Rio Hondo hosted Discover Rio with 512 students from 10 different middle schools on Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This year Discover Rio is breaking new ground with a whole new target in their sights, going after some untapped potential by bringing in middle school students to explore the campus.

Schools that attended the event include North Park Academy of the Arts in Pico Rivera, Los Nietos Middle School in Whittier, and Dean Shively Middle School in South El Monte to name a few.

Discover Rio gives exposure to a real college campus to a group of kids who might not have known a college existed right down the street.

They also got a full campus tour by one of the well qualified Rio Hondo staff members who were able to answer all of their questions.

The tour went from the Rio Hondo Fire Academy, to the state of the art Fitness Center all the way to the fine dining of the Rio Cafe. Discover Rio put a whole new spin on going to school.

Discover Rio started at the Wray Theater with a breath taking performance by the Rio Hondo Dance team and consisted of multiple workshops such as CPR Nursing, Pathway to Law, Alternative Energy and Auto Technology.

This allowed them to see a variety of different options available to them, showing them an education is a lot more than just math, English and science.

Rio Hondo Community College and its staff wants to be a part of helping young students make the right decisions for their future.

“98% of our students are hispanic and come from low income families, we do get them ready for high school, but we also want to focus on education after high school and I think this is a great hands on opportunity for that” said Mrs. Perez, math teacher at Dean Shively Middle School.

For years local high schools have been given the opportunity to Discover Rio, a chance to not only hear first hand testimonies from professors, students and alumni, but the experience of walking through a community college campus right in their back yard.

It also gives them a small glimpse of the opportunities available to them after they finish high school.

A lot of the kids come from drug infested neighbor hoods and streets filled with gang activity.

The kids are at a pivotal age and might find themselves at a fork in the road. It only takes one decision to change the rest of their lives in either direction.

Its these same kids that someday could become doctors, lawyers, police men, fire fighters even president, meaning anything is possible.

All in all this years Discover Rio was not only ground breaking but without a doubt a success, to see all the young boys and girls interacting, asking questions, and showing a genuine enthusiasm in what Rio Hondo has to offer them.