News
- ETS receives Conversations in Diversity award (CSUC News)
- ETS Program Awarded $2.3 million in Federal Grants (CSUC News)
- College Exposure: 7th & 8th Graders see fun side of College (Chico ER)
- ETS Program Benefits Many Students at Live Oak High School
- Congratulations Diana!
- Distinguished Alumni of the Educational Opportunity Program
- Making College a Reality (Chico Statements)
- The Home Field Advantage (The Orion)
- Former underpriviledged student guides others to higher education (Chico ER)
- InnerView: Ahead of his class and ready for more (Chico ER)
- Gonzales Takes First in Academic Contest (Orland Press)
- Middle Schoolers Bridge Digital Divide (Inside Chico State)
- Talent Search Finds Students (The Orion)
ETS Staff Earns "Taking it to the Streets" Award
May 2007
ETS Staff in picture: Javier Garcia, Diana Parra-Villaseñor, Yolanda Salazar-Garcia, Victor Bass, Diane Abundabar & Bernadette Rodgers. Not pictured: Allan Bee & Sarah Digness
The ETS staff garnered the "Taking it the Streets" award at the annual Conversations on Diversity Achievement Awards and Reception at CSU, Chico. This award highlights a group's timely response to an event or issue of local, national or global significance.C.O.D. particularly honors those who have provided a direct service to communities impacted by the topic.
"The ETS Staff is a dedicated group of individuals who are committed to divesity in all forms. They are the ones who are pulling students along, sometimes beginning in the sixth grade, to get the students on track, make them believe college is an option for them...Once the students come here, the busy advisors continue to do whatever they can to assist the students, even though their "job" doesn't require it. They are advisors for ethnic sororities and fraternities. They volunteer for leadership conferences, help edit student papers, write countless letters of recommendation...Perhaps most importantly, they are always willing to stop and listen to the students, regardless of what their schedules or to-do lists might contain.
They are on the front end of the campus' diversity effort. Without their dediation, hard work and years of commitment, CSU, Chico would be a much less diverse place."
ETS Program Awarded $2.3 Million in Federal Grants
August 21, 2006
California State University, Chico will now host two Educational Talent Search (ETS) grants totaling $2.3 million to help area junior high and high school students go to college during the next four years.
The U.S. Department of Education awarded the grants. One is a continuing grant which has been in operation since 1990. The second grant will allow CSU, Chico to service an additional six schools, bringing the total to 1,500 students served yearly.
The money will allow the CSU, Chico Educational Talent Search program to assist 6th through 12th grade students from educationally or economically disadvantaged backgrounds to complete high school and continue with post-secondary education.
The CSU, Chico program provides counseling, admissions information, college campus tours, scholarship information and a host of other services in 26 target schools in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba counties.
"There are countless students in our area who are interested in attending college," said ETS Director Allan Bee, "but they lack the necessary information or motivation to make that goal a reality."
Bee stated that there are many reasons why fully capable students fail to attend college. Among them is the fact that only slightly more than 13 percent of adults in the six-county area have a bachelor's degree, which means there are few role models to encourage or guide students onto postsecondary education.
In addition, he said, many students or their parents believe college is out of reach financially, so they take themselves out of the running for billions of dollars in grants, loans and scholarships.
The CSU, Chico program faced stiff competition for the grants, Bee said. The Department of Education received more than 1,000 applications and funded only 458 nationwide.
February 3, 2006
College exposure: Seventh- and eighth-graders see fun side of education at Chico State University
By CHRIS GULLICK - Staff Writer
About 140 seventh- and eighth-graders from seven area schools were exposed to a fun side of education at Chico State University Thursday during an Educational Talent Search scholars program.
The program encourages post-secondary education for students who might not otherwise attend college and supports them for success in junior high, high school and college.
Chico Junior High eighth-graders Mai Vue (left) and Pao Lee put the finishing touches on their bridge made of straws and paper clips during an Educational Talent Search program Thursday at Chico State University.( Bill Husa/Enterprise-Record)
When the middle school students gathered in Bell Memorial Union's auditorium, search director Allan Bee asked if any of them knew the meanings of "ethnobiology" or "curator." He guaranteed they would know them by the end of the day, which was geared to introducing them to study areas and careers they might be interested in when they attend college.
