ƵAPP welcomed more than 500 students from across the San Joaquin Valley to campus Wednesday to celebrate College Signing Day.
Every student was a high school senior who will move on to higher education in the fall. Seven colleges and universities were represented, including ƵAPP, Fresno State, Stanislaus State and CSU Bakersfield.
The event at ƵAPP coincided with a larger College Signing Day event at UCLA — put on by former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher foundation — and Obama gave the keynote address.
“I know a lot of you have been counted out,” Obama said. “Maybe your parents didn’t get to go to college. Maybe you were like me and somebody told you that you weren't college material.
“Ask yourself whether you’re going to believe the haters or the honest truth of your own story.”
Jose Hernandez, Ph.D. — a former NASA astronaut, previous ƵAPP Commencement speaker and UC Santa Barbara alum — spoke to students at ƵAPP’s event. He discussed growing up in Stockton and how his father provided him with a “recipe” for success after he decided he wanted to be an astronaut at 10 years old.
Students also watched the live stream of Obama’s speech and took part in a campus tour and lunch. ƵAPP’s Center for Educational Partnerships hosted the event on campus.
Congratulations and welcome to the Bobcat family!
— ƵAPP (@ucmerced)
Today is It’s a day when students select their school and take a step into their educational futures! Congratulations for taking charge of your futures!
— Rufus Bob Cat (@RufusBobcat)
Honored to address 500+ future scholars & We believe in you! shared 10 yrs ago “You are the hope of Merced & of this nation...be the realization of our dreams & the hope for the next generation.”
— Charles Nies (@NiesUCM)
