Note to editors: For a group photo of the Early Entrance Program grads from San Gabriel Valley, go to: /sites/default/files/univ/ppa/images/eeps-sgv.jpg. (Pictured: back, l-r, Alex Connelly, Angela Chen, Zeeshan Ott; front, l-r, Margaret Lee, Theresa Cheng)
Eight teens from SGV ready for bachelor’s degrees from Cal State L.A.
More than 20 from Early Entrance Program
in CSULA’s Class of 2009
Los Angeles, CA – Having started college early, some very early, eight teenagers from the San Gabriel Valley will receive their baccalaureate degrees at Cal State L.A. Friday-Saturday, June 12 and 13.
The students, ranging from age 17 to 19, attended Cal State L.A. through its Early Entrance Program (EEP). The program admits extraordinarily gifted youngsters—some as young as 11—directly into college and provides them with monitored evaluation, counseling, and the opportunity to study with like-minded peers. There are 22 EEP graduates in the Class of 2009 at Cal State L.A.
Here are brief profiles of EEP graduates from the San Gabriel Valley:
• Angela Chen (Temple City), 18, telecommunications and film major. Chen, who would like to become a filmmaker and professor, will apply to graduate school this winter. A Dean’s List student, Chen served as editor for the Early Entrance Program’s 2007-08 yearbook. She volunteered at Futurelink School in Arcadia as a tutor helping students grades K-8 with their homework. She also worked at the Clinton St. Theater in Portland, OR. She also enjoys playing the piano, violin and viola. She is graduating summa cum laude.
• Roy Cheng (Arcadia), 19, psychology major. Cheng, planning to apply to graduate school after Commencement, served as vice president of the American Medical Student Association. He is a research assistant for Professor Kaveri Subrahmanyam in Cal State L.A.’s Media and Language Laboratory. He is also a member of the Pre-Law Society, Team Flight, G.E. Honors Club, Pi Sigma Alpha, and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He is a recipient of a 2009 Early Entrance Program Scholarship and a 2009 CSULA Department of Psychology’s Charles Wang Scholarship.
• Theresa Cheng (Alhambra), 19, philosophy and biology majors. Cheng will soon be teaching 9th grade biology through Teach for America, a program that trains top students to teach in poor communities. She has volunteered at the Huntington Library and Botanical Garden in Pasadena and at the Literally Healing Program at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. At Cal State L.A., she served as vice president and treasurer of the Philosophy Club; and as president, secretary and publicity coordinator for the American Medical Student Association. Recipient of a 2009 James Bright Wilson Award and a 2009 Alumni Association Scholarship, Cheng is graduating summa cum laude.
• Alexander Connelly (Azusa), 19, biochemistry major; management minor. Connelly has applied to medical school to pursue his goal of becoming a cardiologist. He volunteered at the LAC/USC Collegiate Medical Volunteer Program, Claremont Senior Center and Boy Scouts. Soon he will begin volunteering at Pomona Hospice. He served as treasurer and social/publicity director for the Chemistry and Biochemistry Club, and he was involved in the Music Club, Physics Club, Chicanos for Community Medicine, and Mock Trial Club. He is also a member of the Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Beta Beta, and Golden Key Honor Societies, and the G.E. Honors Program.
• Christine Do (Altadena), 18, biology major; math minor. Do plans to apply to a master’s program before heading to medical school. A Dean’s List student, she has studied the effects of dietary jojoba oil on HDL concentration in white rabbits in Professor Ray Garcia’s biochemistry lab at Cal State L.A. She was secretary of the American Medical Student Association and historian of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Club. A semifinalist for Miss Vietnam of Southern California in 2008, she is also a recipient of a David Cameron Memorial Fellowship and an outstanding poster presentation award at Cal State L.A.’s 2007 Student Research Symposium. She volunteered at Huntington Memorial Hospital in the neonative intensive care unit and post-anesthesia care unit, and at the North Lake Villas assisted-living facility in Altadena.
• Margaret Lee (Pasadena), 19, biology major. Lee will be applying to graduate school in the fall to pursue a career in genetic counseling. She volunteered at the Sally Ride Science Festival held on campus, in order to inspire upper elementary and middle school girls to think about the vast range of careers in science. She served as a recording secretary for the American Student Medical Association and president, yearbook chair and secretary of the EEP Club. She is a member of Golden Key and Beta Beta Beta Honor Societies, G.E. Honors Club, and Chemistry and Biochemistry Club.
• Zeeshan Ott (Baldwin Park), 17, social work major. Ott, who completed a Child Maltreatment and Family Violence Certificate at Cal State L.A., will be enrolled in Columbia University’s two-year social work master’s program in the fall. Interested in social policy, he hopes to pursue a law degree and work with children and families. Having volunteered for his grandmother’s cultural nonprofit, Urdu Markaz International, he also participated in the AIDS Walk, Homeless Walk, and Wednesday’s Child Reunion (to work with foster youths). He worked as a counseling intern for the South El Monte School District. He was an academic senator for the Associated Students, Inc.; president and junior representative for the Association of Student Social Workers; and president of the School of Social Work Lobby Days Caucus. Recipient of a Health and Human Services Certificate of Honors, he is also a member of the the Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key Honor Societies.
Details on Lubabah Ben-Ghaly of Temple City were unavailable at press time.
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