The students toured the herbarium and the Museum of Anthropology, which currently contains an exhibit on ethno-biology, and took part in a science activity sponsored by MESA, the Mathematics-Engineering-Science Achievement program.
Lynn Larson, a seventh-grade teacher from Hamilton Union Elementary School in Hamilton City, brought 21 students from her school to the event. She praised the program for letting students as young as sixth grade acclimate to the idea of attending college.
She explained that students begin to self-eliminate by that age, and the event helps keep the college option open to them.
One of the Hamilton Union students, eighth-grader Alma Sanchez, said she plans to attend college, probably at Chico State. She said she's learned from the program that it's important to go to college and about the opportunities available for her.
After breakfast and a welcome, the students separated into four groups to participate in workshops and tours, some remaining in the BMU for the MESA activity.
Given 50 plastic straws and a box of small paper clips, they were instructed to use those supplies to build a bridge which would span a 12-inch gap and bear weight. A couple of hints were supplied, too: First, you'll probably want to link the paper clips. Second, triangles have the greatest strength. The challenge — complete it in just 15 minutes.
In groups of three, the students tackled the project. One group made tiny triangles of single straws, while others joined rows of larger triangles. One tried for a three-dimensional triangulation and another tried unsuccessfully to force a chain of paper clips through the entire length of a straw.
At the end of the allotted time, the bridges were stretched across a gap between two tables and tested by hanging a plastic cup from the span. Weight-bearing capacity was measured by adding metal washers to the cup.
A trio from Gray Avenue Middle School in Yuba City, created a bridge that held the weight of 23 washers. Creatively, they had ignored the hint to use triangular structures, but strengthened their bridge with layer upon layer of straws and incorporated the rubber band that had bundled their straws.
The girls -- Shanice Brown, Julianna Sanchez and Angelica Miller -- scored candy bars for their success.
While the students built straw bridges, the program was trying to build bridges of a different kind -- between the university and a home where higher education might not be considered an option.
Students and faculty test the strength of a bridge made out of straws and paper clips during an Educational Talent Search program Thursday at Chico state University.(Bill Husa/Enterprise-Record)
The Educational Talent Search is among a group of programs which work to overcome barriers that might discourage higher education goals.
According to Bee, the program at Chico State includes 25 area schools and is limited to serving 900 of the students who apply for membership. The students qualify if they are from low-income families, if neither parent graduated from college, and if they show academic potential.
Besides Gray Avenue Middle School and Hamilton Union Elementary, schools participating in this segment of the program included Chico Junior High School, Egling Middle School in Colusa, C.K. Price Middle School in Orland, Central Middle School and Ishi Hills Middle School, both in Oroville. Staff writer Chris Gullick can be reached at 896-7760 or cgullick@chicoer.com. BACKGROUND: Educational Talent Search at Chico State University brings junior high and high school students to the campus to encourage them to pursue higher education.
WHAT'S NEW: Seventh- and eighth-graders from seven schools attended a day of tours and workshops at Chico State Thursday.
WHAT'S NEXT: Most of the students will return to Chico State each year until they graduate from high school, for grade-appropriate workshops, such as a career day and a scholarship and application workshop.
ETS Program Benefits Many Students at Live Oak High School
November 2005
By Jessica Sood
Are you struggling to find a career path? Do you need help managing your time? Do you want to go to college but need some assistance? Then there is a program at Live Oak High School for you.
The Educational Talent Search Program in Live Oak High School is run by California State University, Chico and is designed to assist low-income and first-generation students in grades 6 through 12 prepare for their educational future. ETS is for students with academic potential who want to continue their education beyond high school, but who need some extra help. ETS assists students to enroll in the post-secondary school that is best for them and encourages students and provides them with support that gives confidence and skills needed to succeed in junior high, high school, and college.
A big issue for many families with young students is money. ETS is a program that is cost-free. Students should join because they can be involved in many activities and workshops that can help strengthen academic and personal growth skills, help with applications to the college of your choice and increase and improve your post-secondary and career opportunities. The basic concept is to keep students focused on educational goals.
The ETS director at Live Oak High School is Diana Parra-Villasenor.
