Thursday, 28 March 2024

Local students honored at College-Going Initiative reception

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The seventh annual College-Going Initiative University Admit Reception was held on May 7 at Kelseyville High School.  

Each year administrators, board members, counselors and college representatives all gather to honor the graduating seniors and their families who have been accepted to a four-year college.  

This year, the schools invited 94 students who have been accepted to a wide variety of schools including California State Universities Bakersfield, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Chico, East Bay, Humboldt, Long Beach, Maritime, Monterey Bay, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Universities of California Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Santa Cruz, plus a variety of out of state and private schools including Alabama A&M University, Art Institute of Sacramento, Arts Institute of San Francisco, Ave Maria University, Baylor University, Baylor University, Brigham Young University, Cal Lutheran University, Chapman University, Dominican University, Grand Canyon University, Hartwick College, John Paul the Great Catholic University, Mills College, Missouri State University, Neumont University, Oregon State University, Pacific Union College, Simpson College, Southern Oregon University, Southern Utah University, St. Mary's College, Texas Tech University, The Master's College, West Virginia University, Westminster College, Whitman College and Willamette University.

The reception was lead by Lake County Office of Education Program Specialist Tammy Serpa, who credited past Director of the College Going-Initiative and current Mendo Lake Credit Union marketing and community development coordinator Jamie Gill for her development of the event for the last 6 years.  

Following a welcome address from Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook, Lower Lake High Vice Principal Kevin Wickersham gave both parents and students words of advice for their upcoming adventure.

This year’s student speaker was 2011 Middletown High School student Luis Guzman. Luis is currently attending University of Arizona and was unable to make it in time for the event, but was gracious enough to make a video to show in his place describing his first year of college, dorm life, and even how he missed home.

Guests were treated to a wonderful buffet dinner prepared by Michelle Malm and her staff at Kelseyville High School, as well as lively music performed by the Kelseyville High School Jazz Band.  Seating for the large group was made possible thanks to the loan of tables from Rick Malm of the CDF.

During dinner service, guests were also able to view the slide show presentation featuring each student’s career goals and special thanks to those that assisted them in achieving their college admission.  

Each guest received a seedling of either a blue spruce or redwood tree from the National Arbor Foundation in keeping with the quote of the evening from Harold Taylor, “The roots of true achievement lie in the will to become the best that you can become.”  

Students and parents were also treated to a free raffle of prizes that included dorm survival bags filled with items such as first aid kits, sewing kits, towels, sponges and other necessities.  

Parents also were treated to raffle prizes form Konocti Vista Casino that included two one-night stays, concert tickets and a café voucher.

Thanks to the generous donations and loan of plants by Kelseyville Lumber and Mendo Mill & Lumber, students were called onto the beautifully decorated stage by their prospective colleges to receive both recognition and small gifts.  

All colleges were contacted and asked to send an item from their school as a welcome to the students. Many students received something from their college such as bags, pennants, water bottles, and/or shirts.  

Every student received a canvas tote from the Mendo Lake Credit Union, a financial planning workbook from the National Endowment for Financial Education and a deck of cards from Konocti Vista Casino.  

Students were awarded their gift bags by Superintendent Wally Holbrook, college rep Ruben Lubers from UC Merced and college rep Daniel Zurkic of Pacific Union College.

The University Admit Reception was created seven years ago to honor the hard work and dedication of our local students and families who achieved a difficult academic goal.  

The CGI department is proud of all of Lake County seniors who will be starting college in the fall and wish them a successful future as they embark on their higher education endeavors.   

If you would like more information about the University Admit Reception or would like to make a donation to support next year’s event, please contact Tammy Serpa, CGI/CTE Program Specialist at 707-262-4164 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Upcoming Calendar

28Mar
03.28.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Vision resource group
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am
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30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
30Mar
03.30.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Lake County poet laureate inauguration
31Mar
03.31.2024
Easter Sunday
31Mar
03.31.2024 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
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1Apr
04.01.2024
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