Welcome EEP Family to the summer term; its time for salutations, Hello to Provies, congratulations and good byes to graduates. Excellent work to new Elders. Lots of stuff to cover, which prompted us to attempt to make the Newsletter as sleek and readable as possible.
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Last Quarter's EventS
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We began our last quarter with a big event, the 26th Biannual Search for Exceptional Academic Achievement (SEAA), commonly called the WPC exam. The second test of the academic year was held on Sunday, April 13, 2008. The EEP hosted approximately 300 testers in what was the final WPC exam. As communicated earlier the Test Scoring service in Washington is no longer scoring the exam. It was a pleasant and memorable day including a nice and informative parent meeting in the morning.
EEP Basketball Tournament (!!!) was continued for the 5th consecutive year on May 21st and 22nd and was a grand success with a slate of 6 3-person teams competing for prizes and athletic glory. See Announcements for winners.
Gradnite at Disneyland was a huge success with well over 30 EEPsters making the traditional all nighter on May 15th a huge success. Thank you to parent chaperones Susan and Roger Perreault, and Dennis Pacheco. GREAT parents provide GREAT help and GREAT care for the Program! Thank you, you are GREAT.
EEPC Elections were held Weeks 7-10 Dates May 5 to May 22nd of Spring - See Announcements for Election results.
The 19th annual Provie Family Orientation, renamed the Pre-Summer Orientation was held on Thursday evening May 29th at the King Hall Lecture Hall II from 6-9pm. We welcomed 50 Provies and their parents who heard the Director speak about the Program summer process and answered many a question. EEP alum helping welcome and inform Provies included Amanda Jancu, Jeshanah Chapman, Myle Ott, Brandon Pancost, Zhong Tan, Neshan Sarkisian, Kevork Abrahamian, Dimitri Kosturos, Arthur Prejna, Jordan Kubicki and Parent representative’s included Susan Fenton, Donna Hay, Sehba Arif, and Jean Lee. All our guests seemed happy and excited at the prospect of accelerated education through the Program. Assessments begin again on June 16th.
The University Public Affairs Office held the annual EEP Grad photo shoot on Friday, May 30th. Nearly all of the 2008 graduates were photogenically on display braving the glare and mid morning heat to take a great photo featured on the university home page for several days in early June.
The 4th annual EEP Elder Grad Dinner for the graduating class of 2008 organized by graduates Amanda Jancu and Samantha Hsu was held at BJ’s grill in Arcadia on Thursday June 5th from 6-9pm. Nearly all of the 2008 gradates also attended this annual tradition of food, camaraderie and celebration. Graduates were presented commemorative plaques, compliments of the PEEP and individualized words of wisdom and congratulations from the Director. More on the graduates in Accomplishments.
We were very proud of the graduating class of 2008 at the University’s 61st Annual Commencement exercises held on Friday, June 6th and Saturday, June 7th Reeder Field. This year there were two Commencement exercises designed to adequately serve the needs of approximately 3,000 university grads,. Ceremonies were held on Friday June 6th 6:00pm-9:00pm and Saturday June 7th 8am-12pm. 22 EEP graduates participated in commencement this year. Primarily ECS&T grads on Friday and NSS on Saturday.
The 4th annual Supreme EEP Club Talent Show was held at Almansor Court in Alhambra on Sunday, June 8th, 2008 from 5 to 8pm. Approximately 50 guests forfeited viewing the Lakers Championship game against the Celtics to enjoy an evening of teenage talent. That’s EEP style dedication to student life! The acts included Tori and Troi and Trenton I- “”You’re Gonna Miss Me”, Angela G and Sarah G-"Yakusoku" by Yonekura Chihiro, and Frosty O, Kostya K, Christopher Gi, and Alex S-"Lick 30 Tigers" aka Gilson and the Gilsonites and many others! See Announcements for Winners.
