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Annual reception honors local students headed to universities, four-year colleges
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Local high school students headed off to the next level in their education were honored at an annual reception on Monday.
The 10th annual Lake County University Admittance Reception was held at Kelseyville High School.
Each year, administrators, board members, counselors and college representatives all gather to honor the graduating seniors and their families who have been accepted to a four-year college.
This year, the schools invited 104 students, up from 95 last year.
Students are heading off to institutions of higher learning including California State Universities, Bakersfield, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Chico, East Bay, Humboldt, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Maritime Academy, Monterey Bay, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco Sonoma and Stanislaus.
Universities of California Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz, also are among the places where local students will continue their education this fall.
Out-of-state and private colleges were local students will attend include American University, Ave Maria University, BYU Idaho, California Baptist University, Carroll College, Chaminade University, Eastern Washington University, Hannibal-LaGrange University, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Pepperdine, Salem State, Stanford, St. Mary’s, The Master’s College, University of Nevada at Reno, University of the Pacific and Utah State.
Guests were welcomed by Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg, who challenged students to make sure the world knows just how great Lake County students are.
Senior Director Tim Gill also addressed the more than 240 attendees and shared his personal experiences of participating in the reception in past years as a parent.
Kelseyville High alumna and current Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student Blair Brookes revealed some insights as a first-year college student with the group, including the encouragement to try new things, remembering those you left at home and to never settle for being the small fish in the big pond.
Michelle Scully of Marymount California University’s Lakeside Campus shared her personal college experiences and advice with the audience, and congratulated all out of state and private college students.
Lower Lake High School Upward Bound Director Shannon Smith of Sonoma State University delivered the welcome bags to all of the students attending a CSU college next year and Jacqueline Ross and Blas Guerrero of UC Davis welcomed the UC students.
Michelle Malm and her staff at Kelseyville High School prepared the evening's buffet dinner, and band instructor Anna-Alicia Fullmer and the Kelseyville High School Jazz Band provided the event's entertainment.
Seating for the large group was made possible thanks to the loan of tables from Rick Malm of the CDF and the help of the high school custodial staff. Centerpieces containing seedlings were created by the students of Karen Jones’ CTE Floral Design class of Middletown High School.
During dinner service, guests were able to view a slideshow presentation featuring students’ career goals and special thanks to those that assisted them in achieving their college admission.
Students also were treated to a free raffle of prizes that included dorm survival bags filled with items such as first aid supplies, hand sanitizer, cotton balls, assorted screwdrivers, picture hanging kits, notebooks, tissue and other items that might come in handy as they venture off to college.
Thanks to the generous donations and loan of plants by Kelseyville Lumber, students were called onto the beautifully decorated stage to receive both recognition and small gifts.
All colleges were contacted and asked to send an item from their school as a welcome to the students. Many students received something from their college such as bags, pennants, water bottles and t-shirts. Every student received a tote bag from the Mendo Lake Credit Union and a deck of cards from Running Creek Casino.
The University Admit Reception was created 10 years ago to honor the hard work and dedication of our local students and families who achieved a challenging academic goal.
Another objective of the event is to introduce students to other students throughout the county who may be attending the same or nearby colleges in the hopes that they can form a support system for each other.
The Career and College Readiness Department is proud of all of our Lake County graduating seniors and wish special congratulations to this group of college bound students as they embark on their higher education endeavors.
If you would like more information about the University Admit Reception or would like to make a donation to support next year’s event, please contact Tammy Serpa, education specialist at the Lake County Office of Education, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .