On May 6th , the Educational Opportunity Program will hold its annual EOP Honors Convocation. The theme, “Dare to be Remarkable,” celebrates the outstanding academic achievements and contributions of 372 EOP students.

It's the 37 th anniversary for the program that honors students who maintained an average of 3.0 or better for the spring 2003 and/or fall 2003 semester, and / or who have a cumulative 3.0 or better grade point average. Other awards will be given to individuals who have contributed or excelled in the program. The awards include:

• EOP Distinguished Alumnus Award- Wayne M. Zimmerman
• Alumni Award- Angela J. Faulkner, Felician Masumbuko and Barbara Medina
• Martha Pierce Student Recognition Award- Patricia A. Pfeiffer
• Annie Joe Memorial Scholarship- Brian J. Towne
• Theresa Shepard Advocacy Award- Latoya T. Blount
• EOP Director's Award- Luis B. Guzman
• EOP Faculty Merit Award- Dr. Frederick G. Floss
• EOP Staff Merit Award- Paul T. Bink and Loretta B. Ward
• Distinguished Community Advocate Award- Viola Hill
• Arthur O. Eve Distinguished Student Achievement Award- Walter E. Pierce
• highest cumulative averages by class- six freshman, one sophomore, two junior and one senior

EOP focuses on students who are economically and academically disadvantaged. Each year the EOP office receives about 1,500 applications. Only 200 students get chosen. To be eligible for EOP:

• applicants must be a New York state resident 12 months prior to enrollment
• must have a high school diploma or G.E.D.
• have the ability to demonstrate potential for success through recommendation letters, essays etc…
• have a low-income family background

According to an EOP pamphlet, “EOP normally contributes a small amount of aid toward students' college bills, students must rely on state and federal financial aid/loans and their own resources to pay the majority of their college cost.”

Lily Bink, interim associate record/EOP, said, “if EOP students maintain the required GPA then they are eligible for an award for the following year.” It varies each semester on the number of students who are involved in the EOP program. During the fall semester there were 824 students and in the spring there were 757student.

Students will receive certificates, except for seniors and graduates who will receive gifts. To publicize the event fliers are posted around campus, invitations are sent to all faculty, staff, recipients' family and member of the community who have supported EOP.

Yanick Jenkins, director of EOP, said, “these are students who were not initially accepted to BSC and now they are being honored for having better than average GPA- they dare to be remarkable.”