The EEPC sponsored camping trip to the beach at San Clemente and was held June 9th- 12th. W We were happy to see off the group of enthusiastic campers happy to see the academic year end and excited to embark on their traditional Club camping trip. Many cars and trucks were filled with many large bags, tents and sleeping bags. Good times were had by all though exact reports are pending at the time of this newsletter creation
EEPC sponsored field trip to Body Worlds Trip was held on Friday, April 18, 2008. The trip was an educational and fun filled bonanza with a couple of dozen EEPsters led by the EEPC Board and Director via bus and foot to the Science Center by USC. EEPsters marveled at the Plastination process (more: http://www.mpm.edu/bodyworlds/) and enjoyed a 3d IMAX movie, Monsters of the Sea. A fun and memorable trip indeed.
The 2nd annual EEP Field Day was held on June 13th at Hazard Park in Los Angeles. Several dozen EEPsters enjoyed an old-fashioned picnic and games in the park. Old School fun and a welcome to Summer time.
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AnnouncementS
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Media coverage this term included stories on the EEP grad Danielle Krasner on TV news broadcasts on KTLA, channel 5 locally (http://ktla.trb.com/news/) and a pending story on 2008 grads to be run in the Chinese Daily News
A story on the 2008 EEP grads ran in the Mid Valley news on June 11th vol. 45 # 24
Mrs. Monica Marquez- Savala our academic counselor is Graduating and leaving our Happy EEP family. Monica’s tenure was marked by several challenging changes and events but her commitment to help the EEPsters never faltered and we thank her for her care, kindness and service to our Program. Interviews begin for Monica’s replacement first thing in summer; we look forward to future Newsletter announcements
Jeff Benedict the University faculty advisor assigned to the EEP is on faculty recess during the summer quarter, we look forward to his return in September. Enjoy the summer Jeff!
Congratulations to Margaret L and David S the new EEP Club President and Vice President. The 2009 EEP Student Body Leaders will begin to assemble their Board soon; in the next Newsletter we’ll announce the entire 2008-2009 EEPC Board.
The PEEP announces an EEP Logo contest. Design an EEP logo to be used with the phrase “Support Intelligent Life on Earth” to be used on new program Tote bags for new freshmen.
The Basketball Tournament winners were: Asaad T and Avijit S
Congratulations to SEC Show winners: The rock band Gilson and the Gilsonites, Opera Singer Lea U, and the rock group Irons family -- Troi, Tori and brother Trenton. The art competition awards went to Shauna C for animals on metal leaf and Suki K for Korean paints on rice paper, birds on a tree.
We just learned from a PEEPster that CalTrans has student assistant positions. Here's the website for information: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/jobs/SA/sa_index.htm.
Following is a copy of the University’s press release on this year’s EEP graduate class. 22 Early Entrance students set to exit Cal State L.A. with bachelor's degrees. Youngest, 16, off to Yale for biochemistry PhD; others look to be lawyers, engineers, doctors, jet pilot etc.
Los Angeles, CA - Having started college early, 22 students ranging from 16-21 years old will receive their baccalaureate degrees at Cal State L.A. Friday-Saturday, June 6 and 7.
The exceptional students-most of them still teenagers-attended Cal State L.A. through its Early Entrance Program (EEP). The program admits extraordinarily gifted youngsters-some as young as 11-directly into college and provides them with monitored evaluation, counseling, and the opportunity to study with like-minded peers.
Here is the EEP Class of 2008:
- Kevork Abrahamian (Pasadena), 19, biology major. Abrahamian, who conducted research in Professor Ray Garcia's lab, plans to apply to medical school to pursue his goal of becoming a physician. He is actively involved with the CSULA Associated Students, Inc. student government.
- Alezandra Brady-Villagran (Arcadia), 20, political science major. Brady-Villagran, whose interest is in global politics, will apply to graduate school this fall. She mentored at-risk high school students through the University's PepsiCo Leadership Center ; facilitated a workshop at the International Children's Art Foundation 2007 World Children's Festival; and directed the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization committee at the American Pacific Model United Nations Conference. She volunteered at the American Red Cross national headquarters in Washington , DC , after Hurricane Katrina and after the South Asia tsunami.
