Welcome EEP Family to the Summer quarter 2006! Lots of news on Events (EEPsters have X-Ray vision?), Accomplishments (Who got into every UC grad school this year?), Announcements (A new GA? A new Erika?) and Reminders (When is Fall Priority Registration?) are included. The EEPC will publish their enhanced version of the Newsletter with lots of pictures and student input. Keep reading for the link and more!
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EventS
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Spring quarter began shortly after the traditional SPRING BREAK and where do EEP students go to par-tay pray-tell? To the Beach of course! The EEPC sponsored Spring Beach Trip and B-B-Que March 20th at Huntington Beach was the stuff of legends. The day included beach ball vs. giant stick battles (see the Yearbook DVD!), water, sand and all the related coastal amenities!
WPCT Exam and PEEP General Meeting held on Sunday April 23rd was a huge success! PEEPsters gathered together at 10am for the General Meeting and were treated to a visit by EEP alum and researcher Dr. Stephanie Spehar PhD (1998) who discussed her EEP experiences (more in Accomplishments). At the testing, over 200 testers and parents descended on King Hall where our student and parent volunteers managed to please and assist the crowd of potential CSLA early scholars.
American Medical Student Association (AMSA) hosted a Spring Mixer featuring guest speaker, national AMSA president and EEP alumnus Dr. Leana Wen on Friday, April 28th, 2:30 to 4:30pm in the Golden Eagle Ballroom. CSLA’s chapter of AMSA is led by EEPster Stephanie S (Junior) who worked tirelessly in organizing this event!
Also on April 28th animals met animals as the EEPC took a trip to the L.A Zoo. A delicious Marie Calendars lunch likely mixed well with the various appetizing smells of the jungle for our 25 or so EEP field-trippers. Many primates were seen scratching themselves and making odd sounds and these were just the EEP boys!
EEPC Officers are very superhero-like in their efforts to serve their fellow EEPster, so they felt at home during the trip to the Superhero Exhibit on Friday, May 19th at the California Science Center. Many power thirsty EEPsters attended a day at the museum where they were greeted by Spidey himself (a.k.a. Peter Parker), climbed walls, were granted x-ray vision and super strength (well, maybe not those things) and generally enjoyed a Super day
EEPC Lounge Manager Chris H sponsored the Great Lost Auction on May 22nd to the 26th showcasing over 31 items discarded in the Lounge. This quarterly event now closes out the term, every term in Week #9. Abandoned personal belongings from the Lounge included: novelty goop, a pocket tape recorder, Star Wars music piano, and a jar of white out among much, much more! Chris takes all proceeds and buys refreshments for everyone!
EEP Provie Orientation was held on Wednesday evening May 31st from 6:00pm to 9:30pm in the Golden Eagle ballroom and was a huge success; we hosted well over 100 Provies, each with one Mom or Dad! A Special thanks to the Head Mentors (Charissa S, Sam H and Amanda J) the Elder Panel (Herbert L, Sam L), EEP alumni Marc Gayed (DDS, 2007), Laurie Kaye M.S. and Dimitri Kosturos (M.S 2007) and PEEPsters Mr. and Mrs. Aragon, Mr. & Mrs. Fenton, Chris Greene, Mrs. Kavutskaya, Mrs. Levitin, Mrs. Ostermann, Mrs. Steven's, Nancy Uhl, Mr. Wahl, Helene Chemel, Mrs. O'Brien, Mrs. Jean Lee, Mr. Bouzanquet, Donna Hay and Mrs. Williams. Thank you FANTASTIC PEEPsters, Alum and EEPsters! We expect our 90 Provies to arrive shortly this summer!
On Thursday evening June 8th the 2006 Graduating Class of EEPsters attended the traditional EEP Grad Dinner at Buca DiBeppo restaurant in Pasadena. This year’s event was organized and sponsored by Rex Cheng who distributed the gorgeous commemorative EEP plaques designed as farewell recognition to all EEP grads compliments of the PEEP! All grads dutifully showed up the following Friday for the annual EEP Grad Photo Shoot, 11:00 – 12:00 in front of the Golden Eagle statue. Each grad received a beautiful Commencement Sash noting the year of their degree and the EEP, complements again, of the PEEP! Go PEEP and Go Grads (See Student News).
