For Immediate Release: October 12, 2007

Media Contact: Allison Abel, Public Affairs; (562) 860-2451, ext. 7878

Students who want the fast track to a UC know where it’s at: Cerritos College’s Scholars’ Honors Program (SHP). Now in its 11th year, the program provides advanced students with unique opportunities for scholarships, closer interaction with professors, smaller class sizes, priority admission consideration from top California universities, and other benefits.  

At an orientation last month, a new group of students met with director Timothy Juntilla to find out all that the year has in store for them. Juntilla has high hopes for this crowd; last year’s outgoing class had a 94 percent acceptance rate at UC Irvine, and 95 percent at UCLA.

“I want students to know that there’s nothing standing in the way of them and the top schools in the state,” said Juntilla.

During the past several years, program has seen steady growth. Its increase this fall over the previous year stands at 10 percent.

Several students at the orientation were returning as sophomores to complete their second year of studies at Cerritos College before transferring. Bryan Rowe, an English major, says he hopes to attend UCLA, UC Berkeley, or perhaps Columbia University. He says he’s appreciated SHP because he gets the opportunity to take classes with like-minded students. “It’s a better learning environment,” he says. “Students in your classes are harder-working.”

Rowe is the 2007-08 president of the Scholars’ Honors Club, which provides an avenue for students to form support structures for each other. It also assists them in their transfer goals by setting aside time for community service, something that college admissions officials want to see on the records of incoming students. Club members volunteer at a senior center across the street from the college, and also participate in beach clean-up days.

Sarah Jimenez, an art major, has taken several honors courses through SHP since she entered the program in the fall of 2006. She says the program has helped her build relationships with her professors.

“A lot of students are afraid of their professors, but SHP helps you overcome that,” she says.

Students are brought into closer contact with instructors through smaller class sizes. They also work closely with professors in contract courses—non-honors courses that SHP students can count as honors classes when they complete an additional research requirement.

“One of the strengths of SHP is that it allows students to customize their own learning experience,” says Juntilla. “Aside from the many courses custom-designed for honors students, the students can make their honors experience virtually anything they want through means of contract courses.”

Rowe, who is enrolled this fall in a contract course in logic, is currently working on a research project which he describes as “the ontological status of definite descriptions”—or, in layman’s terms, the validity and existence of nouns that refer to a singular individual or object.

Upon completion of his research, he’ll have the opportunity to make presentations at student research conferences.

“Conferences are beneficial to the students not just in giving them experience in presenting research to experts in academia, but also for the fact that they can network with honors administration, faculty and students. In addition, the experience they gain gives them understanding in how to apply for research grants and internships.”

Students who present at conferences also gain the benefit of a more competitive admission application when it comes time to transfer.

Scholars’ Honors Program students are typically among the best and brightest of students seeking to transfer. Not only do they frequently gain admission to the most competitive public universities in the state, but they’re in the running for large scholarships as well. One SHP student who recently graduated from Cerritos College received a $5,000 scholarship to UCLA, and many other SHP students also receive awards.

As the semester kicks into high gear, Juntilla is eager to see the new honors students achieve and even surpass the successes of their predecessors.

“They already have the ability; now, through SHP, they have the resources as well,” he says. “I’m tremendously optimistic about their future.”

To learn more about the Scholars' Honors Program at Cerritos College, visit http://www.cerritos.edu/shp. 

 NORWALK, CA - July 17, 2007 - Graduates from Cerritos College's Scholars' Honors Program (SHP) in 2007 achieved a 95 percent acceptance rate to the University of California at Los Angeles this fall, up five percentage points from acceptance rates at UCLA in fall 2006. Additionally, the students had a 94 percent acceptance rate at the University of California, Irvine for fall 2007.

Twenty-six SHP students who just finished their classes at Cerritos College in May 2007 have been accepted to institutions including UCLA, CSU Los Angeles, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, CSU Long Beach, CSU Sacramento, UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara.
 

"Our students work incredibly hard and have proven that they have what it takes to enter some of the best universities," said SHP Director and English Instructor Timothy Juntilla.

Since its inception in 1997, SHP has provided its participants with the guidance and extra academic requirements to successfully transfer to four-year universities such as UCLA, UC Berkeley and UC Irvine. Last fall, students' acceptance rate at UCLA was 91 percent, and 94 percent at UC Irvine. 