- Leslie Cain (Los Angeles), 18, philosophy major. With aspirations to become a musician or art dealer, Cain will attend the Manhattan School of Music in the fall. An award-winning pianist, she was also accepted to Oberlin Conservatory of Music and San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She served as editor of the Philosophy Club, participated in the CSULA Jazz Tap Corps, and was recognized as an "Outstanding Undergraduate in Philosophy" by the CSULA College of Arts and Letters.
- Jennifer Chau (Hacienda Heights), 20, biology major. Chau, who volunteered at Arcadia Methodist Hospital and worked as a research intern at the City of Hope, plans to apply to dentistry school. Chau served as community service committee chair for the Future Dentist Club, president and public relations/awareness director of the Golden Key International Honors Society, and secretary of Cal State L.A.'s Water Polo Club.
- Jennifer Chemel (Woodland Hills), 19, economics; minors in mathematics and political science. Chemel will apply to law school to pursue her goal of becoming a lawyer. A member of Pi Sigma Alpha (political science honors society), she served as president of the Pre-Law Society; treasurer and external vice president for General Education Honors Club; and College of Business and Economics representative, secretary/treasurer, chief justice and vice president of academic governance for the Associated Students, Inc.
- Samantha Hsu (Arcadia/Monrovia), 20, electrical engineering major. Hsu plans to apply to law school to become a lawyer. Involved with the Associated Students, Inc., she has been a member of the CSULA chapter of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, CSULA Pre-Law Society, EEP Club, and Eta Kappa Nu (honor society for electrical engineering and computer science).
- Amanda Jancu (Monrovia), 19, English major; physics minor. Jancu, whose goal is to become a lawyer, will attend the UC Hastings College of the Law this fall. She was also accepted to Loyola Law School . A recipient of the General Education Honors Scholarship, she was a member of the Golden Key International Honors Society, CSULA Pre-Law Society, EEP Club, and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
- Shari Kensley (Los Angeles), 20, communication studies major. Kovshilovsky plans to attend Pepperdine University to pursue a graduate degree. Her goal is to start and run her own non-profit organization that works to educate the public at a grassroots level on relevant public policy issues. She has served as vice president of administration for the Associated Students, Inc., student representative for the Phi Kappa Phi Board, alumni relations’ representative for the Delta Zeta Sorority, and vice president for the Order of Omega Greek Honor Society.
- Danielle Krasner (Malibu), 16, biochemistry major. Krasner will attend Yale University this fall to pursue her goal of becoming a research scientist. Admitted to Yale Ph.D. program in molecular biophysics and biochemistry, she was also accepted to Ph.D. programs at University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California and University of California, Davis. Krasner, a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key Honor Societies, was also involved with the American Medical Student Association, Chemistry and Biochemistry Club, and EEP Club.
- Jaimisyn Kopilec (Glendora), 20, biology major. Kopilec, who volunteered at the Los Angeles County-USC County Hospital, is applying to medical school. A member of the American Medical Student Association, she is a recipient of a Service Award and a Sisterhood Award from the Delta Zeta Sorority.
- Christopher Lam (Monterey Park), 20, biochemistry major. Lam, who volunteered at the Garfield Medical Center and the Los Angeles County-USC County Hospital , plans to apply to medical school. He helped provide health care services to poor rural farmers in a missionary trip to China , and he volunteered at a Tijuana Health Fair organized by the CSULA Chicanos/Latinos for Community Medicine. Also, he served as president of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Club and conducted research under the direction of Dr. Howard Xu in gene cloning and protein expression/isolation.
- Sonia Levitin (Laguna Nigel), 18, English major; finance minor. Levitin plans to apply to law school this fall to pursue her goal of becoming a lawyer. She was a member of the Campus Recycling Committee and SciVi! Scientific visualizations project team. She also served as vice president of CSULA Mock Trial Club.