The Supreme EEP Club (SEC) Talent Show was held at Almansor Court on Friday June 9th, 6:30pm – 9:30pm. It was, as always, filled with rare exhibits of pure and unadulterated skill, performances all with class and panache! If you missed it, you missed Humphrey rapping, Maggie H. singing and dancing and, most amazingly, Matt G speechless with gratitude! After much prodding the Judge Panel, Laura P. (Elder), Dr. Wasson (Sociology) and special guest Judge, Simon “MadDog” Cowell chose a winner or two. The Grand Prize went to Chris L (Elder) who wrote and performed three original piano pieces. Second place was Nika N. (Sophomore) who performed a solo act Mrs. Gilhooley’s Bungaloo and Maggie H.(Sophomore) took 3rd place with her rendition of Nothing from A Chorus Line. All the acts were unbelievably excellent and most wonderful. We swell with pride!
Saturday June 10th was the 59th annual Cal State L.A Commencement Exercise on Reeder field for all students who earned the bachelors degree. Over 4,000 undergraduates moved the tassel from the right to left in this time-honored initiation of the conferment of letters. More on EEP grads in Student News
The EEPC sponsored Disneyland Grad Night for all graduating Elders on Saturday, June 15th. A southern California high school tradition, students from across the Southland flocked to the Happiest Place on Earth for an overnight of fun and memories. We thank the PEEPsters who volunteered as EEP chaperones Mrs. Baber-Smith (Ebony), Mr. and Mrs. Masson (Ron), Mr. and Mrs. Padilla (Justin), Mr. and Mrs. Petersen (Laura), and Nancy Aguilar See Announcements); they deserve a diploma and a standing ovation for this over-night service!! The Padilla’s even rented a van to haul grads to Anaheim, wow, our PEEPsters are indeed the best! Over 25 EEP Grads attended an evening they will never forget this night. AnnouncementS
We have selected our new EEP Administrative Assistant who has assumed the mantle of power from Erika! We welcome to our EEP family Ms. Nancy Aguilar! Nancy, a former gifted student advisor, comes to us after finishing her Bachelor’s in Humanities at Mt. Saint Mary’s College, L.A. She is now beginning her Master’s degree coursework at her alma mater and is learning the EEP-Way as fast as possible including all the intricacies, not to mention, several hundred names. We think Nancy will fit in to our little happy academic world, feel free to call her or write Naguilar@cslanet.calstatela.edu
New EEP Club officers were elected after a heated battle this Spring. Among the tickets and campaign promises were Frosty and Humphrey with “cheap events”, Pam and Natasha with “more efficiency”, Sam and Amanda with “better teamwork”, Lemcke and Chamberlain with “EEP accountability” and Jackie and L.Z with “effective leadership”. We are pleased to announce the new EEPC President Pamela L and her Vice President Natasha S! Their Board will include Treasurer Swapneel P, Secretary Elizabeth C, Social Chair Laura P, Public Relations Chair Cory O, Academic Chair Samantha H, Yearbook Editor Margaret L, Student Life Assistant Nika N and the Sophomore Class president Anita D and Junior Class President Stephanie S. Congratulations Madam President L and Vice President S!
The L-S administration will transition to power this summer and we will have the official exchange of authority at the EEPC Transition and Farewell Support Luncheon sometime mid-summer. We want to thank the Andrew Post – Samantha Hsu Administration for seeing us through a very fast-paced and challenging year. Rex C. and Herbert L. (Elder representatives), Sam Lee (Academic Chair) and Officers Laura P., Natasha S., Pam L., Elizabeth C, Spencer P, Swapneel P. plus all the rest were, and are, very appreciated! These two leaders and their Board of Officers were great for the Program and we have learned much from their experiences. Thank you Post-Hsu et al! The new President may be emailed.
New Elder class includes: Kevork A, Danielle B, Leslie C, Elizabeth C, Jennifer C, Kimberly C, Kjell E, Samantha H, Albert H, Amanda J, Shari K, Jaimisyn K, Christopher L, Owynn L, Alegra L, Samuel M, Ronald M, Amanda M, Akai M, Michelle M, Cory O, Edwin P, Edward R, Marc S, Natasha S, Stephanie T, Geoffrey Y.
