Iris Cruz

Jurupa Adult School

Nominated in 2023

Iris Cruz, an adult education concurrent enrollment student, is being honored by the California Adult Education Students Succeed Program (CAESS) for her exceptional dedication to personal, academic, and professional growth. Currently enrolled in both Jurupa Adult School's High School Diploma Program and Riverside City College (RCC) credit courses, Iris Cruz's accomplishments serve as a testament to the transformative power of adult education.

About Iris

Iris Cruz has been an integral part of her community and the business sector for over 13 years. As a licensed contractor, she works for a corporation and is actively pursuing her General B Contractor License. Her responsibilities involve designing and constructing dream kitchens and bathrooms for families, bringing joy and happiness through home improvements.

Driven by her commitment to continuous learning, Iris Cruz is determined to earn her high school diploma at Adult Education, Jurupa Unified School District. She takes immense pride in being the first concurrent student at Jurupa Unified School District Adult Ed and Riverside City College.

At Riverside Community College, Iris Cruz actively engages in various courses, including ACC-63 Income Tax, EST-21 California Building Codes, ACC-1A Accounting, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). Her participation in the VITA program has solidified her dedication to community service, as she provides free income tax preparation assistance to individuals in need. Iris Cruz is equally proud of her volunteer work for Jurupa Unified School District, where she actively contributed to committees such as the Facilities and Technology Committee and supports the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) at the California State Board of Education. Her unwavering belief in the potential of students, as long as they possess the tools and desire, drives her commitment to their success.

Iris Cruz's educational journey at RCC has also equipped her with the skills necessary to handle payroll for her company. She emphasizes the outstanding support she has received from her RCC instructors, whose dedication has played a pivotal role in her academic achievements. The most valuable lesson she has learned during her time at RCC and Jurupa Adult School is that with hard work and the support of teachers, it is never too late for adults to pursue their high school diploma and college certificate programs. She shared, "It would be wonderful for more adult students to learn about and take advantage of the concurrent enrollment program so they can succeed in college, the workforce, and life."

Looking ahead, Iris Cruz aspires to earn an Associate of Arts degree at RCC and subsequently transfer to a four-year college to pursue a business degree.