Issue 17: Spring 2009 Quarter - April 2009

EEP Names in the News

EEPsters in the News! Congrats to the following who are just a few of our amazing EEPsters. Please email Rich if your EEPster's accomplishment was overlooked, so it can be included in subsequent newsletters!

• CSULA 2009 Mock Trial Team -- all EEPsters!

  Mock Trial 2009. The CSULA Mock Trial team competed on Feb 21-22 at Claremont and took away TWO awards! The team won the second-place prestigious "Spirit of AMTA" prize and Priscilla D. won a witness award! Only 12 out of 156 witnesses won such an award, and only 2 out of 26 teams won such an award! Wow! What a fabulous third year. And the club will continue next year under the leadership of Hayley S. and Raj S.
• Prestigious graduate school program acceptances keep on flooding in! Rich will publish the plans of all the graduates in June, but in the meantime, congratulations to all:
  • Steven Gee was accepted to graduate Studies at Yale. UCLA, IC Irvine, Washington at St. Louis and UC San Francisco. He heads to the Bay area in fall.
  • Andrea Kulier was accepted to UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, Harvard, UC Santa Cruz, Caltech, Princeton, and the University of Chicago, all of which offered similar financial packages (tuition and fellowship/RA/TA). Andrea will head to New Jersey this fall.
  • David Nagy was accepted to both Japanese programs he applied to, and will be attending IUC-Yokohama next year, to become fluent in Japanese and do independent study in Japanese philosophy.
  • Zeeshan Ott (brother of EEP alum Myle Ott) was accepted into Columbia's Master's in Social Work program, which was his first choice for graduate school.

• Vanessa Sheldon, harpist

  EEP alum Dr. Vanessa Sheldon was crowned Miss Greater Palm Springs in late February and is preparing for the Miss California pageant to be held in Fresno this June. You may see her at www.gold2ivory.com/info.html
• Lea U was accepted into the CEA-CREST program as an undergraduate fellow in Dr. Carlos Robles' research lab, and this summer she will be visiting the Bamfield Marine Science Center in Vancouver, Canada to study predator/prey relationships of sea stars and mussels.
• EEPster Amanda M’s research group at JPL was recently featured in the Discover Magazine Blog, Amanda was asked to join the group in February, For more info on the research see the link
• David N. garnered second-place prize in the College 3rd/4th year Level division of the 2009 Japanese Speech Contest held at CSULA on Feb 28th
• EEP alum Susan Ngo is now a Senior Consultant at Deloitte

The EEP totebag -- one for every EEPster -- and a larger view of the logo

Totebags for all EEPsters! The totebags arrived in February and there is one for EVERY EEPster! And enough for the provies this summer too. If your EEPster has not yet picked one up, tell them to stop by the office. Show off your EEP pride!

EEP Scholarships. We had 24 EEPsters submit applications for the four $500 scholarships we had from LSI Corporation and the Tsai family. The Early Entrance Foundation is happy to announce the four winners out of this hard-to-choose-from group of extreme talent: Roy C, Lubabah B-G, Raj S and Avijit S.

Korean educators visited EEP on Feb 5th!

Korean Educators. The EEP hosted a group of Korean educators from a teacher-training program in Chung Nam Office of Education in Korea (CNOE) on Thursday, February 5th. Rich lectured and answered questions from his Korean peers who presented him a beautiful gift, a replica set of 15th century Royal Korean crowns. A special thanks to PEEPster Kyungia Lee and EEPsters Yeachan L, Daniel P, Suki K, James L, Julian B and Hayley S for attending and discussing the EEP student perspective. The EEP reputation for educational innovation and excellence is truly international!

April Fools Day at EEP -- more pictures

Did the Confiker worm do this? Did you make it past April Fools Day this year without a prank? The EEP rooms did not! Apparently the saranwrap/post-it-note elves came back this year to wreak more havoc! Much better than the Confiker virus! Click here for more pictures.

Job Information for EEPsters. Eagle iJobs is a new system that allows students to search for both on-campus and off-campus jobs, and more. Call the Career Placement Center at 323/343-3237 for more information. Note that we keep a list of internship possibilities for your EEPster to consider on the PEEP website at: http://earlyentrancefoundation.org/peep/internships.html. And make sure your EEPster visits Spring Career Fair, on Tues Apr 28th, 10am-2pm, to network with employers seeking employees and interns.

Laura McLauchlin

Kristen Osman

New Counselors. The EEP warmly welcomes the two new student counselors/clinicians Laura McLauchlin and Kristen Osman. Beginning Spring quarter they will be conducting the quarterly student counseling meetings previously conducted by Lisa Sakamoto.

