After seven weeks of rigorous instruction in science, math and engineering principles, about 238 middle- and high- school students from throughout Ventura County became "Proyecto Access" graduates during an open-air ceremony August 16.
According to Oxnard College math instructor Mark Bates, coordinator of the NASA-sponsored project, Oxnard College finished out its third year of the program with its biggest class to date. Nationwide, OC's program ranks as one of the largest and fastest-growing programs. Focusing on logic and problem-solving classes for mostly minority middle school and high school students, the program seeks to direct students to pursue college degrees in engineering, science, information technology and mathematics fields.
Congratulating the graduates were Oxnard College President Dr. Lydia Ledesma-Reese and Ventura County Community College District trustee Art Hernandez, who thanked the students and their families for making the commitment academic opportunity during summer vacation.
The first-year, second-year and third-year classes of students chose playful names like "Pyrocherries,"
"Space Monkeys" and "Fungus - R- Us" to distinguish themselves. During Friday evening's ceremony they jumped up and down and cheered for teammates as they received their certificates of completion from the program.
This year, “Proyecto Access” at Oxnard College also graduated 26 third-year students. One of them, Oxnard High School sophomore Kenya Laguna, related the astounding growth of the program from its first year when less than 90 students participated.
“We have all benefited from the program and by taking and passing college-level math courses we have an idea of who we are to become," she told the crowd of about 700 students, family members, mentors and teachers.
Keynote speaker Grace Gabaldon, working in engineering at the Naval Air Station at Point Mugu, urged the students to use "your brain...your heart...and courage" to defy the odds and join the select number of women and minorities who hold less than 15 percent of the science and engineering jobs in business and industry nationwide.
"With enthusiasm, dedication and passion you'll find the job you love," she added.
In addition program funding from NASA, Oxnard College students served as mentors to students through a math and science fellowship program at the University of California. |