"I know first-hand the importance of educational programs and the positive impact they can have on a student's life,” said Parra-Villasenor. “I am extremely committed to my students and they know I am genuine when I tell them I'll be here to help them in any way I can.”
ETS serves 900 students in 25 schools and an ETS advisor’s goal is to prepare and motivate low-income, first generation college students for success in post-secondary education.
“I love helping students in any way I can,” said Parra-Villasenor. “I worked for Migrant Education for a while after I graduated from Chico State, then one of my college mentors called me and asked me to apply to be an adviser for ETS. Since I had been in the CSU, Chico Upward Bound program when I was in high school, I was familiar with TRIO programs and the difference they made in student’s lives.”
Parra-Villasenor has been working for ten years and says, “It has flown by!” She has been an adviser for six years, and the Assistant Director for four. She loves getting to know her students, their families and helping them pursue their college goals.
“ETS students know that I care about them and I am here to help their teachers and counselors ensure they attend college somewhere after high school,” she said.
Some of those students have been in the ETS program since sixth grade and Parra-Villasenor values the strong relationships she has with her students.
“My parents only went to sixth grade in Mexico,” she said. “I grew up on a dairy farm in Gridley and did not believe attending a university would be an option for me since no one in my immediate family had even graduated from high school.
“The Upward Bound program encouraged me and answered questions about college, financial aid and support programs that my parents did not know about. I hope I am able to enlighten my students the way Upward Bound did for me. By getting my bachelor’s degree, I have been able to help my parents financially so they don’t have to work in the fields anymore.
“I am blessed to have a supportive husband, two little girls and I am due in December with my third child. My daughters like coming to my office at the Chico State campus, and they like that I help students. I am able to balance my time at work and being completely devoted to my family also.
“This is the perfect job for me because it is a combination of teaching and counseling. I hope to continue because working with students is my passion.
Educational Talent Search is a wonderful program for students in need of an assist towards college. Interested students should contact Parra-Villasenor for more information about Educational Talent Search. See Mr. Hogan, LOHS Counselor for contact information.
Congratulations Diana!
February 2005
ETS Assistant Director Diana Parra-Villaseñor was recently honored with a “WESTOP Service Award” for her ten years of outstanding service to her ETS students. At it’s February 2005 Conference in Hollywood, the Western Association of Educational Opportunity Personnel (WESTOP) selected two of its members to be honored with this prestigious award. WESTOP is an association of people who work in programs such as Talent Search, Upward Bound, and college level TRIO programs as well as EOP. Also in the photo is ETS Director Allan Bee who commented: “I am thrilled to see Diana get this award. She is there for her students 24/7, and it is great to see her honored by her peers.” Great job Diana!
Distinguished Alumni of the Educational Opportunity Program
May 14, 2004
Victor and Tonya Bass were selected as distinguished Alumni of the Educational Opportunity Program, for their success and contributions to the community and its youth. Both CSU, Chico graduates were presented with framed certificates at the annual EOP graduation reception for this year’s graduates. Tanya currently works with the Friday Night Live Program; Victor continues his rewarding work with students in grades 6-12 with the Educational Talent Search Program. The outdoor event was held at the Albert E. Warren’s Reception Center on the Chico State Campus. Also in attendance were the couple’s twin sons Javon and Jalon who watched with pride as their parents were honored.
March 20, 2003
Former underprivileged student guides others to higher education
By: Alan Sheckter-A Positive Note
Diana Parra-Villaseñor of Chico grew up on a Gridley dairy farm. Her parents, who moved to Butte County in the '60s from Chihuahua, Mexico were of modest means who only had sixth-grade educations. They were a loving family, but working in the fields offered little potential of knowledge or money for higher education.
Now, at 32, Parra-Villaseñor is assistant director of Educational Talent Search at Chico State University, a program that provides academic, personal and career counseling to low-income, sixth to 12th grade students who have little or no college in their family history.
"I know first-hand the importance of educational programs and the positive impact they can have on a student's life," Parra-Villaseñor said. "My background parallels what a majority of the ETS students are going through."
The Gridley High School and Chico State University graduate helps students fulfill their academic potentials by continuing on to college.
"She grew up in Gridley and would've qualified for this program," said Allan Bee, the program's local director. "She's always been able to motivate her students."
Parra-Villaseñor advises students on such topics as career awareness, goal setting, college requirements, self- esteem, study skills and financial aid.
