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FEATURED
Jessica
LUIS
FLORES
LUIS
FLORES
ABOUT ME
My name is Luis Flores, I was born and raised in Los Angeles growing up in the Lincoln Heights and Highland Park neighborhoods. Photography has always captured my attention and after taking beginning photography classes at Los Angeles Valley College I fell in love with the practice. I run my own creative clothing brand online which is one of the reasons I pursued photography in the first place, to photograph my own work. I really enjoy street photography and studio photography as I photograph and showcase a lot of my merchandise. Trying to get a bigger grasp on photography I enrolled in photojournalism and hope to complete a photojournalism degree.
An interesting fact about me is that I love cycling from BMX to road and mountain bikes, I own 4 bikes that I enjoy taking out every once in a while. I used to race at the Encino velodrome back in 2017.
Esther Gwynne has been singing at Valley for over six decades
At 80 years old, the choir member has projected her voice across campus since the early '60s with no plans to stop anytime soon. By: Gabriel Gomez, Staff Writer Esther Gwynne caught in mid verse of "Fly Me to the Moon." The 80 year old student has been attending Valley since 1963 and remembers when it was stil ok to smoke on campus. Where does the fusion of music and that elusive human soul originate? For Esther Gwynne, the two became inextricably linked when she was introd
Oct 223 min read
“Warfare” delivers noise but little depth
By: Martin Romero, Special to the Star (L-R)Taylor John Smith and Cosmo Jarvis as Frank and Elliot Miller in A24's Warfare released this April, now available to stream on HBOMax. Credit: Murray Close "Warfare," A24's latest war film directed by Alex Garland and co-directed by Ray Mendoza, offers a glimpse into Mendoza's harrowing near-death experience during the Iraq War but ultimately falls short of delivering a cohesive story. Set in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006, the film follows
Oct 163 min read
Senate Bill 640 grants high school students direct admission in most California State Universities
The program, signed into effect last week will shorten the lengthy and costly admission process while also implementing changes for community college students. By: Kaia Mann, Staff Writer The new California law, SB 640 aims to simplify the path to college, granting eligible California high school students automatic admission into select California State Universities in the 2026-27 school year. This bill hopes to remedy dwindling CSU enrollment numbers and increase students’
Oct 152 min read
Community march highlights economic toll of ICE raids in Los Angeles
By: Hermes Padilla, Staff Writer Jamie Morales, a street vendor in the San Fernando Valley, Plans his vending route to reduce risk amid ongoing ICE raids. (Brian Griffin for the Valley Star) Los Angeles County is home to an estimated 950,000 undocumented immigrants . With the recent ICE raids causing economic hardships, there has been an influx of marches to protest the impact they have had for undocumented workers and their families. “¡La gente unida, jamás será vencida!”
Oct 152 min read
The Monarchs dominate Compton 53-0 in Homecoming blowout
By: Shane Hurley, Staff Writer Monarchs number 28 Jace Andrews, number 6 Alexander Johnson and number 21 Deshawn Malone slam down a Compton wide receiver during a run attempt on Thursday, Oct. 9th, 2025, in the Homecoming blowout game against the Compton Coyotes. (Alejandro Rafael for the Valley Star) The Valley College football team celebrated Homecoming in style Thursday night, as the Monarchs overwhelmed Compton College 53-0 in a one sided contest that showcased Valley’s o
Oct 152 min read
The thrills (and chills) of October: a guide to Halloween theme park celebrations
By: Gabriela Martinez, Valley Life Editor, and Rosemary Villalonga, Opinion Editor Crowds wait in line for the rope drop at Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights on the evening of Oct. 2, 2025. (Matthew Mejia for the Valley Star.) When Robert Burns penned his 1786 poem “Halloween,” he likely would not have imagined that today’s students would be waiting in hourlong lines and pay up to $200 for a chance to get spooked. Universal Studios Hollywood has hosted thei
Oct 153 min read
Monarchs Pick Up Win and Halt Losing Streak
The Monarchs picked it up on offense and game away with their team's first conference win of the season. By: Alejandro Garcia, Rosemary...