- Alegra Lustig (Pasadena), 19, liberal studies major. With interest in photography, Lustig is planning to apply to graduate schools at Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland; University of Westminster, England; London College of Communication; UC Berkeley School of Journalism; and Spéos (Paris Photographic Institute). She has participated in Cal State L.A.'s Fashion Show organized by the Fashion Association of Design Students.
- Jmar Montgomery (Fontana), 20, mechanical engineering major. After graduation, Montgomery plans to pursue a career as a fighter pilot. He has been a member of Pi Tau Sigma (mechanical engineering honor society); National Society of Black Engineers; Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology Student Council; Black Student Association; and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.
- Cory "Frosty" O'Brien (Highland Park), 18, English major. O'Brien, who will apply to graduate school this fall, plans to pursue a career as a writer or inventor. Working part-time as an English tutor, he also participated in intercollegiate debate tournaments. He was a member of Golden Key and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.
- Edwin Peng (Monterey Park), 18, mechanical engineering major. Peng, who will attend North Carolina State University , plans to work as a professional engineer. He served as president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, a Webmaster for the General Education Honors Club and a representative-at-large for the Associated Students, Inc. He was a member of the Pi Tau Sigma (mechanical engineering honor society) and Tau Beta Pi (national engineering honor society).
- Spencer Perreault (Seal Beach), 17, computer science major. Perreault, who will be attending Cornell University this fall, was also accepted to graduate schools at Yale University , Georgia Tech and USC. A member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, he served as president of the Association for Computing Machinery. He was recently honored as the "Outstanding Graduating Senior" by CSULA's Computer Science department. With a desire to become a computer game developer, he was working as a Microsoft Student Partner-a program that helps students develop real-world skills to succeed in future careers in technology and/or marketing.
- E. Travis Rust (Los Angeles), 19, psychology major. Rust plans to apply to graduate school to pursue his goal of becoming a professor. He was a member of the CSULA EEP Club and served as a Student Assistant and lecturer for the psychology department for the last two years.
- Claire Schulkey (Glendale), 21, applied mathematics major. Schulkey will be attending Washington University this fall to pursue her goal of becoming a research scientist. She was also accepted to the graduate program at the University of Missouri-Columbia. A recipient of the Charles Clark scholarship, she is a member of Beta Beta Beta (biology honor society), CSULA Math Club, and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
- Marc Shutman (Monrovia), 18, philosophy major. Shutman, who has participated in intercollegiate debate tournaments, plans to apply to law school and become a lawyer. He is trained in martial arts and worked for LACHSA for the last year for the visual arts department.
- Natasha Spottiswoode (Beverly Hills), 18, biology major. Spottiswoode plans to take year off before applying to Cornell University or UC Davis to pursue a career as a veterinarian. She has served as social chair and vice president of the EEP Club, and president for the Humanitarians on Campus. She has also volunteered at the Chester Zoo in New England and for the Jatun Sacha conservation organization in Ecuador .
- Adekunbi Williams (Los Angeles), 19, biochemistry major. Williams, who plans to apply to medical school, has been a volunteer at Cedars Sinai, American Red Cross Blood Mobile, the California Medical Center , and Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center . He served as historian, president and librarian of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Club, web chair for the General Education Honors Club, and coordinator of a Terrific and Scientific Event at Cal State L.A. She is a member of the Society for Neuroscience and the American Medical Student Association.
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Student News and AccomplishmentS
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Congrats to Cal State LA’s 2008 Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellow Andrew Jick who was named the Kathleen Greey Fellow Preference for the Greey Fellowship is given to one of the top-ranking nominee whose undergraduate field is other than the basic sciences. For more see: http://www.phikappaphi.org/Web/Scholarships/graduatefellowship.html. Andrew joins good company with 10 other EEPsters who have received a PKP graduate Fellowship in recent years. Excellent work Andrew! Congratulations.
