RIVERSIDE
By Susan Min
Inland Empire youth leaders and student scholarship winners
were honored by the Campaign for College Opportunity at the 2007 "Save Me a
Spot in College" contest reception held at UC Riverside's University Village on
Wednesday, August 8, 2007.
Youth leaders from the Inland Empire
The four Inland Empire scholarship winners, Raheem Mixon of
North Verdemont Elementary School, Lucy Matsukawa of Jehue Middle School,
Sergio Sandoval of Jurupa Valley High School, and Aubrey Langley of La Sierra
High School, each accepted a certificate of award and gave a speech about their
college goals at the evening reception.
The scholarship contest was sponsored by the Campaign for
College Opportunity, a bipartisan coalition of business, education, and labor
leaders dedicated to ensuring that California's
next generation has the opportunity to go to college.
Dr. Yolanda Moses, Vice Provost at UCR
The "Save Me a Spot in College" contest provided $100,000 in
scholarships to 200 California
students in $500 to $2,500 amounts. The
context asked students to create a response to the question, "Why should California leaders save
you and your peers a spot in college?" More than 8,000 students across the
state contributed entries in three categories of written word, poster, and TV
advertisement.
The reception also recognized Inland Empire youth leaders,
Yolanda T. Moses, Vice Provost at UCR, Dr. Albert K. Karnig, President of the
California State University at San Bernardino, and Dr. Herbert Fischer,
Superintendent of Schools, San Bernardino County, and awarded them the
"Champions for College Opportunity" certificate for their notable work in
supporting the organization and their legislative goals.
More than 80 people attended the event, including
representatives for state legislative leaders and 17 Inland
Empire students and their families. Maria Perez, the event
organizer and representative of the Campaign for College Opportunity, said,
"Our honored speakers were humble and had positive attitudes. They were very
inspiring. The families left feeling ensured and motivated."
The reception was held in the Governmental Relations
Conference Room in the University
Village plaza. "UCR was a
gracious host," Perez said, "They provided everything for the event, which was
a huge success."
The Campaign for College Opportunity works to promote
awareness among students and families, beginning in middle school, of pathways
to college and opportunities for financial assistance by the state of California.
Dr. Yolanda Moses, of UCR, Dr. Albert Karnig, President, California State University San Bernardino, an Dr. Donald Avrill, Chancellor, San Bernardino Community College District
The Campaign introduced the Early College Commitment Act of
2007, a piece of legislation that would create the "Save Me a Spot in College
Pledge," a program in which students would commit to work toward college
entrance by meeting graduation and university enrollment requirements. In
return, the state would promise students financial aid, and a spot in California community colleges or in the University of California
or the California
State University.
The Early College Commitment Act would provide local school
districts, in collaboration with community colleges, public universities,
private colleges, and student aid organizations, an array of "Roadmap to
College" services to help students achieve their goals.
For more information on the campaign, visit
www.collegecampaign.org.