"We meet students in groups of about 10 to 15 for each grade," she said. "We ask how they are doing in their classes and have different workshops for each class. Then we stay for any students who want to discuss personal issues or have questions."
The program not only helps students realize their potentials, but Parra-Villaseñor gets her own rewards. She recently had a reunion with a student she advised several years ago.
"He was in eighth grade, was doing bad in school and had the wrong friends," Parra-Villaseñor recalled. "I think he joined the program because he thought field trips would be cool and he'd get pulled out of class. We had tutoring after school and took him to college campuses and he realized education was the only thing that would change his life. He gave me a big old hug and thanked me for believing in him."
Parra-Villaseñor especially enjoys serving Gridley High School. "Now I can go back and tell them I went there and grew up on a ranch and I made it," she said.
Of the program's advisers and tutor/mentors, Parra-Villaseñor has the most seniority, coming on board in 1994. She serves Gridley, Live Oak and Hamilton high schools, as well as C.K. Price Middle School and Hamilton Elementary School.
Parra-Villaseñor has a history of community service, beginning with her volunteer work with Upward Bound, a college prep support group, while still in high school. She's been an education specialist with the Chico State National Youth Sports Program, and trained and supervised home tutors for Butte County's Migrant Education department.
Parra-Villaseñor is married to Pepe Villaseñor, who works with students at Hamilton High School. The couple have two daughters, 3 years old and 8 months old. Despite the challenges of having two little ones at home, Bee said Parra-Villaseñor is a joy to work with. "She's very pleasant to work around and has a good sense of humor," he said.
"She's very caring, always checking to see how everyone is doing. And if you ask her, she may say she's been up all night (with her daughters), but never complains about that stuff.
Educational Talent Search is a national program. The CSU office serves 900 students from 23 schools in six counties. Students sign up at no cost. The program is grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
The Home Field Advantage
December 11, 2002
They grew up in the rural outskirts of Chico, in a community that values youth. Bucking the stigmas of Hamilton City, they're now college students and grads.
By: Melissa Daugherty, Staff Writer The Orion, p. A9
First-generation college student Dario Bobadilla stands atop the newly built bleachers overlooking his old stomping grounds, the football and baseball fields at Hamilton High School where he graduated in 2002.
The Orion/Nick Lovejoy
A few miles outside of Chico, just beyond the Gianella ridge and surrounded by almond orchards, is Hamilton City. It's a small town, with two gas stations, a post office, a couple of convenience stores, an elementary school, a high school and a population of fewer than 2,000 people.
The 2002 graduating class of Hamilton High School had 50 students. Six months after receiving diplomas, several of those students are finishing up their first semesters at Chico State University and reflecting on growing up in a small town.
"Going to college changed my life," said Chico State first-year student Dario Bobadilla. "I feel like an independent person now."
Born in the coastal city of Nayarit, Mexico, Bobadilla came to the United States as an infant when his father and mother immigrated to California. Like many Mexican immigrants, his parents sought agricultural work and eventually settled in rural Capay, near Hamilton City.
"My closest neighbor was a mile away," Bobadilla said. "It was a really quiet life growing up."
Bobadilla was a star athlete at Hamilton High. He lettered in five sports and was the first student at Hamilton High School to play both soccer and basketball, whose seasons overlap. He was also involved in the academic clubs MEChA and the California Scholarship Foundation.
Bobadilla is a first-generation college student and receives financial aid that enables him to stay in school.
He said the only negative part of having graduated from Hamilton High is the stigma that is attached to the town. The city is known for a number of things. It has two popular Mexican restaurants that attract customers from neighboring towns. It is where students park their cars and enter the chilly Sacramento River on Labor Day. It also has a reputation for being a town full of gangs and violence.
"When people hear that I went to Hamilton, they think it's a gang school. But it isn't at all," Bobadilla said. "Academically, it's a really good school."
Hamilton High principal Ray Odom said the 300 students who attend the school get a lot of support. In addition to a full-time counselor, students are assigned an adviser for the duration of their high school career.
Odom said there are also many other advantages to a small student body. The student-computer ratio at the school is 3 to 1. The school has a new 8,000 square foot library that was constructed when more than 70 percent of Hamilton City residents voted to raise their taxes to finance it.
