Established in 2000, the UC Scholars Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) was the Center’s first program. The program provides students with ongoing academic advising to ensure that they successfully complete required college preparatory courses.

UC Scholars EAOP students and their families receive the necessary information and motivation to prepare for postsecondary education, including assistance in the application and financial aid processes.

The UC Scholars EAOP Program has served nearly 5,300 first-generation, low- income high school graduates throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Students are identified by school personnel at each
UC Scholars EAOP partner school based on educational levels of parents, income, their ability to perform well in high school college-preparatory courses and their commitment to participate in the program.

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE | Orquidea Largo

As a founding staff member of the Center for Educational Partnerships, I have witnessed firsthand its foundation, development and impact on students and parents throughout the central San Joaquin Valley.

The experience of working with passionate individuals whose sole mission in life is to increase college- going opportunities for educationally disadvantaged students is truly rewarding.

The Center has provided me and so many others with an opportunity to touch the lives of thousands of students and their families.

Over the past 10 years, the size and scope of the Center might have changed, but our mission remains the same. We are committed to ensuring that higher education is possible and accessible to all San Joaquin Valley students.

As a staff member and now director of the center, I’m proud to see that the past 10 years of arduous work has paid off and that stakeholders are paying attention to the rising initiatives at CEP.

One of my proudest moments was when the Fresno Unified School District turned to the Center for Educational Partnerships for guidance on how to focus on equity and access within its school district.

Our collaboration with Fresno Unified has and will enable us to learn how to better collaborate with K-12 partners, expand and extend our services to even more districts throughout the region and address the core issues facing student achievement and college-going rates. The information we have garnered and the lessons learned will help guide and inform our work at the Center well into the future.