Congrats to Margret L and David S the newly elected EEPC President and Vice President for the 2008-209 School year.
Congratulations to EEP Scholarship winners Angela G (Freshman of the Year) and Amanda J (Elder of he Year) and the winner of the EEPC Faculty of the Year Dr. William Taylor (Physics).
Congratulations to SEC Show winners: The rock band Gilson and the Gilsonites, Opera Singer Lea U, and the rock group family -- Troi, Tori and brother Trenton The art competition awards went to Shauna C for animals on metal leaf and Suki K for Korean paints on rice paper, birds on a tree.
Congratulations to David N's Japanese 302 class skit won "Award for Best Acting" at the Third Annual Japanese Cultural Showcase at UCI on May 10th.
Congratulations to Claire W who will be interning at the Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo this summer and she is very excited! Internships are great for students! Go Claire!
Please remember to alert us to all the fantastic things EEPsters do so we may add to the next EEP Newsletter, both on and off campus.
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Alumni
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Paul Gowder J.D Class of 1997
Mark Gordan J.D Class of 1999
Bibhu Mohanty M.D Class of 2004
Jackson Vane M.D (09) Class of 2005
Rex Cheng M.D (10) Class of 2006
Lei Zhao Ph.D. (11) Class of 2006
Owynn Lancaster Class of 2007
Ron Masson M.D. (12) Class of 2007
Remember, many of these EEP Alumni and others have provided the EEPsters with their e-mail addresses for consultation and advisement (in the Student Information Binder) with new additions available at Group Meetings quarterly.
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ReminderS
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Priority Registration for Fall 2008 will be during the 2nd week of Summer 2008
Advisement Slips due by Wednesday, June 18th @ noon (12:00pm)
Tuition due by Wednesday, June 18th
Priority Registration is June 23, 2008
CSULA-EEP Important Dates
June 8th- 15th -- Spring 2008 Quarter Break
June 16th -- Summer 2008 Quarter classes begin
June 16th-30th -- Late registration/adjustments
June 23rd -- No record drop deadline
June 24th -- Summer 2008 “W” withdrawal period begins
June 30th -- Spring 2008 ADD Deadline
July 1st, 2nd -- EEP Group Meetings
July 4th -- University Closed – Independence Day!!!
July 31st -- “W” Withdraw Period Ends
Aug 1st -- Emergency Withdrawal Period
Aug 4th, 5th -- EEP Group Meetings
Aug 31st-Sep 17th -- Summer 2008 Quarter break
Sep 18th -- Fall 2008 Quarter classes
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News, Notices, Cheers and Jeers
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A Message to the Parents of the EEP from Richard S. Maddox
Our exclusive delivery method for the entire Newsletter and the Meeting Schedule are now through e-mail. If you want a printed version of the entire text, Newsletter mailed home call the EEP office at 323-343-2287
Just a brief reminder that a student-enhanced version of the EEP Quarterly Newsletter with photos is available on-line at: www.eepclub.org.
For the current PEEP Newsletter go to: http://www.earlyentrancefoundation.org/newsletter.html
As usual I will present some points to ponder in bullet form and I welcome topics for discussion for future Newsletters, simply send to me in question form.
I am happy to see so many EEPsters are taking our advice to take summer off to relax and to create developmental normalcy. Closing the gap that EEP acceleration may create is important. Here are a few related possible gap issues and ideas to help address them: Social gap: Participate in Program, campus and community activities (field trips, club membership, weekend sports and arts, maintain friendships from normal school, volunteerism etc.) Students become skilled socially by participating, and by being involved.
Academic gap: Study and complete extra general ed. classes, visit cultural landmarks like museums etc. Also read read read, write write write. Students become skilled academically through focused organized study of a diverse selection of disciplines, practice does not make perfect but it helps with learning and creates a behavioral standard that leads to achievement. Obsession over perfect grades is not healthy. Remember to maintain a Mastery Orientation toward scholarship and work toward being a self-regulated learner. Student Scholarship is based on a love and passion of learning and a dedication to focused effort.
