Issue 7: Fall 2006 Quarter - September 2006

EEP Names in the News

Rich with this summer's provies

Welcome and congratulations! We are delighted to welcome 30 new EEPsters and their parents to the EEP fold!

MTV Filming. MTV is interested in filming EEP students for their show True Life. The show is a documentary-type of production that gives insight into the student's life or his/her preparation for some event (visit their website). If your EEPster wishes to participate, please inform the EEP office ASAP (323-343-2287), and also fill in a parental permission and a Video/Audio release form.

EEPsters in the News. Congratulations to all the EEPsters in the news!

• Rex C. was featured in the Singtao Daily newspaper regarding his acceptance to Duke medical school and being a Phi Kappa Phi national fellowship winner. Rex also was the 2006 EEP Senior of the Year Scholarship award winner.
• Kimberly C. will be studying abroad next year at the International Institute of Law and Justice at Oxford University in England.
• Chris L. was featured in the Seoul Broadcasting news report on educationally accelerated Korean-Americans in the U.S.
• Clark C. entered the missionary training center in Provo Utah and left to Taiwan in mid-summer.
• Andrew J. interned this summer at Georgetown Law Center (CLE) in Washington D.C.
• Matthew G. was the recipient of the EEP Freshman of the Year award 2005-2006.
• Jaimisyn K. served as a student missionary this summer in Kiev, Ukraine.
• Chris L. (President), Joyce H. (Vice President), Alex C. (Treasurer), Ron M. (Secretary), Steve G. (Social and PR Chair) and Michelle M. (Historian) have been elected as new officers for the University's Chemistry & Biochemistry Club
• Alegra L. participated in the Great America Race, an antique car rally/race in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Joanne L. was featured in the Korean Times as the youngest CSLA 2006 graduate
• Myle O. was featured in a campus news release for being selected for the Jack Kent Cooke Fellowship for graduate study in the computer science and engineering program at Cornell University in the amount of $300,000
• Nika N. was featured in the University Times and was offered an environmental affairs bi-line with her own column. Nika was also selected as a CSLA Team Mascot, the Golden Eagle!
• Lei Z. was featured in Corona/Norco's Community Connection newspaper regarding his outstanding academic career. Lei was also featured in SEM-Ed Newsletter as student of the month for June.

Rich starred at SENG! On July 9th Rich was a featured presenter at the SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted) national Conference in Orange County. His session was well-attended (especially for the early Sunday morning time slot!) and he received a great deal of positive feedback from the parents and teachers in attendance. The topic was the positive aspects of acceleration at the collegiate level and the importance of considering student's emotional needs, developmental stage and parental involvement.

Randi Swedenberg

New EEP Academic Counselor Randi Swedenberg. She will be meeting with all EEPsters and is available for all academic needs -- proofread papers, help arrange tutoring and any needed student academic support services. Your EEPster can email her at rsweden@calstatela.edu

EEPC Tutors. Is your EEPster interested in being a tutor, or in need of some tutoring for a difficult course? The Tutoring Program is essential part of EEP success! Have your EEPster Email EEPC Academic Chair Samantha H. for more information.

Adventures in Culture. LA has so many fine cultural experiences available, it is hard to know about all of them. To enrich our children's lives, PEEP Ganna Levitin is organizing events for EEPsters (and PEEPs), once or twice a quarter. First on the agenda is LACMA on December 7th, followed by the opera. Student introduction tickets to Opera Pacific's final dress rehearsals, in full costume and set regalia, are only $18 per event, or $39 for the 3-show series -- Jan 14th, Feb 25th or Apr 9th. Click here for more information on the LACMA and opera opportunities, and email Ganna at alevitin@cox.net or call at 949-249-1425 with interest in this new EEP adventure for your child.

Mock Trial Club. Is your EEPster interested in law school? Debating or acting? Wants to pad a resume? If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," consider joining the Mock Trial Club! CSULA's chapter of this nationally-recognized organization was founded and is lead by EEPster David N. in conjunction with EEP alumnus Mr. Mark Gordon J.D. as coach. Meetings start in October, either 3-5pm on Wednesdays OR 12-2pm on Fridays for the fall quarter -- your choice -- with the regional competition in February. Have your EEPster contact EEPster David by email for more information.