 "Our students are incredibly talented and motivated," said Juntilla. "I look forward to hearing of their successes down the road."

 The SHP program is the academic and social home that Cerritos College provides for talented and motivated students who plan to transfer to four-year institutions. Through the SHP program, many students have the opportunity to apply and receive prestigious scholarships. Benefits offered to students by SHP include opportunities for independent research with leading faculty members through the Honors Contract program, small-enrollment honors sections of courses needed for transfer, workshops to help in transferring to 4-year schools, and scholarships to selected transfer colleges and universities. For more information on the SHP, visit the program online at www.cerritos.edu/shp or contact the SHP office at (562) 860-2451, ext. 2728.
 
Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college's district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 200 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently surpasses 20,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.

Cerritos College's Scholars' Honors Program (SHP) honored 26 graduates and two participants during its tenth annual farewell ceremony on Thursday, May 1. 
 
Each of the graduates received bronze medallions for completing the full SHP curriculum of six honors courses while maintaining a 3.0 grade point average in transferable courses. A total of 26 graduates (students who completed the honors program) and two participants (students who finished two or more honors courses, but did not finish the program), were honored during the evening's event.
 

 

Recognition was also given to Aditi Khurana and Hanna Lee, who each received a $500

SHP Transfer Scholarship. Medallions were presented to graduates by Cerritos College Vice President of Academic Affairs William Farmer, and certificates were presented by Faculty Senate President Dr. Bryan Reece. SHP Director Timothy Juntilla served as master of ceremonies. 
 
SHP graduates included: Reeva Castillo, transferring to CSULA; Tu Dao, transferring to UC Berkeley; Meera  Desai, transferring to UCSD; Alvaro Espinoza, transferring to UCLA; JJ Espinoza, transferring to UCLA; Leah Evangelista, transferring to UCLA; Michael Garcia, transferring to CSULB; Isaac Gonzalez, UC Berkeley or CSU Sacramento; Joel  Gonzalez who has not decided yet where to transfer;  Joseph Gutierrez, transferring to UC Berkeley or UCLA; Michelle Hsu, who has not decided yet where to transfer; Susie Joo, who has not decided yet where to transfer; Aditi Khurana, transferring to UCI or UCLA; Da Eun (Gloria) Lee, transferring to UC Berkeley or UCLA; Hanna Lee, transferring to UCLA; Ning Liang, transferring to to UCLA; Charlene Lobarbio, transferring to UCLA; Justine Lopez, transferring to UCLA; Rosa Lopez, who has been accepted to UC Berkeley, UCI, UCLA and UCSD, but is still undecided about her transfer choice; Ngai Ng, who has been accepted to UC Berkeley, UCI, UCLA, UCSB, UCSD and is waiting to hear from USC before deciding on his transfer choice; Viviana Ruiz, who is transferring to UCLA or UCI; Carlos Salas, who is transferring to CSULB; Irving Salazar, who is transferring to UCLA; Lucia Sanchez-Contreras, who is transferring to UCLA; David Shin, who is transferring to UCLA; and Steven Sinkewicz, who is transferring to UCLA. Participants Perla Medina, who is transferring to UCSD or San Francisco State University, and Yovany Moreno, who is transferring to UCLA, were also honored.

 

"The students in the Scholars' Honors Program never cease to amaze me," said Juntilla.

 

"These are some of the brightest students at Cerritos College and, on behalf of the faculty who worked with these students over the years, I would like to extend our sincere congratulations and best wishes for the future. As director of the Scholars' Honors Program, I encourage students graduating from high school, as well as students currently enrolled at Cerritos College, to join the SHP. Start your bachelor's degree at Cerritos College and ensure your transfer success by completing the honors program."
 
The SHP program is the academic and social home that Cerritos College provides for talented and motivated students who plan to transfer to four-year institutions.Through the SHP program, many students have the opportunity to apply and receive prestigious scholarships. Benefits offered to students by SHP include opportunities for independent research with leading faculty members through the Honors Contract program, small-enrollment honors sections of courses needed for transfer, workshops to help in transferring to four-year schools, and scholarships to selected transfer colleges and universities. For more information on the SHP, visit the program's online at www.cerritos.edu/shp or contact the SHP office at (562) 860-2451, ext. 2728.