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Student Support Services TRiO Newsletter
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Check out our NVC SSS website.
www.napavalley.edu/sss Join us on Facebook!
Napa Valley College SSS Program
Get Connected with SSS...
SSS TRiO is a federally funded grant by the U.S. Department of Education
“Creating a Culture of
Success in SSS
-Howard Willis, Director
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Over 165 people were in attendance for the Student Support Services TRiO
celebration of its 6th Annual SSS TRiO awards for 42 SSS graduates and transfers.
The ceremony was held on May 16, 2014 at Napa Valley College. The Vice-
President, Oscar De Haro, Board of Trustees Michael Baldini, Maira Ayala, Field
Representative from Congressman Mike Thompson’s Office were in attendance,
along with SSS TRiO staff, 9- SSS TRiO Alumni, Educational Talent Search staff,
SSS TRiO students, their family, and friends in celebration of their academic
achievements. Keynote speakers included NVC SSS TRiO Alumni, Roxana Duenas
and Graciela Rodriguez. (see page 3-5)
The 2014 graduating class has many outstanding accomplishments, 13 students will be graduat-
ing with a 3.5 GPA or higher, 23 students with a 3.0 or above, and 39 of the 42 students will be
transferring to a 4-year college. This includes 14 students that will be transferring to a University of
California Institution, 7 students UC Davis, 3 students to University of California, Los Angeles, 2 to UC
Berkeley, and students to UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara. 17 students will be transfer-
ring to a California State School, including 7 to Sacramento State University, 5 to Sonoma State Universi-
ty, 2 to CSU, Long Beach, 2 to San Jose State University and students to attend San Francisco State
University and Cal Poly Pomona. There are 2 students who will be transferring to the private institution,
Pacific Union College. (See Part II of Newsletter for highlights on each individual graduate).
For the 10th straight year in a row, an SSS TRiO student has been selected as one of the valedictory
speakers for Napa Valley College’s Commencement Ceremony. This year SSS TRiO Student,
Daisy Castillo was selected. (See Valedictory Tradition on page 12).
During the SSS TRiO Awards, SSS TRiO staff member, Martin Olguin was recognized for his 16 years
of service at Napa Valley College. He was recognized with a special presentation that included photos
back from 1998 and through the many years he has served SSS TRiO students. Martin was also presented
with congratulatory messages from his students and also a “singing”
rendition of “I Believe You can Fly” by Howard Willis, along with
a gift a “Pink” Bird. (See page 11).
SSS TRiO Graduates were presented with a special presentation
that highlighted each of the graduates and their moments with the
SSS TRiO Staff and Program. Presentation was created by Student
Specialist, Roberto Alvarado.
The recipient for the Laura Gustafson
Memorial Scholarship (Founding
Director of SSS TRiO) was recog-
nized. Congratulations Tanya Castro.
(See page 13).The evening ended
with the awarding of certificates and
the medallions and an opportunity for
each student to speak.
Congratulations to the SSS TRiO
graduates for your academic success!
SSS TRiO Newsletter...
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Roxana Duenas is a
Napa Valley College SSS TRiO
Alumni student, UC Berkeley
Alumni and will be attending
University of California,
Los Angeles for her
Masters Degree.
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Graciela Rodriguez is a
Napa Valley College SSS TRiO
Alumni student; San Jose State
Alumni, and recently graduated
with her Masters Degree from
CSU, Long Beach.
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Each of the SSS TRiO graduates that attended the 6th Annual SSS TRiO Awards
Ceremony on May 16, 2014, received a special certificate from Congressional
Representative Mike Thompson, an Excellence certificate from the SSS TRiO program,
and a Napa Valley College SSS TRiO medallion. Maira Ayala, Field Representative
from Congressman Mike Thompson’s Office presented SSS TRiO Students with their
Congressional Certificates. The medallion will be worn by SSS TRiO students at the
Napa Valley College 71st Annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 30, 2014.
Congratulations to our SSS TRiO graduates!
Maira Ayala,
Field Representative,
Congressman Mike
Thompson’s Office
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Congratulations Martin!
Your 16 years of Service at Napa Valley College
Since 1998...
Served over 850+ Students
Over 360+ students of his have
graduated and transferred
Through the years,
Martin Olguin has shown
passion and dedication to serving
students and helping them
succeed in achieving their
dreams.
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We want to share with you a SSS TRiO tradition you may or
may not know about. The SSS TRiO program has the honor and
privilege of having a SSS TRiO student selected as one of the
valedictory speakers for the past 9 years and this year is our
10th year in a row! We are excited to announce that SSS TRiO student,
Daisy Castillo has been selected as one of the Napa Valley
College Valedictory speakers for the Napa Valley College 71st
Commencement Ceremony to be held on Friday, May 30, 2014.
Congratulations to Daisy Castillo!
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Lesem Perez
2005 Maria Hurtado
2005
Johana Guzman
2005 Deisy Urena
2005
Rosalio Tellez
2006-2007 Kareema Cunningham
2007-2008 Brigida Alcazar
2008-2009
Aurora Ildefonso
2009-2010
Rachell Perez-Ruiz
2010-2011 Daysi Orozco
2011-2012 Stephanie Avina
2012-2013 Tanya Castro
2013-2014
Lorenzina (Laura) Gustafson Memorial Scholarship
Scholarship Recipients through the Years...
Lorenzina (Laura)
Gustafson
Founding Director
SSS TRiO
1998-2003
“When one of you
succeeds,
all of us succeed!”