Reminder: PEEP Website and Yahoo Group. The PEEP website is continuously updated with tons of useful links and information -- emergency procedures, summer internships, scholarships, news articles and more. Everything is linked from this one page, so please bookmark it! And our private Yahoo PEEP group contains a private PEEP roster with city and emails so PEEPs can set up carpools, or just get in touch with the parents of your EEPster's friends.

EEF Financial News

EEPsters thank PEEP for their new printer!

Last call for 2008-09 Annual Giving! It is the PEEP donations that supply everything you see in the EEP rooms -- including furniture, games, computers, educational and entertainment dvds, and even the ink cartridges and paper! Please make your check out to the Early Entrance Foundation and mail to: 16311 Ventura Blvd, #1298, Encino CA 91436. And remember, 100% of the donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of the money is donated to EEP. Email PEEP Donna Hay with questions, or to get help with matching grants from your employer. It's participation that counts, so please do not feel that any donation is too small!

College tax breaks. Over 25% of Americans fail to take advantage of the myriad of college-related tax breaks -- such as the Hope Credit (a per-student annual credit for the first two years of higher education) and others that may apply even with alternative minimum taxes. There are also tax-advantaged college savings plans, known as 529 plans, which can boost your savings. Even if you already filed and forgot these, it's never to late to file an amended return!

Guess which lovely lady this was at the Spring Formal! (It's Nika)

2008-2009 Scholarships. The Early Entrance Foundation awarded the four $500 scholarships from an applicant pool of 24 incredible EEPsters. The Foundation plans to work with a group of interested EEPsters to seek out more scholarship grants that can be awarded. Additionally, PEEPs should be aware that EEPsters qualify for any and all regular student scholarship awards -- some scholarship resources are permanently listed on the PEEP website.

Electronics Recycling for Scholarships! Please recycle used electronics for the EEPC Scholarship fund. EEPC collects it all -- Cell Phones, (no empty Printer Cartridges - discontinued), DVD Movies & games, game systems, laptop computers, digital cameras/frames, GPS and more. Just give it to your EEPster to bring to school to place in the specially-marked bins at EEP! See flyer for more info.

Chatsworth Online Sales. PEEP Helene Chemel will help you sell your unwanted treasures and help EEP at the same time! Send her your collectibles to sell online on ebay, with all the proceeds going to EEP! Contact Helene at Chatsworth Online Sales at 818-224-0779 or email (for more info, click here).

eScrip is Easy! We made $1100 last year, and are hoping for $1200 this year. Just sign up your grocery club cards once, and EEP gets money all year. Your family and friends can do it too! And it's free! Sign yourself up online (click here) or email PEEP Jennifer Edge (jen.edge@gmail.com) for help. Everyone must renew their Ralph's club card allocation to the Early Entrance Foundation, but no renewal is necessary for Vons/Pavilions or Albertsons.

Upcoming Events for EEP Families

Spring Quarter 2009 Important Dates. Dates of interest for this quarter are:

Lovely sophomores at the Spring Formal

Volunteer Opportunities. Got time? Got talent? Get involved with PEEP! Volunteer to help with newsletter-writing, or website updates, or your own suggestion -- please email PEEP Donna Hay at dhay16301@sbcglobal.net for more information.

EEP events. Your EEPster will be emailed information on the myriad of EEP fun events this quarter -- like laser tag, bowling, Grad night, museums, San Clemente camping, etc. Note, Rich does request (brave) parent volunteers to serve as chaperones for the off-campus events.

EEΠX Store

Yearbooks, Sweatshirts, T-shirts and More! We have it all! Just have your EEPster order one, and Rich will send home the item and a bill! With questions, email the EEP Club or call 323/343-5488 and leave a message.

• YouTube trailer for Yearbook dvd

  Yearbook. The EEP yearbook includes not only the written yearbook but an action-filled dvd. No EEPster will want to miss the opportunity to memorialize their EEP years, so click here for a yearbook order form and send it in by "EEPster Express" today!
• EEP smiley face Mug. It's in a bright yellow, of course! Only $5. Guaranteed to put a smile on everybody's face! Even at tax-time!
• Rings - EEP class rings, available for 4th year students and graduates, have an EEP logo (pdf drawing) designed by April E. and the insignia of the student's major and year of CSULA graduation. You can get an idea of what the rings will look like at the Jostens website. The rings come in white or yellow gold, and cost $400-450.
• T-shirts and Sweatshirts, etc. Your EEpster has a choice of two t-shirts, and two sweatshirts, every EEP wardrobe requires at least one!

  • Julian and Matthew lemonheads!