Nika, Natasha and Pam

Is your daughter interested in LEEP? Ladies of EEP, a female support, conversation and reading group, meet weekly in the EEP lounge. For more information email EEP Elder Natasha S. Your EEP daughter will enjoy joining this group of motivated, energetic and involved EEP ladies, having fun while supporting EEP!

Emergency Preparedness. Don't forget to fill in and return the Emergency Contact form if you have not already done so, or update with new information. Click here for suggestions on preparedness for you and your EEPster on campus and at home.

EEPC Meeting -- EEPC needs your help!

Volunteer Opportunities. PEEP volunteers are needed for computer work (at home), office help (on campus), chaperoning and carpooling duty for EEPC events/activities and, as always, help for the biannual WPCT exams and PEEP general meetings. Please let EEP know if YOU can volunteer by calling 323/343-2287 or sending a note to Rich or EEP.

• Late Breaking Request: Is there a brave PEEP or two who is willing to chaperone Fright Night in the EEP Lounge -- from about 6 pm on Friday, Oct 27th until about 9 am on Saturday, Oct 28th? Bring earplugs to drown out the screams from the all-night scary videos! PEEPs are welcome to hang out (and snooze!) in the farthest-away space in Lisa's office (with its comfortable sofas!) Call 323/343-2287!

PEEP Website and Yahoo Group. The PEEP website is continuously updated with tons of useful links and information, including our private Yahoo PEEP group which contains a private PEEP roster -- updated with our new PEEPsters -- with city and emails so PEEPs can set up carpools, or just get in touch with the parents of your EEPster's friends.

EEF Financial News

New Annual Giving Campaign starts soon! Our generous PEEPs donate money to Rich to buy everything you see in the EEP lounge, even the quarterly cleaning! Last year Rich bought a new sofa and loveseat, some more computers, lockers and bookcases, in addition to the many miscellaneous expenses he has making the EEP such a memorable part of our children's lives. A request letter and return envelope will be coming to your residence soon. All donations are used 100% for EEP, and are 100% tax-deductible. We really want to increase our participation this year, so please remember that every gift, whatever the amount, is important to us, and much appreciated. Please join in!

Electronic Scrip Sign-Up. EEP is always looking for a few more families to sign up for escrip. It's simple, it's effective, it's free and it needs you! Just sign up your grocery cards (not charge cards, just grocery club cards), for your family or even your friends and relatives too -- EEP gets a percentage back on all the grocery purchases. If you have no charitable organization specified on your cards, the stores just keep all the money. We made $741 this past school year, and are shooting for $1500 in the coming year! You can sign yourself up online (click here) or call (818/905-6249) or email (dhay16301@sbcglobal.net) PEEP Donna Hay for help, information or to let her know you signed yourself up.

• PEEPs whose Vons/Pavilions cards are already in the system from last year must renew their EEF designation by November 1st for us to keep getting the money. Donna was able to renew cards that were linked to the phone numbers, but not unlinked ones. Please take the time to go to http://www.escrip.com/ and renew your Vons/Pavilions cards to EEF (#155638773). Thanks!
• Albertsons cards need not be renewed -- they will stay at the designated charity until changed. PEEPs can check or change their allocation online if the card is linked to a phone number: 1. go to http://www.albertsons.com/cp/ and click on the login for shoppers, 2. enter your Albertsons card number (11 digits starting with 425) and your phone number. 3. if the two are linked, another screen will come up, and you click on the "my account" second down on the signpost, and it will show you how your charity money is allocated -- here you can adjust your percentage allocation, although hopefully EEF (#49001003550) is 100%! Otherwise, you will get an error message, and you will need to call Albertsons customer service (1-877-932-7948) and you will need to speak to a customer service rep in shopper cards to link your Albertsons shopper card to your phone number (handy when you forget your card when you shop!).
• Ralphs just computerized their system, and Donna just reentered everyone, or so she thinks. PEEPs who have not yet registered their Ralphs cards can now do so themselves online (http://www.ralphs.com/ccprogram.htm and click on participant "sign up") or you can always call or email Donna. The EEF charity number is 81251.

ebay Donations. Don't discard, Donate! PEEP Helene Chemel will convert your unwanted collectibles into cash for EEP on ebay through her i-soldit store in Chatsworth. Drop your items off anytime at her store, or bring them to the Sunday, Dec 3rd PEEP meeting, and visit the I-SoldIt website for more information.