"That really says a lot about a low-income community," Odom said. "The support is really strong."
Odom was raised in Hamilton City and is a Chico State graduate. He said the town was a great place to grow up, which is why he returned to teach there. This is his 23rd year as the high school's principal.
Hamilton High was recognized as a California distinguished high school in 1990 and 1999. It is the only high school in Glenn County to have received that honor.
While Hamilton City is about 70 percent Hispanic, around 60 percent of the high school's population is Hispanic. This is because a third of the students come from out of the district. The school is known for its high academic achievements, including requiring all of its students to pass geometry and algebra, and parents are willing to go out of the way so their children can get the best possible education.
"I think what makes our school work is the atmosphere," Odom said. "We try to give (the students) a vision of what they can do with their lives."
That vision has become a reality for many Hamilton High graduates over the years. Odom said the number of graduates who attend college sometimes reaches 70 percent. He said that 25 percent to 30 percent of those students go on to get degrees.
First-year student Sofia Pacheco is another 2002 Hamilton High graduate who entered Chico State this fall.
Pacheco was born in Chico, but her parents are from San Isidro, Mexico. Like Bobadilla, she is the first person in her family to go to college.
"It's a totally growing experience," she said. "I've become independent."
Pacheco, who maintained a 3.5 GPA in high school, said that part of the reason she chose to attend Chico State is so she can remain near her family. Her parents live in Hamilton City, as do her mother's five sisters and their families.
"We're a very close family," said Pacheco, who is one of three daughters. "I have a relative on almost every street."
Pacheco has heard negative comments about Hamilton City, but said that her childhood there was happy and not at all the negative picture people sometimes paint of the town.
"It's a really nice city," she said. "It's peaceful and friendly."
Pacheco now lives near the Chico State campus, but said she goes home at least once a week to eat her mom's cooking and do laundry. She works at a department store and receives financial aid in order to attend Chico State.
Finishing up her first semester at Chico State, Sofia Pacheco is a Hamilton High School grad and her family's first to attend college.
The Orion/Nick Lovejoy
She said that even though neither of her parents went to college, she always knew she would. During high school, Pacheco was a member of MEChA and Future Farmers of America. She played basketball and was treasurer of her sophomore class. She also took part in Educational Talent Search, a program through Chico State specifically designed to help low-income, first-generation college students prepare for their futures.
Many of Hamilton High's graduates eventually end up living in Chico, and remember Hamilton City's farming community as a pleasant place to grow up.
Sharon Barrios, a Chico State political science professor, attended Hamilton Elementary School until the fifth grade.
"It's the kind of place where kids played all over town," she said. "It was more like a storybook childhood where you could go down to the creek and go fishing."
Barrios returned to Hamilton City in her teens and graduated from Hamilton High School. She went on to earn multiple degrees at Chico State before earning her Ph.D. in politics at Princeton University.
Barrios said her father, a Mexican immigrant, and her white mother encouraged her to attend college, but that many of her friends did not have this type of support. She said she is struck by how well Mexican Americans do, especially those who have come to the United States as late as elementary school.
Another Chico resident who grew up in Hamilton City is Chico police Lt. John Carrillo. Like many other residents of Hamilton City, Carrillo's father was a farm laborer. His mother, who emigrated from Mexico, became a teacher at Hamilton Elementary School. He said he knew he wanted to become a police officer in eighth grade after meeting a Glenn County Sheriff at his school's career day.
"Kids of that age are looking for something, and that was it for me," Carrillo said. "Growing up in Hamilton, you recognize at an early age that if you want something, you're going to have to work hard for it."
After high school graduation, Carrillo entered the military, went to college and then came back to the area to enter the Butte Police Academy.
As a police officer, he said he often finds himself defending Hamilton City. He said most people don't know anything about the city, other than the fact that there was a time when there were some problems with gangs.
"It's a nice small town where everybody knows each other," Carrillo said. "It was an excellent childhood."
Carrillo said he thinks that in five to 10 years, Hamilton City will be a completely different town.
The commute to Chico is only about 10 minutes, and Carrillo he thinks that when people realize how attractive the town is, people will buy real estate and make it a bedroom community of Chico.
"It's a simple life," he said. "Kind of like something out of a John Steinbeck novel."
