Contact: Xanthi Soriano, Executive Director, Communications
Phone: (279) 789-1601 • Email: xsoriano@scoe.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, May 15, 2023
WHAT: High School Diploma to be Awarded to Vietnam Veteran
WHEN: Tuesday, May 16, 2023 (6:30 p.m.)
WHERE:10474 Mather Boulevard, Mather, CA 95655
WHO: Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) Board
WHY: The Operation Recognition diploma retroactively honors U.S. veterans and Japanese American citizens who missed graduating with their high school classes due to wartime circumstances.
Louis “Lou” Soto attended Rio Linda High School for two years prior to enlisting with the U. S. Marines in November 1968. During his 18 months of service, Soto was stationed in Vietnam. His military honors include National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Rifle Marksman Badge, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and a Good Conduct Medal. Following his service in Vietnam, Soto transferred back to the Sacramento area, serving in the Marine Corps Reserve Forces Class III.
A high school diploma will be presented to Soto through SCOE’s Operation Recognition program, adopted by the Board of Education in 2001 to retroactively honor U.S. veterans and Japanese American citizens who missed graduating with their high school classes due to wartime circumstances. Soto will become the 201st recipient of an Operation Recognition high school diploma.
About the Sacramento County Office of Education
The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), plays a leadership role in the delivery of quality education to the students in Sacramento County, which is home to the California state capital comprising 1.4 million residents and seven cities. SCOE directly educates more than 30,000 children and adults each year—including thousands of district teachers who attend training sessions and workshops. It provides support services to more than 247,000 students in 13 school districts, four of which are some of the state’s largest. SCOE provides technical assistance, curriculum and instructional support, staff development, legal and financial advice, and oversight to Sacramento County school districts. Its programs and services are available to schools, districts, and other county offices of education across the region.
Considered a leader of the Capital Service Region—a 10-county area consisting of Alpine, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba Counties—SCOE is one of 58 county offices of education in California. SCOE staff work year-round providing services which complement and supplement those offered by public school districts in Sacramento County.
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