UC Merced reaches out to help inform younger set

By MICHELLE HATFIELD
mhatfield@modbee.com

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MERCED -- Fourth-grader Fernando Mendoza hung out with his friends, took photos with mascot Boomer the Bobcat and made a picture frame Saturday while his father learned about admissions, financial aid and the importance of going to college.

The 9-year-old and his dad, along with dozens of other families, attended the University of California at Merced's Junior Bobcat Day. Organized by the University Police Department's Mentor Program, the event seeks to inform parents and elementary school students about the higher education options available.

It was Fernando Mendoza Sr.'s first time at UC Merced.

"It's like a field trip for my son and me," he said. "I'm learning everything. To me, it's nice to come and see the school."

Fernando Jr. attends Sheehy Elementary, which, along with Alicia Reyes Elementary, is part of the university police's mentoring program. It targets schools in south Merced's low-income neighborhoods. Students receive tutoring, are mentored by UC Merced students and attend events on campus.

The program is just one example of many ways colleges reach out to communities to improve education and quality of life.

UC Merced's outreach began before the campus opened in 2005, with networks reaching as far south as Fresno and as far north as Stockton.

Though fourth-graders might seem too young to be planning anything past high school, the goal is to make them aware of opportunities as early as possible, said Encarnación Ruiz, UC Merced's head of admissions.

"We want to give them hope and aspirations to go to college," he said, noting that parents should also be included.

UC Merced's Center for Educational Partnerships in Fresno organizes many outreach activities, including grant programs, student achievement research and mentoring.

For example, the Parent Empowerment Program offers help to families who do not fully support their students' desires to enroll in college because of deep- rooted cultural values. More than two-thirds of PEP's parents do not speak English as their first language. Participants come from all over the central San Joaquin Valley, including Modesto and Turlock.

Testing studied

Another initiative, the Data Analysis and Evaluation Program, works with 25 kindergarten through 12th grade schools to research student success on standardized tests. The number crunching helps educators improve teaching strategies and boost student learning.

Preet Sandhu, a UC Merced psychology junior and native of Livingston, said outreach efforts are important "to provide as many educationally enriching opportunities as possible." Sandhu is vice president of the university police's mentor program and was on hand Saturday for Junior Bobcat Day.

"We want to be advocates and a symbol of hope," she said.

For more information on outreach, visit http://cep.ucmerced.edu.

Bee staff writer Michelle Hatfield can be reached at mhatfield@modbee.com or 578-2339.