TORRANCE TRIBUNE December 29, 2016 Page 3 El Camino College Student Completes UCLA Research Program El Camino College student Johnson Chou thinks the world of home gardening could use a high-tech upgrade. Johnson spent this past summer working on a wireless system capable of using sensors to monitor soil moisture, humidity, temperature, light intensity and air quality and improve the health of a plant. Johnson’s research project was part of a summer program through UCLA, which tasked student researchers with exploring the concept of the Internet of Things using the Intel Edison platform. “The concept is really exciting,” said Johnson, who enrolled in ECC in 2014 after serving four years in the U.S. Air Force as an aerospace ground equipment maintainer. “The Internet of Things is a new way of understanding the world we live in; from trivial things like a sensor letting you know when food is about to go bad to medical breakthroughs like learning how our body really functions.” Johnson was supported through the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates, known as the UCLA Wireless Health Research and Education grant. He was awarded a stipend and lodging on campus, and matched with a UCLA professor’s lab, along with graduate and undergraduate student mentors. With everything from weekly workshops about graduate school and research to industry talks led by members of Northrop Grumman or Disney’s Imagineering, Johnson said he learned a lot. “We were required to present our ideas to improve our presentation skills at each week’s progress report meetings, at the Southern California NSF Convention, and at our final poster symposium,” said Johnson. “Overall the partnership with UCLA was more than what I was expecting and I’m very grateful to have such an opportunity.” Johnson is a Torrance resident and 2010 graduate of South High School. Now a fulltime student and part-time service member of the Air National Guard, he is taking an active role in his education through ECC’s Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program where he has participated in a variety of events. He hopes to transfer to UCLA next fall to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, and eventually his master’s degree. His future plans include a career as a software engineer and systems engineer. “Attending ECC and participating in MESA, I feel confident that I am well prepared and challenged with a solid foundation to tackle upper division courses when I transfer,” he said. • El Camino College student and Torrance resident Johnson Chou in the lab. Photo and Content Courtesy of El Camino College. Up and Adam 2016: A Year to Remember for Torrance Schools By Adam Serrao As high schools from around the city of Torrance prepare to move into a brand new year, it is important to remember the road that has gotten them to where they are today. Many schools experienced great success in 2016, while others were stung with heartbreak. The good times wouldn’t be as good without having gone through the bad, so let’s take a look back at the highlights of a wonderful 2016 high school sports season. The Torrance Tartars got off the ground and experienced success right away to start 2016. The boys’ basketball team, under head coach Paul Nitake and with star player Giovonni Jackson, captured the Pioneer League crown with a 17-10 record and made it to last year’s CIF Southern Section Division 2A playoffs. The girls couldn’t let the boys have all the shine, though. Torrance’s girls’ softball team continued its dominant run through the Pioneer League with yet another miraculous season and a 25-10 finish to the year. Behind Marissa Moreno, CeCe Da Costa, Katelyn Christian and many other talented players on the roster, the girls went all the way to the CIF Division 4 championship game. The Torrance boys’ volleyball team also finished in second place in last year’s Pioneer League standings and enjoyed a playoff appearance of its own. For the North High Saxons, the girls’ softball team seemed to be the only thing that could beat Torrance in 2016. As successful as the Tartars have been in the sport, North has been better as of late. A 29-6-1 record was good enough for a first place finish in the Pioneer League and a trip to the CIF Division 4 playoffs. Behind star pitcher Alyssa Loza, the Lady Saxons shut out the Tartars 5-0 and brought a championship home to North High. The Lady Saxons basketball team put on a show for people in 2016 as well, going undefeated in league play. The successful season was good enough for a first place finish in the Pioneer League standings and a trip to the second round of the CIF Division 2AA playoffs. So 2016 was a year for the girls of North High--something that the boys of the school will certainly take as a challenge moving into 2017. The West High girls’ basketball team may have finished second in league standings to North, but Hayley Tanabe and Kalei Atkinson remained unfazed. The Lady Warriors may not have captured a Pioneer League championship, but were able to make it all the way to the CIF Division 1AA championship game. West fell short of bringing home the title, but still enjoyed an extremely successful season. The West boys’ football team was able to advance to this year’s playoffs behind quarterback Drake Peabody and running back EJ Hatter, but it was the baseball team that captured a first place standing in the Pioneer League. Cody Wissler and Michael Timmerman led the team on offense. The West High girls’ soccer team came up huge in 2016, losing only five games all season long. Their first place standing in the Pioneer League was good enough for a trip to the CIF quarterfinals. The South boys’ basketball team may have experienced a horrendous season last year, but the soccer team was more than able to make up for any of the misgivings. A 19-5-1 record with only one loss all season in league play was good enough for a Pioneer League championship for the Spartans soccer squad. Head coach Chad Lagerwey was able to bring his team to the playoffs where the squad advanced all the way to the CIF Division IV championship game. Both South volleyball teams came up big on the year for the Spartans. The boys made it to the CIF Division 2 quarterfinals after compiling a 26-10 overall record and gaining a Pioneer League championship. The Spartans girls’ team also represented the school well, coming away with a 22-10 record and a first place finish in the Pioneer League standings. Looking back on a year full of sports is a fun way to remember which schools excelled at which sports throughout the course of long and trying seasons. Some teams may be good at football, while others may be good at basketball. Some girls programs may have carried the school to greatness, while for others it was the boys who carried their teams to titles. The great thing about sports is that there is no way to predict the outcome of any given year. The teams that won championships last season may find trouble having the same success this year, while other teams that have been accustomed to doing poorly may come out of nowhere to win a championship. The year 2017 will certainly be full of surprises and fun, but the only way to find out what will happen is by watching. Be sure to cheer on your local Torrance high schools and their players to greatness this year. – Asixlion@earthlink.net • Visit us online: www.heraldpublications.com Community Briefs South Bay Workforce Investment Board Receives Grant from Torrance Refining Company Torrance Refining Company LLC awarded the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) with a $1,500 grant earlier this month to help fund the employment and training programs and services the SBWIB provides to underserved populations in the South Bay area. In announcing the grant, SBWIB Executive Director Jan Vogel noted that it is business leaders like Torrance Refining Company that make a positive impact on their communities by seeking out and supporting organizations like us who are providing vital services to adults and youth seeking career training and job placement help without charge. Torrance refinery spokesperson Betsy Brien stated, “As an employer in the region, we appreciate the valuable service the South Bay Workforce Investment Board provides to those in our community who may face barriers to employment, and we are happy to be able to support their efforts.” Torrance Refining Company joined the South Bay community when it acquired the former ExxonMobil Refinery in July. It employs more than 600 people and accounts for another 440- 500 subcontractor jobs. It is the fifth refinery and related asset operated by its parent company PBF Energy based in New Jersey. In addition to its many employment preparation and placement services for individuals, the SBWIB also provides free services that help to improve the bottom line for small and large employers by reducing recruitment and training expenses while increasing employee retention and productivity. For further information, contact Jan Vogel at 310-970-7700 or by email info@sbwib.org. • Like Us on Facebook
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