Developmental gap: Communicate with parents, family and counselors (off and on campus) Students become healthy with guidance and support from caring others usually starting with parents and strong family units. Also, students become Responsible by being given responsibilities and a chance to prove themselves. Independence with appropriate boundaries may be the best method for the development of responsible EEP teens.
The terms: Scholarship, Involvement and Responsibility represents more than just the EEP motto they represent closing the Gap and healthy student development.
No news on new EEP space, sorry. Updates when available.
We are planning for the Post \–WPC EEP process, updates will be provided when available.
I am planning on beginning student data collection for my dissertation soon and will ask for EEPster volunteers with parent permission certainly. Data collection will involve students filling in surveys on-line. More in fall. Thank you for your Support, Kindness and help in our Program’s success!!
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CHEERS & JEERS
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Cheers to all the 2008 Graduates!!! Congratulations and Good Luck!!!
Cheers to Cory (Frosty) O’Brien and Jake Pacheco and their entire Board of EEP Club Officers for an outstanding year of leadership, activities and hard work.
Cheers to this year’s Grad of the Year Amanda J and to freshman of the Year Angela G.
Cheers To Sharon R for all her hard work.
Cheers to the PEEP board for their tremendous and continued efforts to help us all.
Jeers to those who continuously choose to leave their rotting food, clothing, books and just general clutter in the cubby area for EEP Staff to find and clean up. L
Jeers To those who spend too much time playing cards/ lap top video games and You Tube and not enough in study and focused attention on schoolwork.
Should any parent want to discuss their child’s performance or if there are any questions or concerns please call the office to schedule a meeting. You may also feel free to call or e-mail me, Jeff, Lisa, or other EPP staff. Have a great quarter!
- Rich
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StudenT ContributionS
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President’s Message
This is the last chance I'll have to address everyone as president, so I guess I'd better make it count.
Being president for this past year has been enlightening, bizarre, difficult and rewarding. Many times during the past year - as many of the board members probably know - I found myself saying "holy crap, we're not going to get all of this done." But everything did get done, despite my fears, because I was surrounded by people who weren't just going to let tasks fall by the wayside.
I'm proud to have had the board I had. The camaraderie, the dedication, and the creativity of this year's officers made the ridiculous number of tasks we undertook run smoothly and - more importantly - get done.
So thanks to all of you.
To Jake, for keeping me in check, and singing Kansas songs with me.
To Margaret, for drawing really great comics every week. (Congrats on winning the presidency, Marg!)
To David, for not stealing all our money. (Hooray for the new VP!)
To Lea, for not going insane under the pressure and killing us all.
To Angela, for miraculously compiling the Yearbook almost single-handedly.
To Jennifer C, for her tremendous enthusiasm and her ability to yell really loud.
To Maggie and Rick, for putting out newsletters more or less on time.
To the Elder Reps: Jennifer Chemel, Theresa, and Natasha, for providing the freshmen with mentors and for nipping dumb ideas in the bud.
To the class presidents: Stephanie S, Eugene, James L, and Faisal, for organizing field day and giving their classes a voice.
To Brian, for always being there. Also, for letting me cook that thanksgiving turkey in his house.
To Stevens, for probably not eating all of our food.
And to Swapneel, for teaching me who Jessica Alba was.
If I wanted to finish this list, though, I'd have to list the names of all the students that attended our many events, the parents who supported us, and all of the wonderful people in the office who pick up our slack and make sure we get paid. EEP Club is really a collaborative effort, so thank you all for collaborating.
- Frosty O'Brien
Outgoing EEP Club President
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Individual Meeting Schedule
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Individual Meeting Schedule
Meetings are held on Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays, 8:30am-12:30pm. Check your meeting time and make any changes ASAP. You may see Lisa anytime she is available. Please attend your scheduled meeting on time.