Monarchs lead Los Angeles in advanced education opportunities as voted by LA Daily News readers.
By Marcos Franco, Managing Editor
Valley College is the only school to receive three “Best” awards in education by The LA Daily News’ 2021 Readers Choice Awards.
Readers of the San Fernando Valley and neighboring communities chose Valley as the best career, trade and nursing school as well as leader in tutoring and best kids camp. The college was also recently included in the top five community colleges in California by Forbes Magazine last spring.
“I think it [Readers Choice Award] speaks for itself,” said 19 year old theater student Mike Potemkin. “If Valley got three awards and no other school received as many, that says a lot about our school compared to others. Go Monarchs!”
The Daily News first introduced the Reader’s Choice Awards in 1999 and has since featured top rated retail businesses, restaurants, education institutions and more. The annual release is available to readers year-round, including services and businesses across over 100 categories which, once chosen, are given the opportunity to advertise their business and describe the institution's benefits in their own words. Votes are tallied by the Daily News from ballots advertised in the newspaper and online version of the paper.
Valley’s nursing department is approved and accredited by the California Board of Registered Nursing and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. During the height of the pandemic last winter, nursing students from Valley administered nearly 10,000 vaccines a day at Dodger Stadium, the largest vaccination site in the state at the time. The nursing program accepts applicants twice a year, the duration of September for spring enrollment and in April for the fall semester.
The Academic Resource Center offers general tutoring across most subjects as well as math and writing labs for students. Tutoring workshops are led by both professors and current and former Valley students who are familiar with instructors’ assignments and expectations.
ARC released a statement expressing gratitude to the community that has made Valley the successful institution that it is today.
”We want to thank our entire Monarch family and friends for voting for LA Valley College,” read the statement. “We beat out many private and for-profit schools and companies who have previously won.”
Since 1971, Valley has offered Monarch Camps for kids ages 5 -13 during summer, winter and spring breaks in addition to after-school programs and overnight trips. Monarch Camps operate on 105 acres of land, offering more than 20 recreational activities ranging from sports to culinary opportunities. During their time at Valley, campers are taught sportsmanship, cooperation and motor skills, inspiring patience and creativity throughout their development to adolescence.
“I think this acknowledgment will help bring in new students,” said 18 year old undeclared freshman Jesse Lopez. “Knowing that the school offers those kinds of opportunities is helpful, especially for students who are parents.”