These outstanding EEPsters have completed three (3) years as EEP Regulars and now are ready to assume the new role of responsibility as EEP Elders. Though largely a symbolic act, the transition to Elder status is a significant step in the EEP student life as it reflects their maturity and readiness to begin to operate more independently, both on and off campus. Elders are an essential component of the Program’s success and are called upon for advice, guidance, leadership, mentoring and general support for the program, our students, and the University community. Congratulations new Elder class!
The EEPC and EEP presented several awards at the SEC Show that included the Student of the Year, Winny S (Elder/Grad) heading off to the nation’s number one psychology doctoral program and the Joyce Bourke EEP Graduate of the Year Scholarship winner is Rex C (Elder/ Grad) who is heading off to one of the nation’s top 10 medical schools. The Freshman of the Year was named as Matthew G and the Most Likely To Succeed Award again went to the entire EEP population! Also honored were the F.O.E (Friend of EEP) of the Year, Dr. Gerry Beer (Mathematics) and the Parent of the Year Mrs. Donna Nagy-Hay (David N.) each was selected for their love and support of the EEP and the students they help every day, every quarter! Congratulations all!
The EEPC was named the Student Organization of the Year and Laura Petersen was named the Student Organization Officer of the Year by the University’s Center for Student Development division. An outstanding coup we dare say, a clean sweep if you will, of leadership excellence and commitment to involvement. Congratulations EEPC and Laura!
We have selected Mrs. Randi Swedenburg as the new EEP Graduate Assistant to fill the Student Life and Academics Advisor position. Randi, a graduate student in the College of Education with an emphasis in counseling and advising, is a perfect fit to help EEP students with their academic and life issues. She may be reached through the EEP offices or directly at: swedenburg@earthlink.net and we are sure she will be sending a personal greeting soon. Randi’s hours will be 10:00am to 3:00pm Monday through Thursday. Welcome Randi to the EEP family!
EEP YEARBOOK 2006 and the DVD were released to the screaming EEP masses on Thursday June 8th at noon. This year’s edition was a supreme piece of work from a very dedicated staff of EEP volunteers, led by Yearbook Editor April Eriksson, EEPC PR Chair Elizabeth C. and Secretary Pam L. Other fabulous Yearbook Staffers included Kjell E., Frosty O., Jennifer C., Maggie H., Chris L, Margaret L. Alegra L. Nika N. Andrew P and Claire W. All are to be commended for a great job and a cool keepsake. Will you sign our Yearbook?
Group and Individual Meetings will be in Summer Mode, meaning fewer students and not as much material. EEP students are expected to attend Group Meetings Week #3 and #8 but we hope to have them finished in a more expedited manner. Individual Meetings with Lisa should continue normally and she may have more time available early in the term for meetings and parent consultations. The last four weeks of summer, Lisa and the staff will be busy meeting with the new Freshmen and their parents. New Elders may be scheduled for Meetings in the summer and are most welcome to attend and participate, especially with Lisa, but are no longer required to do so.
EEP Advisement Slips for Fall are still due Week #4 of Summer for all Regular (non-Elder) EEPsters. If you are out-of-state you may submit Advisement Slip Class Choices by e-mail. We will mail home a blank slip and a return envelope for your convenience during summer vacations!
LEEP (Ladies of EEP) exists and is wonderful! Email Natasha S. President for more info.
We were happy to be able to assist Ms. Shannon Tran, a senior from El Monte High School, in completing her senior project, a study of gifted students and academic acceleration. Shannon spent a week interviewing, observing, and interacting with EEP students in and out of the classroom. Shannon promised us a copy of the final paper before heading off to UCLA and may be reached by email.
PEEP volunteers are needed for computer work (at home), office help (on campus), chaperoning and carpooling duty for EEPC events/activities and, as always, help for the biannual WPCT exams and PEEP general meetings. Please let us know if YOU can volunteer by calling 323-343-2287 or sending a note to Rich or EEP. Thanks! We are asked to help spread the news about the upcoming 2006-2007 PEEP annual fundraiser. Send requests for info to email or write Early Entrance Foundation, 16311 Ventura Blvd #1298, Encino, CA 91436
Some of the great things your PEEP will provide to all students of the EEP include: furnishings for the lounge, computer lab upgrades and professional technical support, new computer equipment, EEPC supplies and trip assistance, scholarship support, graduation class expenses, the quarterly lounge cleaning service and much, much more! Thank you in advance again for your SUPPORT!