April 30, 2002
InnerView: Ahead of his class and ready for more
By ROSEANN LANGLOIS-Staff Writer
Clay Pittman could have fallen through the cracks.
"I would've been held back a grade, but now I'm graduating early," said the 17-year-old former Pleasant Valley High School student.
Pittman will graduate from Fair View High School in December, months earlier than his former classmates. Pittman chose - actually fought - to transfer to Fair View after his freshman year at Pleasant Valley, knowing he would get the special attention his learning disability required.
"My sister went to Fair View, so I knew that the students got a lot of attention there," said Clay, who was diagnosed with a visual, motor integration disability in elementary school.
Clay's mother Kelly Kraich and his counselor at Pleasant Valley were against switching schools. They told him he was doing fine, and didn't need to transfer to the continuation high school. He persisted.
"When I was in elementary school the teachers knew my name and how to work with my disability," he said. "At PV, I had a class that was standing-room only. My grades began to fall again. I stopped trying."
Clay told his mom he needed the personalized instruction that helped him improve his grades and attendance in elementary school.
Once he was at Fair View, his grades raised from a C to a B-plus average, earning him a spot on the honor roll. Teachers instantly recognized his knack for leadership and communication, and he was appointed class president and student representative to the Chico Unified School Board.
"OK, he was right," Kraich laughed.
Clay was also selected for the Chico State University Educational Talent Search, a program that seeks out promising college candidates and helps them through the application and scholarship process and organizes trips to different campuses.
But there was a time when Clay had a hard time convincing the adults around him that he was trying his best.
"I still couldn't spell, no matter how hard I tried," he said. "I had a teacher that would humiliate me," he said. "When I couldn't complete an assignment because I didn't understand, he would have me get up in front of the class."
Clay told his mom he thought something was wrong, and after much asking on her part, he was finally tested for a learning disability in the sixth grade.
"He was put into a resource specialist program," she said. "He got the help he needed."
Clay and his mother have difficulty describing the disorder. "It's some glitch in the reading process. No one's really been able to explain it to us," she said.
Specialists say his spelling ability is that of a late-term third-grader. He now relies on a Franklin Speller machine.
"I've learned ways to work around it," Clay said.
After his graduation this year, Clay will either attend Butte College or College of the Redwoods, then transfer to a four-year college to pursue a degree in music theory.
"I want to be a rock star, work in the music business, or work with pre-teen or teen-age kids," said Clay, who plays guitar, the drums, and wants to learn the piano.
For other parents of children with a learning disability, Clay recommends listening to their needs.
"Talk to your kid and see what he wants to do, not just what you want to do," Clay said.
Gonzales Takes First in Academic Contest
April 15, 2002
Natalie Gaither, Staff Writer
Orland Press-Register, p.3
Claudia Gonzales, a senior at Hamilton Union High School won first place in the interdisciplinary category for the TRIO Think Quest international competition at Chico State University.
Gonzales has been part of the Educational Talent Search program since the sixth grade. Last summer, the Talent Search representatives asked if Gonzales wanted to participate in the TRIO Think Quest international competition at CSU, Chico to design high quality research web sites.
Gonzales agreed and for six weeks during the summer, she participated in the Upward Bound project to produce a web site with two other students in her group.
In March, Gonzales traveled with other students to Monterey for a conference to give a presentation on her website and to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, Educational Talent Search and she received software from the Microsoft company.
There are a total of 21 students, 14 high school and seven middle school students in the six county areas including Glenn County. There are a total of 800 students from sixth to twelfth grade in the Talent Search program.
The other one-third must comply with either one of those qualifications plus the students must be successful and show a possibility of going on to a secondary education.
The Talent Search series of activities include time management, improve self-esteem, after school tutoring and mentoring. Once a year students will go to CSU, Chico grade appropriate workshops to work on college essays, SAT test taking to prepare and motivate students for secondary education.
"It was a good opportunity and a good experience. I like to work on web designs; I enjoy working on computers and I got to meet a lot of new people. I was accepted to U.C. Berkeley, but I plan on attending Butte College and then transfer to a four year university," said Gonzales.
