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Summer Bridge Crossing and EOP 55th Celebration
The Educational Opportunity Program has started commemorating its 55th anniversary during our five Summer transitional programs at Sacramento State on June 24, 2024, with a theme of "Guiding, Empowering, Mentoring, Illuminating Paths, Igniting Potential." Since its founding in 1968, the EOP program has served several thousands of California residents leading the way in providing access and support for first-generation and low-income scholars at Sacramento State. EOP has been instrumental in delivering innovation and access to support services as one of the university's first equity programs housed among several other equity programs in Student Academic Success and Educational Equity Programs (SASEEP).
EOP remains committed to leading the way in persistence, retention, and graduation for underserved populations through our signature support services:
- admissions assistance,
- special EOP orientation to university life,
- five EOP Transitional Summer Bridge Programs for our incoming first-year, sophomore, transfer, junior, and senior students,
- Aiming Retention Intensive Services for Excellence (ARISE) Program: academic advising, personal counseling, community engagement, tutoring, financial assistance, first-year learning community experience, leadership opportunities, career, major exploration, graduation workshops, and retention services towards graduation.
Crossing Ceremony
On Thursday, August 1, 2024, at the Harper Alumni Center from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. as part of our EOP Crossing Ceremony, EOP will celebrate our 55th anniversary as we recognize our summer bridge scholars.
The Sacramento State EOP family program will attend the CSU systemwide EOP 55th Anniversary Professional Development Conference hosted at Sonoma State University on Wednesday, September 18 – Friday, September 20, 2024.
In the Spotlight
Each month an EOP Alumni will be featured on our spotlight page during June, July, August, September, and October sharing their college educational experience, success, and achievement since Sacramento State. We look forward to celebrating and seeing our EOP students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community partners at our 55th-anniversary events and engagements.
Jose Barajas
Graduated in 2010
Hometown: Galt, California
Major: Criminal Justice
Concentration: Investigations
Jose Barajas graduated from Sacramento State in 2010 with a major in Criminal Justice and a concentration in Investigations. He is originally from Galt, California, and has developed a strong foundation in the field of criminal justice through his focused studies.
Tania Hernandez
Graduated in 2015 Undergrad and 2020 Masters
Hometown: Calistoga, California
Major: BS in Criminal Justice & Master in Counseling
Concentration: School Counseling, PPS Credential
Tania Hernandez is an esteemed educator and trailblazer in the field of education, bringing a wealth of experience and passion to her work. As a first-generation college student, Tania's journey began in the small town of Calistoga. Coming from a migrant seasonal farmworker family. After graduating high school in 2011, she embarked on her academic path at California State University Sacramento (CSUS), a decision that marked a significant milestone as the first in her family to pursue higher education away from home. Throughout her time at CSUS, Tania encountered and overcame numerous challenges familiar to students who looked like her. Her determination to navigate these obstacles fueled her commitment to supporting others on their educational journeys. Tania's advocacy first took shape as an Outreach Coordinator for the College Assistance Migrant Program, where she collaborated closely with the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) to ensure the successful integration of students into the CSUS community.
Dr. Miguel Molina
Graduated in 2014
Hometown: Santa Barbara, CA
Major: Higher Educational Leadership
Dr. Molina comes from a family of fourteen (12 brothers and sisters) and was born in Santa Barbara, California. Miguel’s parents were from Morelia, Michoacán, and El Paso, Texas respectively. After 12 years of Catholic education, Miguel graduated from Santa Barbara City College with his Associate’s degree and then transferred and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, followed by a Master’s degree in Counselor Education with an emphasis on School Counseling, both from California State University, Sacramento. He completed his doctorate in 2014 within the Higher Educational Leadership Ed.D program at CSU Sacramento as well. His doctoral study focused on Mexican-American students within the California Community College Puente Programs titled “COMMUNITY COLLEGE PUENTE’S INFLUENCE ON CALIFORNIA’S MEXICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS: COUNTERING THE STATISTICS”.
Dr. Karina Figueroa-Ramírez
Graduated in 2024
Hometown: Yuba City, CA
Major: Earned a bachelor's in political science in 2005, completed subject matter competency to teach social science in 2006, earned a teaching credential in single subject in 2007, and a master's in Multicultural Education in 2012, a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Arizona State University.
