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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE UC MERCED SPONSORS FIRST ANNUAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE FOR SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDENTS FRESNO - The first annual UC Merced UC Scholars Early Academic Outreach Program Southeast Asian Leadership Conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, at the UC Center, Fresno, 550 E. Shaw Ave., across from Fashion Fair Mall. The event is aimed at inspiring students to realize their educational potential; encouraging students to pursue post-secondary educational opportunities at a University of California campus; and addressing the cultural issues and obstacles that Southeast Asian students face in their pursuit of higher education. Speakers include Stan Morita, UCLA alumnus and former local news producer; and Zoua Vang, local news reporter. "Southeast Asian students, particularly females, face cultural issues that make their decision to attend college more difficult," said Kong Vang, student affairs officer, UC Merced UC Scholars Program. "We want to put those issues on the table, talk about them and discuss why and how these students can pursue a higher education at the University of California." About 80 Southeast Asian high school sophomores and juniors from Fresno, Madera, and Merced Counties are expected to attend. All of the students participate in UC Merced's UC Scholars Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP). UC Scholars is an early outreach program that serves underrepresented students (low-income and first-generation college students) in grades 6-12 who have the potential to enroll at the University of California. Students who are identified to participate in UC Scholars will receive a variety of services throughout their educational career, including summer enrichment programs, trips to UC campuses and various academic workshops. Similar services are also provided to parents and guardians of UC Scholars students. The
program's objective is to increase student competitive UC eligibility
and enrollment rates in the Central San Joaquin Valley. For more details about the conference, please call the UC Merced UC Scholars Early Academic Outreach Program office at 559-241-7476. # # # |