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.

###