Middle Schoolers Bridge Digital Divide
12/13/2001
Allan Bee, Educational Talent Search, Inside Chico State, v. 32, no.8, p.3
CSU, Chico's Educational Talent Search program hosted it's Annual 7th/8th Grade
During the Educational Talent Search Scholar's Program, eighth-grade students learn about the solar system in the Roth Planetarium.
Scholar's Program on Nov. 27. Ninety-eight students from middle schools in Chico, Oroville, Colusa, Hamilton City, Marysville, and Orland attended the program.
Educational Talent Search (ETS) is a federally funded program that prepares and motivates students in grades 6-12 for success in postsecondary education. Students receive help with goal setting, financial aid and scholarship applications, and academic tutoring from college-aged mentors.
The students toured the campus, enjoyed cultural activities, visited the Roth Planetarium, and participated in hands-on engineering activities. In one activity, students learned about principles of physics and engineering as they constructed and raced "sail cars" for prizes.
Students entered the world of technology on the "eBus," a 40-foot, fully equipped mobile computer laboratory with 16 workstations. The "eBus," sponsored by the Community College foundation, travels throughout the state and brings technology access to underserved communities, free of charge. Aboard the "eBus," instructors provide training in computer literacy, assist with computerized job search and employment development skills, and support after-school programs.
"It's always satisfying to bring middle school students to campus," said Allan Bee, ETS director. "It's never too soon to start motivating them toward higher education."
Talent Search Finds Students
October 10, 2001
Hillary Hollingsworth, Staff Writer The Orion, p. C9
Yolanda Salazar never thought she'd get to college, but today she is a sophomore at Chico State University, double majoring in psychology and Spanish. If it hadn't been for a form she filled out in seventh grade, she said she might not be where she is today.
Salazar signed up for a federally funded outreached program called Educational Talent Search. Its purpose is to give disadvantaged middle school and high school students a chance to attend college. Neither of Salazar's parents attended college, so she automatically met the criteria of the program, she said. Prior to joining Educational Talent Search, Salazar wasn't thinking about the possibility of attending college, but said the program helped her become interested.
"It made it more of a realization," she said.
During high school, Salazar and other students met with Educational Talent Search advisers once a month and they would ask how classes were going or if students needed help.
"They have been there, done that," she said of the advisers. "They know where to begin and how hard it is (to get into college)."
Salazar said the program's advisers suggested what classes she should take, helped with financial aid and showed her how to fill out applications for school. Highlights of the program, Salazar said, were trips to different universities where she and others would get a taste of college life. One trip allowed them to stay in the college residence halls for one week at the University of California, Berkeley.
Victor Bass, an adviser for Educational Talent Search, helped Salazar reach her goals.
"He made sure we did what we had to do," Salazar said.
Among the many services that Educational Talent Search provides are workshops that teach students how to write an autobiographical essay, find out scholarship information, enhance study skills and prepare for the SATs, Bass said.
"By using technology and other resources, we show them ways they can improve their life and situations," he said.
A tutoring program assisted by college students helps Educational Talent Search participants in academic need to do better in school and raise their GPAs. Currently, there are 16 Chico State students who tutor, Bass said.
Chico State sophomore Mary Thao tutors students after school once a week in Live Oak and at Oroville High school. Thao took the tutoring position after finding out about it from an informational booth set up on campus. She said that the students she tutors impress her.
"I think it's really cool that they take time to go after school," she said.
Adviser Diana Parra-Villaseñor said the program serves an average of 800 students in 22 schools, grades six through 12. Of those in the program, about 130 students graduate high school ever year, she said. Parra-Villasenor and other advisers go out to each school once a month to focus on different aspect of preparing for college and career. Each grade has an advising curriculum to keep students on target for college.
Although the Educational Talent Search is located at Chico State, it recruits for all college campuses, Parra-Villasenor said.
"We want the student to go wherever is best for them," she said.
A graduate of Las Plumas High school in Oroville, Salazar decided to stay close to home and live with her parents when she chose Chico State. She said 10 of the 15 students she graduated high school with who participated in the program also chose Chico State.
Parra-Villaseñor said she thinks the program can help not only the students, but also the families and the community. Students who are involved with Educational Talent Search must be either first-generation college students or low-income, she said. Many students are both.
"Really, this is the only way they can do it, unless they win the lottery or something," Parra-Villasenor said.