Upcoming Events for EEP Families

Fall Quarter Important Dates. Dates of interest for this quarter are:

The annual Parent Fall Welcome brunch. This tradtional event will be held Sunday, October 8th, 11am-1:30pm at the Golden Eagle Ballroom (3rd floor) to celebrate the addition of new members to our EEP family. This year's guest speaker is CSULA faculty member and long time F.O.E (Friend of EEP) Dr. Bill Wasson, Sociology Department, who will discuss having the EEP students in class and their special contribution to college academics. Elder Paisley K. will also speak on her experiences during her year abroad at Oxford. Please send in your RSVP ASAP, so we can reserve the correct attendance.

WPCT dates. Put it on your calendar! The WPCT and PEEP meeting will be Sunday, December 3rd. The meeting is 10-11:30 am, followed by the 1-4:15 pm testing for prospective EEPsters. PEEP volunteers are needed to help with the PEEP General Meeting and WPC Testing, including bringing snack foods! Remember, the prospective EEPsters and their parents are always blown away by the EEPsters who are monitors and speakers -- we need your EEPster too!

Volunteer Opportunities. Please get as involved in the PEEP as you can! We appreciate your partnership and help! As mentioned above, the EEPC needs parent help with chaperoning duties (including Fright Night), carpooling for events/activities and just plain old advise giving and wisdom dispensing -- email the EEP office at eepstaff@cslanet.calstatela.edu. PEEP also has many volunteer positions available, such as the December meeting and test, organizing next year's parent welcome, coordinator of escrip, newsletter-writing, PEEP website maintenance, etc -- please email PEEP Donna Hay at dhay16301@sbcglobal.net.

EEΠX Store

David N. modeling the EEΠX sweatshirt and who is that modeling the Lemonhead t-shirt?

Yearbooks, Sweatshirts, T-shirts and More! We have it all! And we have a new system in place for orders. Just have your EEPster order one, and Rich will send home the item and a bill! With questions, email the EEP Club or call 323/343-5488 and leave a message.

• Yearbooks - The EEPC is already gearing up for the new, better-than-ever yearbook and dvd. If your EEPster has a memorable photo, be sure to submit it to the yearbook chair, Margaret L., in person or by email
  
• T-shirts and Sweatshirts Your EEpster has a choice of two t-shirts, and two sweatshirts, and don't forget that bodaciously amusing license plate frame (makes a cute picture frame too!)
  • Lemonhead Sweatshirt - never too early to plan on nippy weather. $25 for this one-of-a-kind distinctive outerwear!
  • EEΠX Sweatshirts - for $20 for this black-that-goes-with-everything sweatshirt with the oh-so-cool-EEΠX-logo!
  • EEPC t-shirt - guaranteed as unique, this t-shirt features the likeness of EEPster 2006 graduate Neshan! $10 for this limited edition t-shirt! EEPsters enhanced Rich's picture on the model on the EEP wall (see photo)!
  • Lemonhead T-shirts - for $10 cash or check for this one-of-a-kind t-shirt.
  • License Plate Frames - for $5 to display your EEP pride on your car or wall!
• Rings - EEP class rings, available for 4th year students and graduates, have an EEP logo (pdf drawing) designed by April E. and the insignia of the student's major and year of CSULA graduation. You can get an idea of what the rings will look like at the Jostens website. The rings cost $398 for the women's and $451 for the men's (10K white or yellow gold).

Upcoming CSULA Events of Interest for EEP Families

Chromaluxe - Curated by Kristina Newhouse. Featuring works by Linda Day, John Dumbacher, Joseph Dumbacher, Jennifer Faist, Matthew Penkala, and Yong Sin. Fine Arts Gallery, Fine Arts Building. Sat, Sep 30, 2006 - Sat, Oct 28th. Gallery hours: Mon-Thu & Sat, Noon-5 pm

Fall 2006 Science Series
---Robert Nissen (Biological Sciences): "The developmental biology of craniofacial skeleton formation: From mutants to genes" on Wed, Oct 4th at 8 pm
---Nathan Onderdonk (Geological Science): "Science at the top of the world: A summary of recent geological research expeditions to Greenland and Arctic Norway" on Wed, Nov 8th at 8 pm
---Grady Hanrahan (Chemistry and Biochemistry): "Exploration in the Field: An Environmental Chemistry Perspective" on Wed, Nov 29th at 8 pm
All are free, at Physical Sciences 158. Call the Department of Physics and Astronomy at (323) 343-2100 for more information.