Dr. Karina Figueroa-Ramírez currently serves as the Equity Coordinator for the College of Education at Sacramento State. In this role, there is emphasis to further support first generation and multilingual students who are pursuing careers in education through a critical lens. Especially for those who are the first in their families to pursue a teaching profession. Karina was born and raised in Yuba City, CA with roots from Jalisco, México and is a wife and mother to three blessings: MayaTonahli, MartinAmaru and LuisTeotl (who are all bilingües). After earning a teaching credential from the Bilingual Multicultural Education Department at Sac State, she went on to teach for almost ten years in local Sacramento schools and later completed her master’s degree in education. Karina has worked in education for almost 20 years and shares she is grateful for those who stood before her and have paved the way for her to be the person she has become. Through these loving mentorships, she built the agency to earn a doctoral degree in educational leadership from ASU in summer 2024. From her early life experiences, she became determined to make positive contributions in working towards more equitable and just systems. It is something very personal, a lifelong lucha (struggle), that motivates her each day she is serving our students, one future educator at a time. Karina’s mission is for more underrepresented students to consider pursuing a career in the classroom while working from a social justice lens, so that our students can empower themselves and lead their own communities.
Word of wisdom: Our students need to make their own decisions and not have others make them for them.
Contact figueroaramirez@csus.edu if you’re interested in teaching K-12.
Dr. Karina Figueroa-Ramírez, EOP Alumni Class of 2024 - Youtube
Andrew Yang
Graduated in 2022 Undergrad and 2023 Masters
Hometown: Sacramento, California
Major: Undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Recreation Parks and Tourism Administration, Master of Science Higher Education Leadership
Andrew is a first-generation student, a graduate of Luther Burbank High School, and an alum of the Educational Opportunity Program and Summer Bridge Program in 2014, Andrew brings his vast experiences in program development, community engagement, and student services to serve the growing and diverse Asian Pacific Islander Desi American student population at California State University Sacramento.
Andrew served as an academic advisor with the Academic Advising Center, guiding students through the process of academic policies, academic success, and professional career pathways. He also worked as a lead program lead for numerous equity programs including the First-generation Institute, Project Hmong, and the Partnerships to Advance the Value of Education (PAVE) program, and a research assistant to the 2021 APIDA needs assessment report. He was also invited and presented nationwide at the 2021 APIA Scholars Elevating Leaders’ Summit and facilitated a local advocacy training program for the youth, APIA-U.
Andrew is an advocate and leader in his community. He has worked with community organizations such as OCA Sacramento Asian Pacific American Advocate, Asian Resources Inc., Hmong Youth and Parents United, Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs, and Asian Pacific Islander American Scholars. Through his community collaborations, he has implemented workshops and programs that focused on current APIDA issues such as Model Minority Stigma, ASIAN Hate, and APIDA. As an APIDA leader on campus and in the community, Andrew continues to help bring awareness of the different APIDA cultures and unique social-cultural and educational challenges APIDA students face on campus and in the community.
Andrew received his degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration and his graduate degree in the Higher Education Leadership & Policy Studies Master program at Sacramento State. He is now serving as the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Center Coordinator and Student Academic Success Counselor, where he supports over 7000 APIDA students on campus.
Summer Bridge Crossing
The Educational Opportunity Program will host its 55th Anniversary Celebration. The event will occur on Thursday, August 1st, 2024 from 11:00 am – 12:15 pm for Ceremony 1 and Ceremony 2 will be held from 12:45 pm – 2:00 pm at the Alumni Center. The event theme is “Crossing with Optimism.” The event is designed to celebrate over 5 decades and 5 years of work produced by the Educational Opportunity Program in serving with excellence first generation college students. We are proud to honor in synergy all the scholar participants of our 2024 class of Summer Bridge Academy students for all their hard work and dedication to their scholarly pursuits.
Hospitality
Lunch will be provided for program attendees.
Parking
Parking is free in lots near the Alumni Center building. Parking details will be sent in the “Know Before You Go” email being distributed on July 31st, 2024.
Photo Shoot
There will be two photo shoots for Summer Bridge Scholars including the freshmen photo shoot at 9:45 am at the Guy West Plaza Bridge (just at the foot of the stairs).
After Ceremony 2, sophomores and seniors will be convened at the Alumni Center for their group photo.
Registration
To register for this event, please use the link provided below.
Planning Committee
- Dr. Marcellene Watson-Derbigny, Associate Vice President, Student Retention and Academic Success
- Racquel Reber, EOP Senior Lead, Summer Programs
- Jerry Blake, EOP Senior Lead, Retention Coordinator and Male Empowerment Coordinator
- Dr. Sai Xiong, EOP Senior Lead/EOP Counselor
- Maggie Njuguna, EOP Enrollment Management Coordinator
- Alejandra Avina, EOP Administrative Analyst