Zack Wojtaszek, a recent graduate of Ocean View High School, is headed to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana, the nation’s top-ranked undergraduate engineering school, where he plans to study mechanical engineering and compete in both football and track and field.
Wojtaszek credits the Huntington Beach Union High School District campus’ engineering pathway and academic environment as key factors in preparing him for the next step.
“Engineering is a big thing in my family, so I just wanted to follow those roots,” he shared with Adam Kunin, a reporting intern for OC Sports Zone.
Graduating with a 4.2 GPA, Wojtaszek followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both engineers. His decision to attend Rose-Hulman, ranked No. 1 in undergraduate engineering by U.S. News & World Report for 26 consecutive years, was also influenced by strong connections with the college’s coaching staff.
According to his coach, Wojtaszek was on the field for every offensive play during all 10 games of his senior football season. He also competed in shot put and discus for the track and field team, setting personal bests at the Empire League prelims and finals.
“Zack found a great way to balance himself between academics and athletics,” said Daniel Hernandez, Ocean View High School football coach. “He was a leader who showed by example.”
Wojtaszek is one of four Ocean View football seniors who will continue playing at the collegiate level.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- A new analysis from the Center on Reinventing Public Education highlights how early adopter districts like Santa Ana Unified are using artificial intelligence to advance equity goals, support student learning and prepare historically underserved students for an AI-driven future.
- The National Safe Schools Conference, formerly the Safe Schools Conference, will bring together more than 500 educators, law enforcement officials and community leaders from over 20 states July 9-11 to exchange strategies for creating safer, more supportive school environments.
- In response to ongoing federal immigration raids, students, staff and volunteers in Garden Grove Unified are organizing grassroots food drives to support families afraid to leave their homes.
- About 1 in 3 California K-12 students began school without fluency in English, and two Orange County districts — Santa Ana and Garden Grove — rank among the top 10 in the state for total English learner enrollment, according to 2024-25 data.
- California’s 2025-26 state budget protects most education funding despite revenue shortfalls, allocating one-time funds for TK-12 programs, sparing major cuts to universities, and investing in teacher recruitment, early literacy and transitional kindergarten expansion.
- Los Angeles Unified stands to lose more than $110 million for English learners, after-school programs and teacher support after the Trump administration withheld federal education funds, prompting district leaders to warn of impacts on vulnerable student populations and call for immediate release of the money.
- Brea Olinda High School will launch a dual enrollment drone piloting certificate program in fall 2025 through an expanded partnership with Fullerton College, offering students hands-on training, college credit and a pathway to FAA certification and careers in drone technology.
- The Trump administration has frozen $811 million in federal grant funding for California schools, affecting programs that support English learners, migrant education, teacher training, and after-school and summer programs, prompting districts to reassess budgets and consider action.
- California identified more than 230,000 homeless students in 2024-25, a 9.3 percent increase from the previous year, with advocates attributing the rise to improved identification efforts while warning that upcoming federal funding cuts could threaten essential support services.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.