Please get as involved in the PEEP as you can whether as an office volunteer, a trip chauffer, an event planner, phone call maker or, yes, even a check writer! We thank you!
LEEP (Ladies of EEP) Recipe Book may be purchased for a low, low price with all proceeds going to help humanity through the LEEP Feed A Homeless Person Program For more info contact Helen N (Elder) by email.
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Student NewS
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Alumni Visits, News and Written Communiqué this Quarter:
Remember, many of these EEP Alumni and others have provided the EEPsters with their e-mail addresses for consultation and advisement (in the Student Information Binder) with new additions available at Group Meetings quarterly
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EEPster Accomplishments as of Summer 2006
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The EEPsters dominated CSLA’s annual Alumni Association Awards again! Nine of fifteen Alumni Scholarship awardees were EEPsters. EEPC President and Elder Andrew Post, who was selected for the award and as the award ceremony keynote graduation speaker, led this prestigious group. The winners include EEP Elders Alejandra B, Joyce H, Andrew J, Sam L, Andre P, Winny S and Adekunbi W Congratulations CSLA Alumni Scholarship Winners!!!
We are pleased to announce the 2006 EEP graduates:
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ReminderS
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Priority Registration for Fall 2006 will be during the 6th week* of Summer 2006
Advisement Slips due by Wednesday, July 19th @ 3:00pm
Tuition due by Wednesday, July 19th 2006
Priority Registration is Monday, July 24th 2006
* ESTIMATED DATE. We will alert EEPsters of changes @ Group Meetings, the Big Board and/or through mass e-mail. Remember, Advisement Slips will be due by 3:00 p.m. on July 19th
Remember to use Lounge Resources
CSULA-EEP Important Dates
Jun 12th-17th Spring 2006 Quarter Break
Jun 19th Summer 2006 Quarter classes begin
July 4th Independence Day Holiday, Campus Closed
Jun 19th-July 3rd Late registration/adjustments
Jun 26th No record drop deadline
Jun 27th Summer 2006 “W” withdrawal period begins
July 3rd Summer 2006 ADD Deadline
July 5th – 6th EEP Group Meetings
July 5th EEP Advisement Slips Due by 3:00pm
July 11th-12th Group Meetings
July 19th Advisement Slips FALL06 DUE
July 19th Payment for Fall 2006 Priority Reg. Due
July 24th Fall 06 Priority Registration Date*
Aug 3rd Withdraw Period Ends
Aug 4th Emergency Withdraw Period
Aug 15th-16th Group Meetings
Aug 28th- Sept 2nd Summer 2006 final examinations
Sept 4th Labor Day Holiday, Campus Closed
Sept 5th-20th Summer 2006 Quarter break
Sept 7th –10th Catalina 2006 trip
Sept 21st Fall 2006 Quarter classes begin
*Subject to change
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News, Notices, Cheers and Jeers
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A Message to the Parents of the EEP from Richard S. Maddox
As always, the full text Newsletter and Meeting Schedules are e-mailed home and
the full, student-enhanced version of the EEP Quarterly Newsletter with photos is available on-line at: http://www.eepclub.org
NEWS & NOTICES
Greetings and wow, what a 2005-2006 academic year! At the end of Spring we wrap up with the usual good-byes to the grads, hellos to the Provie applicants, and general well wishes to those EEPsters who are in class level transition including our newest Elders. The State of the EEP is good and getting better but rather than drone on in paragraph form, listed below are some fast and fun (!) facts and info about your EEP! Hope you all had a relaxing school break and are planning lots of enjoyable family summer fun! J Be cool – R
PEEP is good and is essential to our success so I encourage ALL parents to get as involved as possible. In addition to the normal fundraising activities, I know the EEPC always need chaperones, drivers and advice on their activities and events. We also can always use a hand around the office so just let us know if, and where, you want to help!