    Lemonhead Sweatshirt - just $25 for this one-of-a-kind distinctive outerwear!
  • Lemonhead T-shirts - for $10 cash or check for the companion long-sleeve t-shirt.
  • EEPC t-shirt - guaranteed as unique, this t-shirt features the likeness of EEPster 2006 graduate Neshan! $10 for this limited edition t-shirt! Limited quantities
  • EEΠX Sweatshirts - only $20 for this black-that-goes-with-everything sweatshirt with its oh-so-cool-Greek-EEΠX-logo! Your EEPster will want to show off EEP pride!
• License Plate Frames - a mere $5 pittance and you can playfully diss everyone ("we're better than you")! And as a special incentive, get one FREE with any order! It makes a cute picture frame too!

Upcoming CSULA Events of Interest for EEP Families

Glue, Paper, Scissors: A Group Exhibition draws attention to the multifacted ways in which contemporary artists continue to employ collage techniques, juxtaposing objects or images to create new meanings. Luckman Gallery. Apr 4-9, noon-5pm

Jean Burden Poetry Reading. The annual reading by a major or emerging poet this year features Victor Hernández Cruz, currently a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. Golden Eagle Ballroom. Tues Apr 7 at 6:30pm

example of Chinese Straw patchwork

Chinese Straw Patchwork. Ms. Limin Liu, a renowned Chinese straw patchwork artist, will offer a demonstration of this rare artistic technique. She has received the national patent and won international awards for her unique skill. Music 208. Wed Apr 8, 4-6pm

Korean Culture Day. An afternoon of Korean martial arts, music, film, games and art. Montebello Room, U-SU. Wed Apr 15, noon-4pm

Earth Day Celebration with a live performance by the B*SIDE PLAYERS. U-SU Plaza. Wed Apr 22 at noon.

Science Series:
• Kirsten Fisher (Biological Sciences): "Drying without Dying: The Evolution of Dessication Tolerance in the Land Plants." Physical Sciences 158, Wed Apr 22 at 8pm
• Frank Gomez (Chemistry and Biochemistry): "Microfluidics: The Unbearable Lightness of Being Small." Physical Sciences 158, Wed May 20 at 8pm

Etre et Avoir (To Be and To Have)

Etre et Avoir. This fun documentary about the French primary-school system (in Auvergne) explores how we learn to live with others and their wishes. (French with English subtitles). Salazar Hall, Room C89. Wed Apr 29, 4:20-6pm

Cuban trumpet virtuoso Sandoval

Luckman Theatre:
(call 323-343-6600 or visit luckmanarts.org) for full schedule of all events and prices
• Arturo Sandoval Cuban trumpet virtuoso and multi-Grammy Award winner Arturo Sandoval is one of the world’s most celebrated and acknowledged jazz and classical musicians; experience an electrifying Mambo Mania. Luckman Theatre. Sat. Apr 4 at 8pm
• Universes is an ensemble of multi-disciplined writers and performers who break the bounds of traditional theater to create "Ameriville Unplugged", a microscopic look at the American tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. Apr 16-19 at 8:30pm
• Lanny Hartley and Friends an experience of swinging rhythm of jazz. Sat Apr 25 at 8:30pm
• El dúo de La Africana and L’île de Tulipatan Featuring the zarzuela with the operetta. May 7-9 at 3pm and 8pm
• A.S.I. Hip Hop & Comedy Fest 2009 top notch entertainment and comedy combine with feature performances by FABOLOUS, DRAKE, U-N-I, JAMES DAVIS, and CHRIS SPENCER. Sat May 23 at 6:30pm
• Luckman Jazz Orchestra: Tribute to Freddie Hubbard a great trumpeter who strives to create heartfelt blue lines without losing the contemporary context. Sat May 30 at 8pm

Rudy Perez

• Tribute to Rudy Perez Celebrate the rich and multi-layered movement vocabulary of this dance pioneer with "Enough Rope." Sat June 6 at 8:30pm

Be sure to check out the complete CSULA calendar at http://www.calstatela.edu/univ/calendar/ for more details and last-minute additions, and for the Luckman Season, call the Box Office (323-343-6600) or visit the website.

Farewell from PEEP Editor Donna Hay

My son David Nagy graduates in June after five great years at EEP. He is off to Japan next year, and I am not sure what my plans will be. Most likely they will not include a quarterly PEEP newsletter! Hope you have enjoyed them, and if someone wants to take over this function, please email me at dhay16301@sbcglobal.net. It's been a blast! David and I are both sorry to leave! Newsletter 18 in June will be my last newsletter. :(

Links of Interest, Past Issues, Contact Information