Jazz Orchestra

Luckman Jazz Orchestra: Tribute to Oliver Nelson. Free outdoor concert by the critically-acclaimed Luckman Jazz Orchestra, which boasts some of Los Angeles' finest jazz musicians. Sat., Oct 7th at 6 pm at the Luckman Street of the Arts. Call the Luckman Box Office at (323) 343-6600 or visit http://www.luckmanarts.org for more information.

Native American Art Exhibition. A reception celebrating the exhibition of Native American art bequeathed to the University by the late emerita librarian, Mary Gormly. Tues, Oct 10 - Sat, Dec 9th. JFK Memorial Library, first floor

Study Abroad Fair. Meet with multiple study abroad providers and learn about how to earn university credit while traveling the world. Main Walkway (between Dolicini’s and Library North). Thur, Oct 12th 10am-4pm.

Sally Ride Science Festival: Reach for the Stars. The festival features scientist talks, workshops, and a street fair. Visit the website or call the College of Natural and Social Sciences at (323) 343-2000 for more information. Sat, Oct 14th, 11am-4:15pm

Ballet Hispanico. Celebrated for its innovative repertory and sizzling artistry, the Ballet Hispanico Company embodies the vitality of Hispanic culture and its exceptional contribution to contemporary dance and modern American culture. Ticket price: $40/$35. Luckman Theatre on Sat, Oct 14th at 9pm. Visit the website or call the Luckman Box Office at (323) 343-6600 for more information.

Chamber music

Southwest Chamber Music. Sat, Nov 4th at 10am in the Intimate Theater. Clarinet Quintet of Mozart. For more details visit the website or call the Luckman Box Office at (323) 343-6600.

2006 CSULA Poetry Series. A multimedia performance featuring visiting poets Keith and Mendi Lewis Obadike. Thur, Nov 9th at 6:30 pm at a location TBA. Call Lauri Ramey, English Dept. at Cal State L.A., at (323) 343-4165 for more information or visit the website.

Lecture and Booksigning: "Harold Lloyd: Master Comedian." Suzanne Lloyd, granddaughter of silent screen comedian Harold Lloyd, will discuss her grandfather's remarkable career and present clips and short films from some of his best work. Sun, Nov 12th, at 2pm at KH Lecture Hall 2. Call the Friends of the CSULA Library at (323) 343-3974 for more information.

Sugar Plum Fairy. For joyous tidings, come and enjoy performer/playwright Sandra Tsing Loh's festive holiday show. Tickets are $35; for more details visit the website or call (323) 343-6600. Luckman Intimate Theatre, Fri., Dec 1st at 8 pm, Sat at 3pm and 8:30pm, and Sun at 3pm.

CSULA Calendar for all events available at http://www.calstatela.edu/univ/calendar/

LACHSA too. EEPsters and their families might also be interested in LACHSA events, such as Candide in November. Visit their website for their schedule, with details on their many concerts throughout the LA area, as well as their events at CSULA's Luckman Theatre.

Articles of Interest

To an Athlete, Aching Young - TIME Magazine, September 18, 2006. Specialization and year-round play are putting active kids at increased risk of crippling injury. Click here for complete article.

The Secret Love Lives of Teenage Boys - TIME Magazine, September 4, 2006. Social scientists who study young love are discovering that contrary to popular belief, male adolescents don't just want to have fun. Click here for complete article.

The Myth About Homework - TIME Magazine, September 4, 2006. Think hours of slogging are helping your child make the grade? Think again. Click here for complete article.

Who Needs Harvard? - TIME Magazine, August 21, 2006. "Competition for the Ivies is as fierce as ever, but kids who look beyond the famous schools may be the smartest applicants of all." Click here for complete article.

How Safe is MySpace? - TIME Magazine, July 3, 2006. "Social-networking sites are all the rage with kids. Now a lawsuit accuses the most popular one of not doing enough to protect them from predators." Click here for complete article.

For a link to the index of dozens of articles Rich has clipped -- to learn about "crispies'", "twixters", what makes teens tick, multitasking, dropouts and much more -- click here!

Old Favorites! A Nation Deceived - a study summarizing 50 years of research on acceleration and its effectiveness - at this website http://nationdeceived.org/download.html and TIME's "Saving The Smart Kids" - a 2001 study found that 70% of kids who skipped ahead had no regrets.

Links of Interest, Past Issues, Contact Information