Please return the emergency contact form to the EEP office ASAP. These forms list contact info for family and/or friends from outside the Los Angeles and Southland areas in the case of a catastrophic event, out-of-state contacts preferred. Also, each EEP student will need to complete a new Health Center Release form by the end of fall. We will distribute at Group Meetings.
We had some problems in the computer lab this year and they are being addressed even as I type! Very soon we will have a state-of-the-art, official University computer lab but, unfortunately too often this year many students were inconvenienced and I apologize. We will move onward and will be back on-line and fully wireless soon!
No new word on the much needed additional campus space but at least we haven’t been told “no!” It has been packed around the program lounge this year considering the 10% freshman class growth we absorbed in 2005. We hope to be granted this much needed breathing room by Fall 2006!
EEPC and Elders are important to the operation of the Program and I hope to be able to expand their assistance and responsibility next year. Excellent student leadership skills are best developed in opportunities to lead and especially in environments that pose challenges. We have both! I hope for lots of input and involvement from the students and I look forward to their ideas about how to improve the program and their involvement in this improvement.
Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather water becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigors of the mind
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
CHEERS & JEERS
Cheers to the PEEP and the EEPC Officers for making our lives easy!
Cheers to office staff members Amanda and Lupe who have been remarkable in very trying times. As Erika transitioned out, we also lost our GA and several work study assistants but Amanda, Lupe, Kimmie (for a short time) and now Nancy really came through in the crunch and have done wonderful work supporting me and the kids!
Cheers to the University faculty and staff members, especially Matthew Warren in the Vice Presidents’ Office, who help us all year long and who provide a campus home.
Cheers to Lisa for quietly working behind the scenes and helping each EEPster get through adolescence and life! Thank you Lisa for your dedication, love and care for the EEPsters, their parents, and us!
Jeers to EEPsters who abuse equipment, space and belongings. This applies specifically to those who destroy wall outlets, staplers and message corkboards (this Spring’s partial list!) as well as those who take DVD’s without permission and leave food waste everywhere. There are not a lot of you, but I expect these few bad apples to complete some personal reflection about the reasons for your socially maladaptive expressions and to shape up ASAP!
Should any parent want to discuss their child’s performance or if there are any questions or concerns please call the office to schedule a meeting. You may also feel free to call or e-mail me. Have a great quarter!
RSM
StudenT ContributionS & The EEPC Presidential Message
President’s Message
My Friends,
Despite the ease with which I could follow the patterned speech of accomplishment and praise for a year of vibrancy, of learning, and of fun; or of dreams, of plans, and of realization; or even of trials, of turmoil, and of triumph, I find that I cannot so simply let this past year be regarded in equity with our neutral expectations. Many of you who read this now are not familiar with what eep club has been faced with this year, as it should be. I have an ironic attachment to your collective appreciation of what our peers do for eep in their free time, when they aren't winning national fellowships and interning in Washington D.C. or meeting Rhodes Scholars. I would like for you all to marvel at the sacrifices willingly made by our friends and peers to bring us happiness and memorable times -- but also I realize that what makes these friends and siblings and mentors and mentees of ours so effective is that they protect us from the struggle over our happiness. I might at first conclude that ignorance of the tribulation behind our greater happiness is blissful, but you scholars and savants wouldn't let me get away with that, so I won't bother. Instead, know that happiness this year, our year, has been fought for as never before. You may judge for yourself how well my esteemed board has brought to bear the plans of our predecessors, and how sweet the fruits of our labor have been, but it is beyond doubt that the love I have felt for the Early Entrance Program in my four proud years amongst these ranks, is a force to be reckoned with in the hearts and minds of our friends. Know them, know their dedication, and you shall know the love of EEP which ensures our happiness and the happiness of all eepsters to come. To know this is bliss.
~Andrew Carmichael Post
President 2005-2006
Newsletter contributions welcome for Fall 2006 - All rebuttals will be processed
Reminders: EEPsters who will be matriculated to ELDER status as of Fall 2006 need no longer attend mandatory EEP meetings effective immediately but your presence is welcome and enjoyed. Also, Summer Mode Meetings are shorter but important. Week #3 is the Holiday week so Group Meetings will be held Wednesday and Thursday