Oct 82 min read
California’s covid comeback: what students need to know about the latest surge
By: Mariam Mkrtchian, Staff Writer (Illustration by Alejandro Rafael for the Valley Star) Although masks have mostly disappeared on campus, health officials say covid cases are on the rise in California. Data from the CDC shows that the amount of covid positive tests in California has doubled between July and September , with students caught in the middle of an unexpected surge. Some students remain uninformed about the surge, while others continue to take precautions. As of
Oct 62 min read
Valley College Soccer on a roll as it heads into its first conference play against Citrus.
By: Alejandro Garcia, Staff Writer Valley midfielder Jennifer Trejo applying the pressure to regain possession from Cuesta player, Hailey...
Sep 222 min read
The Monarchs take down the Brahmas 22-15 and hang onto the victory bell for another year
Valley football took an early lead against Pierce Saturday and never looked back, winning its first game of the season. The Monarchs...
Sep 152 min read
Valley faces Pierce for a ten year shot at the bell
by Mariam Mkrtchian Valley College, who defeated Pierce 20–12 last year, face the Brahmas again in the Victory Bell game. The Monarchs...
Sep 101 min read
LAVC annual art gallery draws a crowd
By: Trinity Penny, photographer Charcoal on paper collage at the LAVC Annual Art Student Invitational Gallery, May 21, 2025. The collage...
Jun 11 min read
College Speech and Debate Team earns medals at nationals
Students bring home multiple medals after strong showing at Phi Rho Pi in April By: Bruna de Mello, Valley Life Editor L to R: Pedram...
May 283 min read
Child Development Department conference discusses DEI
Professors lead the charge in maintaining inclusivity in the classroom in the midst of the attack on diversity, equity and inclusion. By:...
Apr 303 min read
Valley's Center of attention
Champion diver continues success as a Monarch. Toby Douglas and Holdenn Graff, Staff Writers The 19-year-old Ciara Center is majoring...
Apr 303 min read
Trump attempts to strip youth of history
Educators fight to combat the distortion of America's past and preserve the truth. By: Holdenn Graff, Sports Editor Illustration by Milan...
Apr 303 min read
Early May deadline looms for REAL ID requirement
After over 20 years of delays, the REAL ID will be federally mandated starting May 7, requiring the card to fly domestically. By Kaia...
Apr 302 min read
Students set to elect new ASU representatives
With a historically low voter turnout during student elections, the ASU is using candidate forums to bring out the voters. Elmira...
Apr 283 min read
Rewriting Reality: The campaign to redefine America's past
The AI-powered elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout all branches of government has sparked public outrage. By Milan...
Apr 283 min read
It’s time to sunset Daylight Savings Time
By: Daimler Koch, Online Editor Alejandro Rafael for the Valley Star Donald Trump has pledged to accomplish many goals during his second...
Apr 22 min read
Trump is trying to erase history with the end of birthright citizenship
By: Daimler Koch, Online Editor Illustration by Milan Rafaelov On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order to end...
Apr 22 min read
Valley soccer on a mission: Monarchs look at a 2025 Turnaround
After a tough 2024 season, the squad looks to rebuild and bring winning soccer back to Valley. By Holdenn Graff, Sports Editor Incoming...
Apr 23 min read
The transfer portal is hurting JUCO recruitment.
The sidelines feel crowded as the transfer portal takes away JUCO players time on the field. By Alex Diaz, Sports Editor Photo...
Apr 23 min read
Ta’Ron Glascoe takes to a different stage
The triple threat Umoja student has found a new direction studying business at Valley College. By: Kaia Mann, Editor-in-chief Ta'Ron...
Apr 23 min read
Programs reach out to scholars, veterans and former inmates
New center offers a chance for community building and collaboration for underrepresented groups. By: Sara Lemon, staff writer (L-R)...
Mar 233 min read
College community stands to protect undocumented students
Members of the district, state officials and immigration experts gathered at the districtwide Dream Resource Forum. By: Kaia Mann,...
Mar 233 min read
All that glitters is not gold
Trump and his Oompa Loopas want to cash in with golden tickets. By: Elmira Muradkhanyan, News Editor President Donald Trump proposes a...
Mar 233 min read
Campus shouldn't lose students in translation
The silent struggles that get lost in translation and the case for a peer translation program. By Milan Rafaelov, Staff Writer A cluster...
