UC BERKELEYS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2002-2003 WINNERS OF THE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS

The Achievment Award recognizes scholars with strong academic & extra-curricular achievement who might not otherwise be able to attend UC Berkeley due to financial constraints. A total of twenty-five entering freshman and transfer students from communities across California are recipients of the prestigious Achievement Award.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UC BERKELEYS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES
2002-2003 WINNERS OF THE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS

Award Recognizes Scholars with Strong Academic & Extra-Curricular Achievement
Who Might Not Otherwise Be Able To Attend UC Berkeley Due To Financial Constraints.

Berkeley -- August 2002- As the 2002-2003 academic year at UC Berkeley gets underway, the California Alumni Association announced that a total of twenty-five entering freshman and transfer students from communities across California are recipients of the prestigious Achievement Award.

Freshman student awardees are:   Transfer student awardees are:
 Sara Bachez, Los Angeles    Luis Bocaletti, Campbell
 Maria Becerra, Sylmar    Barbara Brady, Martinez
 Manuel Buenrostro, Santa Barbara    Nancy Calderon, Turlock
 Sandra Espino, Santa Maria    Sharon Campbell, Oceanside
 Luis Fernandez, Los Angeles    Bryan Goodwin, Seaside
 Millena Gebregiorges, Hayward    Richard Kalantar Ohanian, Pasadena
 Pedro Gomez, Los Angeles    Melissa Reigert, Montebello
 Linda Le, San Diego    Milorad Vulovic, Monterey Park
 Trang Le, San Leandro    Hakeem Yusuff, Long Beach
 Cherise Martinez, Fresno   
 Rene Mora, Fresno   
 Tommy Nguyen, Sacramento   
 Kerry Pifer, Pittsburg   
 Luis Reyes, Los Angeles   
 Rena Sera, Salinas   
 Brenda Zapata, San Diego   

The selection criteria for the Achievement Award include: demonstrated academic achievement and personal growth in spite of difficult learning and/or living environments, the ability to offer unique perspectives, skills or talents to the campus community, enthusiasm for participation in outreach and college preparation programs, and past and/or current community service and/or work experience.

These students have outstanding academic records and have demonstrated an amazing drive to succeed," said Mark F. Ornellas, President of the California Alumni Association. I am thrilled to be able to welcome such top-caliber students to the Berkeley campus".

These students have earned their admission to Cal and should not have to turn down their acceptance simply because they lack the financial resources to attend," added Randy Parent, Executive Director of the California Alumni Association. The California Alumni Association is proud to continue its tradition of helping top students to attend Berkeley."

The Achievement Award Program (TAAP) of the California Alumni Association (CAA) was created to enroll and retain students from California who have achieved their dream of admission to Berkeley despite adverse learning or living environments. They have impressive academic credentials and have met the rigorous admission standards of the university. TAAP students receive a scholarship of up to $5,700 each year, depending on individual need. Once on the campus, the Alumni Association works with the university to provide the scholars with a variety of support services to help them excel academically. The average family income of TAAP students is $19,000 (although it costs over $16,000 per year to attend UC Berkeley) and 71% of the students are the first in their families to attend college.

Brief biographical information on each Achievement Award scholar is attached.

Additional information on the Achievement Award is available online at:
http://209.232.194.53/Students/Scholarships_and_Awards/Achievement_Award.asp

About The Achievement Award Program (TAAP)
The Board of Directors of the California Alumni Association made a long-term commitment of staff and resources to launch The Achievement Award Program (TAAP) in 1998. To date, the Achievement Award Program (TAAP) has welcomed almost 90 students to the Berkeley campus. In addition to support from Berkeley alumni, the program has also received significant funding and public recognition from Berkeleys Chancellor Robert M. Berdahl because of the impact TAAP has on maintaining access to the University of California, Berkeley and for TAAPs unique support services.

About the California Alumni Association
For 128 years, the California Alumni Association has provided thousands of Cal grads with rewarding connections to the University, to fellow alumni, and to current students. Founded in 1872, the California Alumni Association has grown into one of the largest dues-paying associations of alumni in the world. Its aim is to serve both students and alumni while supporting the University. Currently, more than 90,000 alumni have shown their loyalty to Cal by joining CAA.
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Contacts
Randy Parent               Elizabeth Ramirez
Executive Director            Achievement Award Program Manager
California Alumni Association      California Alumni Association
(510) 642-1572            (510) 642-2949
randyparent@alumni.berkeley.edu      eramirez@alumni.berkeley.edu

2002 Achievement Award Recipients

Brief biographical outline of each student including hometown, high school, academic/career goals, and key accomplishments.

