Effort Begets Achievement

After two years of socially distanced celebrations, the Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) at UC Santa Barbara is resuming in-person operations for its annual UC Success Night events for graduating seniors from EAOP partnership schools who have been admitted to the UC system.

Continuing through Thursday, May 5, UC-admitted seniors and their families from high schools in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Kern counties are invited to attend their respective school’s event.

The program includes a presentation of awards and of State Proclamations from local Senate and Assembly members in recognition of students’ academic achievement, and student keynote speeches will be delivered in both English and Spanish. Attendees also will have the opportunity to meet UC Santa Barbara faculty and staff members, administrators, alumni and undergraduate students, as well as network with other students and families from their hometown who may be attending the same universities in the fall.

“Many of our students are the first generation in their family to go to college,” said Britt Ortiz, director of EAOP. “UC Success Nights not only celebrate the academic achievement of our students being admitted to the UC system — regardless if they will attend a UC campus or not — but also honor their parents and the family efforts that help to make this academic achievement possible.  

“The past two years we have had to innovate and host these events in a drive-thru format,” he added, “so while we were able to celebrate our students and their families’ collective success, it just wasn’t the same as recognizing the achievements of our youth in a community setting. 

The 2022 UC Success Nights kicked off April 25 at Fillmore High School. Students from Channel Islands High School will be honored with a UC Success Night Tuesday, April 26, at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria, 1400 Raiders Way, Oxnard. Santa Paula High School students will be recognized Wednesday, April 27, at 6 p.m. in the Center Court, near the school administration building, 404 N. 6^th Street, Santa Paula.

The Santa Maria District-wide event to be held Friday, April 29, will celebrate students from Pioneer Valley High School, Santa Maria High School and Ernest Righetti High School at 5:30 p.m. at the Veterans Hall, 313 W. Tunnell Street, Santa Maria. A final event, for seniors at South High School in Bakersfield, will be held Thursday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria, 1101 Planz Road.

“To be admitted to one of the most prestigious and competitive public institutions in the country is well worth the efforts to celebrate the success of our EAOP students,” Ortiz said. “There is always lots of laughter, applause, and even tears of joy when students tell their stories and recognize the support of their family, school staff and EAOP College Site Coordinators that have helped them along the way.”