FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | RELEASE DATE: January 29, 2026 | CONTACT: Dalilah Davaloz (562) 692-0921
(Whittier, Calif.) — Río Hondo College has been recognized with a Clean California Community Designation, becoming the first community college in California to earn this prestigious statewide honor.
The Clean California Community Designation program is part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s $1.2 billion Clean California program, launched in 2021 by Caltrans to clean up, reclaim, transform and beautify public spaces statewide.
Led by the College’s College Corps program, Río Hondo College is one of only 45 communities statewide to earn the designation. To qualify, the College met 10 of 15 criteria, including litter assessments, highway cleanups and community education efforts. Student volunteers collected more than 19,000 pounds of trash, helped designate the campus as smoke-free to reduce cigarette litter and created a garden at the Child Development Center.
“Being named the first community college in California to earn a Clean California Community Designation reflects who we are at Río Hondo College,” said Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss. “Student success is deeply connected to the environment in which learning takes place, and this recognition affirms our commitment to environmental stewardship, civic responsibility and community pride. Our College Corps students are leading by example, creating cleaner, healthier spaces while shaping a more sustainable future for the communities we serve.”
Board of Trustees President Rosaelva Lomeli emphasized the College’s broader impact.
“This designation reflects Río Hondo College’s role in enhancing the communities we serve,” said Lomeli. “By creating clean, welcoming and sustainable spaces, we are strengthening civic pride and improving quality of life across our region.”
“I am incredibly proud of our College Corps fellows, volunteers and community partners whose dedication and hard work made this achievement possible,” said Río Hondo College’s College Corps Program Ambassador Nohelia Vega. “This designation is just the beginning. Our commitment to cleaning up and beautifying our community continues to grow, and we are excited to expand green spaces and lead more clean-up events.”
As a designated Clean California Community, Río Hondo College will receive personalized on-site signage, statewide recognition and membership with Keep California Beautiful. The College plans to host a plaque unveiling ceremony later this year to formally commemorate the designation and celebrate the students and partners who made the achievement possible.
For more information, visit RIOHONDO.EDU. Río Hondo College has various class options on campus or fully online.
About Clean California:
Since launching Clean California in July 2021, Caltrans and its local partners have picked up 3.5 million cubic yards of litter from highways and public spaces – the equivalent of filling more than 150,000 residential garbage trucks with debris and trash. Caltrans has hosted more than 650 free dump days in communities throughout the state – resulting in the collection of 15,500-plus mattresses and 57,000 tires. The initiative has drawn more than 10,000 community clean-up volunteers and created 18,267 jobs, including positions for individuals who were formerly incarcerated, on probation, or experiencing housing insecurity. Visit CleanCA.com for more information.
About California Volunteers, Office of the Governor
California Volunteers, under GO-Serve, empowers Californians to take action to improve their communities. California Volunteers is the state office tasked with recruiting Californians to engage in public service. California Volunteers oversees the #CaliforniaForAll College Corps program, which helps create debt-free pathways to college while engaging students across the state in solving problems in their communities.
