM
This vibrant ofrenda (altar) honors several notable figures: richly decorated with marigold flowers, colorful table runners and traditional elements like pan de muerto and sugar skulls on Nov. 7, 2025. Kassandra López News Editor
Cerritos College held its 70th anniversary Dia de los Muertos: Noche con la Familia, welcoming families to participate in creating ofrendas- altars- all types of art, a live DJ, vendors and a movie screening on Nov. 7. “This year’s theme, ‘Noche con la Familia,’ celebrates community and shared traditions,” said event coordinator Vanessa Salas. “We’re honoring the memory of loved ones while creating space
for reflection, joy, and heartfelt acknowledgment of those who paved the way.” The celebration focused on remembrance, culture, and the beauty of life. Anthropology major Sam Bravo attended to honor loved ones and connect with the culture she celebrates yearly. “This event is definitely a way for me to connect posthumously and be more connected to the campus,” she stated. Vendors added to the cultural immersion, including Fresca Signature Flavors, owned by Rene
Pulido, known for their elevated agua frescas with flavors like café de olla. Pulido noted their drinks are inspired by Hispanic culture and impress customers with unique, natural mixes. The Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx De Aztlan Service Club also ran a booth, raising money to go to a conference in Texas by selling conchas, café de olla and scrunchies. The club president Monica Palacios touched on why they were participating in the event, “We are out here because we want
to promote our culture... we just want to be a part of the people.” Kevin Vasquez, a Business Administration major expressed his appreciation for the event’s atmosphere. I just appreciate everybody’s creativity and for the school letting us do this. I like seeing how everyone taps into their culture and makes me feel like connected to my own culture.” The attendees at the event immersed themselves in the tradition, participating in creating ofrendas and watching
the movie Coco. Importantly, this year’s event also served a higher purpose: it will help raise funds through the Cerritos College Foundation to support scholarships for the Puente and Undocu student communities. This 70th anniversary “Noche con la Familia” highlighted Cerritos College’s commitment to cultural celebration and remembrance while investing in its student community’s future.
Honoring Student Resilience with Scholarships Jhovani Rojas Staff Writer
Karina Soriano Editor in Chief
The Cerritos College Foundation transformed the Performing Arts Center into a celebration of persistence and community on Nov. 6, recognizing students whose paths to graduation are driven by hard work, family commitments and donor support. Families, faculty, alumni and benefactors packed the PAC to applaud recipients across dozens of awards that translate generosity into opportunity. Talon Marks Editor-in-Chief Karina Soriano stood out among honorees, earning two scholarships that reflect both academic momentum and service.
Soriano received the Cheryl A. Epple Memorial Scholarship one of two $1,000 awards supporting students with an enrollment in at least 12 units, and active participation in community service or volunteer work as well as the Norwalk Women’s Club Re Entry Scholarship, one of two $500 awards for re entry students age 23 or older who are new to college or returning after a break of three or more years. Together, the awards underscore a theme throughout the night that leadership is shaped by life experience and a real commitment to give back. The evening’s impact came into focus through the stories of both recipients and donors. Student Darlene Madison described how scholarships help her balance school and caregiving. After enrolling two years ago, she shifted from full-time to part-time when she began working and took on more responsibilities at home. With her mother serving as a full-time caretaker, talonmarks.com
Madison helps raise her younger sister and brother, from cooking to cleaning. “I’m so glad Cerritos has opportunities like this, besides financial aid,” she said. “The scholarship lets me focus on my family and push my education forward.” She expects to graduate in the spring and transfer to Cal State Long Beach in the fall. She has already read up on the campus’s Japanese garden. Longtime supporters Marie Downey Jackson and Thomas Jackson traced a lineage of giving that predates many of the current students. The couple, retired since the early 2000s, has backed Cerritos for roughly two decades. Thomas, a former faculty member, trustee and early donor who once contributed part of his paycheck to the Foundation, helped launch the college’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter. “We started the original Phi Theta Kappa here with over 200 students, 206 when we chartered,” he recalled. Read more at TalonMarks.com