FRESHMAN STUDENTS
Sara Bachez - Los Angeles
 Crenshaw High School
 Business or Journalism Career
 Journalism Club, Internship at Los Angeles Times, UCLA Riordan Scholar

Maria Becerra - Sylmar
 Sylmar Math and Science Magnet
 Architecture and/or City and Regional Planning
 JV and Varsity Volleyball, Peer college counselor, Young Senators Program

Manuel Buenrostro - Santa Barbara
 Santa Barbara High School
 History, wants to be a teacher
 Cross Country (Captain), Track & Field (Captain), MESA Club (President)

Sandra Espino - Santa Maria
 Santa Maria High School
 Interested in Psychology, Sociology or Political Science
 Teen Counselor at Planned Parenthood, UCLA Migrant Student Leadership Institution, VP of UC I.C.A.N.

Luis Fernandez - Los Angeles
 Hamilton High School Humanities Magnet
 Psychology
 Jazz and marching Band, After-School Tutor, National Honor Society

Millena Gebregiorges - Hayward
 Mt. Eden High School
 Pediatrician
 Student Government, Peer Mediation (president), Varsity Track and Field

Pedro Gomez - Los Angeles
 Crenshaw High School
 Electrical Engineering
 Leadership (Student Body President, Vice President, and Class President), Track and Field (Captain 4 yrs), Cross Country (Captain), Academic Decathlon, Math Team (Co-chair)

Linda Le - San Diego

Trang Le - San Leandro
 San Leandro high School
 International Business or Management
 Associated Student Body, Octagon Comm Service Club (President), Tennis

Cherise Martinez - Fresno
 Herbert Hoover High School
 English
 Deaf Club (President), Jr. LARCS (President), Varsity Girls Badminton

Rene Mora - Fresno
 Sunnyside High School
 Psychology
 UCLA leadership Institute, CSF Club, Youth Court Member

Luis Reyes - Los Angeles
 Elizabeth Learning Center
 Psychology
 Infotech Leadership (president), Rubber band Club (Community Service), Bible Club

Tommy Nguyen - Sacramento
 Valley High School
 Biochemistry, wants to be a doctor
 Mens Varsity Tennis (MVP/Captain), Students Store Manager, UC Davis Medical Center Volunteer

Rena Sera - Salinas
 Everett Alvarez High School
 Medical Research
 Mock Trial, Key Club, National Honor Society

Brenda Zapata - San Diego
 San Diego High School of Creative and Performing Arts
 Obstetrician/Doctor
 Orchestra, Las Niñas de Aztlan, Youth Court

COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRANSFERS

Luis Bocalleti - Campbell
 DeAnza College
 Latin American History, History Professor
 DeAnza Student body (Senator), Students for Justice (president), MEChA

Barbara Brady - Martinez
 Diablo Valley College
 Womens Studies
 Coordinator of Brown Bag Lecture Series, Mentor, PTA at John Muir Elementary

Nancy Calderon - Turlock

Sharon Campbell - Oceanside
 Miracosta College
 English, Journalism/Professor
 Track and Field, Honors Choir, Project Compassion

Bryan Goodwin - Seaside
 Monterey Peninsula College
 History, Law/Education
 Associated Student of MPC (Senator), Speech Club, Teachers for Tomorrow

Richard Kalantar Ohanian - Pasadena
 Pasadena City College
 Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
 Alpha Gamma Sigma, Armenian Club, Chess Club

Melissa Reigert - Montebello
 East Los Angeles College
 Integrative biology, Pharmaceutical Researcher
 Berkeley Biology Transfer Program, Chicanos for Creative Medicine, MESA

Hakeem Yusuff - Long Beach
 Long Beach City College
 Chemical Engineering
 Presidents Ambassador, Alpha Gamma Sigma, NAACP/BSA

Milorad Vulovic - Monterey Park
 East Los Angeles College
 Integrative Biology, Biologist
 U.S. Marine Corps, Army National Guard Reserve, Facilitator at USC MED-COR Program

Kerry Pifer - Pittsburg
 Pittsburg High School
 Public Relations/Communications
 Varsity basketball, Softball manager, Church Youth Group Leader