April 5, 2002
Contact: Gina Thompson (509-963-2752/e-mail ginathomp@yahoo.com)
ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Tuesday night, (April 9) more than 240 of Yakima County’s top prep scholars will be recognized for their academic excellence during Central Washington University’s annual High School Honors Night. Sponsored by the CWU alumni association, the program, at the Yakima Convention Center, begins at 7 p.m.
The event honors juniors in the top 25 percent of their classes at area high schools. They will learn about college options, university entrance requirements, campus visits and the significance of entrance exams.
“It’s appropriate that these students be acknowledged and recognized for the hard work they have put into their studies,” Gina Thompson, CWU alumni association events coordinator, says.
Some of the scholars may become first-generation college students, so honors night information is designed to supplement what they — and their parents — are getting from their high school counselors. It will include details about university entrance requirements, the role campus visits play in the college selection process and the significance of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) scores.
Speakers will include CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre; university student Jessica Sutton, junior, Gig Harbor; and Mateo Arteaga, director of the CWU Educational Opportunity Center. EOC is designed to help adults begin or continue a program of postsecondary education.
“In addition, the CWU choir will provide the evening’s entertainment,” Thompson notes. “They will be performing the Central fight song and a variety of popular music selections.”
The honored students will receive certificates of recognition for their academics and, if requested, the CWU alumni association can provide a letter of recommendation to a student’s college of choice, Thompson adds.
A record number of 1,256 freshmen were enrolled for fall quarter classes at CWU. Of that number, 87 were from Yakima County high schools.