Mar 232 min read
Art Gallery Celebrates Former Students With Multidisciplinary Exhibition
The LAVC Art Gallery puts on multiple shows each semester, spotlighting different aspects of art at Valley. By: Kaia Mann,...
Mar 173 min read
Men and women place second overall in first WSC swim meet
Valley College hosted Pierce, Santa Monica, Ventura and Citrus colleges in the Western State Conference competition Feb. 21. By: Natalie...
Mar 62 min read
Lady Monarchs' season comes to an end following second-round playoff.
Women's basketball squeaked into the playoffs as the final seed in the Western State Conference, upsetting first round opponent. By:...
Mar 63 min read
Nearly $1 billion of construction inches toward finish line
Officials say a portion of the two-decade long revitalization project is set to be completed by 2026. By: Kaia Mann, Editor-in-chief...
Mar 63 min read
Protests erupt over Trump policies
Donald Trump has issued 75 executive orders and counting, focussed on DEI, Immigration and funding. By: Kaia Mann, Editor-in-chief Flor...
Mar 63 min read
Assembly Bill 247 looks to level the paying field for inmates.
California operates 35 fire camps to train and employ incarcerated firefighters who are paid less than minimum wage. By: Bruna de Mello,...
Mar 63 min read
To stop Trump, Congress Democrats will need to play the long game
By: Daimler Koch, Online Editor Illustration by Milan Rafaelov America appears to be heading towards a constitutional crisis. President...
Mar 33 min read
College at a Crossroads
The future of higher education braces for a new and refined Trump administration. By Milan Rafaelov, Staff Writer Valley Staff...
Mar 13 min read
Valley College stuns Santa Ana on the road in the first round of playoffs
The Lady Monarchs squeaked out the major upset victory to advance to the second round for the first time since the 22-23 season. By...
Feb 273 min read
Transgender Women Belong in Women’s Sports
The recent attack on transgender women in sports carries more significant turmoil into the gender inequality of sports. By Alex Diaz,...
Feb 274 min read
Campus attempts to ease students’ fears with red cards.
Although limited in their response to the possibility of ICE coming to campus, Valley tries to keep immigrant students in the know. By:...
Feb 262 min read
Medical professionals provide tips on how to stay healthy during flu season
Statistics show the number of flu cases have been on the rise since October and are steadily increasing. By: Hilary Van Hoose, Copy...
Feb 263 min read
Program focuses on wellness
Assembly bill pushing more than snacks at vending machines. By: Brian Nemorin, Staff Writer Photo Illustration by Astrid Cortez...
Feb 262 min read
Nickel Boys makes an impact with unique style in a Jim Crow era Florida.
Following the story of two friends who meet under unfortunate circumstances, RaMell Ross’s feature film achieves remarkable milestones in...
Feb 262 min read
Young Black Scholars are celebrated at Valley.
Umoja Black Scholars welcome middle and high school students on campus with a dance battle, soul food and educational advice. By Kaia...
Feb 252 min read
Women’s Basketball secures playoff berth in clutch win over Antelope Valley
The squad picks up do-or-die victory in regular-season finale to punch playoff ticket. By: Holdenn Graff, Sports Editor Guard Madison...
Feb 243 min read
Shining a light on student needs and Campus Help
Valley’s resources offer reprieve for the community. By: Sara Lemon, Staff Writer Students completed the annual Real College Survey last...
Feb 193 min read
Chicano professor sets new course
Pete Lopez has been teaching at Valley for 28 years and counting. By: Sara Lemon, Staff Writer Professor Pete Lopez standing proud in his...
Feb 193 min read
The show did not go on for Night of the Living Dead
Valley theater’s fall production suffered an early death after multiple members of the cast contracted Covid-19. By: Kaia Mann,...
Feb 193 min read
Art faculty balance creation and education at Valley
Borja, Nagy, Queen, and Carter show off their art and workspaces through drawings, paintings, sculptures and ceramics. Amelia Borja...
Feb 186 min read
Emotional decision making hurts more in the long run.
Scientists warn against mental shortcuts and suggest taking a broader look at each circumstance. By: Jessica Guo, Special to the star...
Feb 183 min read
Judge makes the right call in handing out punishment in murder case
Judge makes the right call in handing out punishment in murder case. By: Brian Nemorin, Staff Writer Photo Illustration by Sydne...
Feb 183 min read
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