CLU hosts first county AVID celebration

(THOUSAND OAKS, CA – May 20, 2008) More than 400 students will converge on California Lutheran University on Thursday, May 22, for the first Ventura County Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) End of the Year Celebration.

In the past, multi-county regional celebrations have been held outside of Ventura County. This is the first time AVID students from middle schools and high schools throughout the county will come together for their own event. The celebration will honor graduating seniors and winners of scholarships and the AVID County Write-Off competition. The event is also an opportunity for the students to tour a four-year university.

Yvonne Sepulveda, a former AVID student from Hueneme High School who is now attending CLU, will speak to the students. Other guest speakers will include Region VIII AVID Director Phill Britton, CLU President Chris Kimball and the superintendents of Ventura Unified and Conejo Unified school districts. Several AVID students will read their Write-Off Essays.

AVID is designed to increase the enrollment of underrepresented groups in four-year colleges. It includes elective classes and tutors and is organized by teachers at the schools.

The celebration will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, located near the corner of Olsen Road and Campus Drive in Thousand Oaks.

For more information, contact AVID Regional Coordinator Jill Swaim at (805) 437-1342 or Kristine Calara with CLU’s School of Education at (805) 493-3837.