AVID Graduates Record 367 Students

SAN JOSE, CA – After several years of study in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Program, a record 367 college-bound seniors from 16 local high schools will be applauded at the AVID Senior Recognition on Wednesday, May 21, at 4 p.m. at Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose.

AVID provides promising middle school and high school students with access to a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, tutoring and counseling. The program, begun in California more than a decade ago, is offered at 3,500 schools in the U.S. and abroad. It is coordinated regionally through the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

This year's AVID students have earned admission to campuses of the University of California, California State University, community colleges, and private institutions throughout the country.

In many cases, AVID graduates are the first in their family or circle of friends to attend college. Senior Apoorva Dewangan from Monta Vista High School expressed the sentiments of many of his classmates: "AVID … encouraged me to strive to achieve the highest goals. I'm prepared to take the next step in my life, at a four-year college where I will use my skills and engrave my own place in the world."

The local program started 11 years ago with 77 graduates. This year, graduates are from these high schools: Cupertino, Homestead, Leigh, Los Altos, Milpitas, Monta Vista, Mount Pleasant, Mountain View, Overfelt, Piedmont, Prospect, Silver Creek, Sobrato, Wilcox and Yerba Buena, along with Accel Middle College, which is a cooperative program between the East Side Union High School District and Evergreen Valley Community College.

Granger B. Ward, executive vice president of AVID Center in San Diego, will attend and speak to the Class of 2008.

Date last updated: May 19, 2008