UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May brought a message of hope and inspiration to Natomas High School students today (April 19) that can be summed up in three words: We want you.
“Let’s make a deal,” May told hundreds of Nighthawks in a morning assembly. “You do your job by working hard, pushing yourself to take challenging classes, and finding opportunities to grow and lead, and we’ll do ours. We’ll do all we can to make sure a UC education is affordable and attainable for you.”
May was the keynote speaker at a four-hour event titled, “Achieve UC.” His speech in the Natomas High gymnasium, intended primarily for 9th– and 10th-graders, was followed by classroom presentations for upper classmen that focused on UC enrollment and financial aid.
Nighthawk students also heard from a Natomas High graduate, Rooha Gealani, who is majoring at UCD in History and Human Development. She plans a career in the mental health field, assisting refugees and immigrant children.
The goal of “Achieve UC” was to assure high school students that a college education is essential and attainable. May and other UCD officials touted both the UC system and their local campus as welcoming and affordable, offering various financial aid options.
“A college degree is a game-changer that will give you so many options,” May said. “And believe me, it’s much better when you can choose a career that comes from the heart, rather than being stuck in a job that just feels like a day-to-grind. A college degree helps put the future in your own hands, especially one from a UC school.”
Natomas High School has a very diverse student body, which is one of the reasons he looked forward to visiting, May said. UCD welcomes diversity of all kinds – backgrounds, talents, and points of view, he said. “No matter who you are, or where you come from, you’ll find a welcome home at UC Davis or one of our sister UC campuses.”
May noted that some families feel anxious about not having enough money to pay for college. He sought to ease that fear. “The truth is, a UC education is more affordable and accessible than you think,” he said.
More than half of UC’s California students pay no tuition and fees because they receive scholarships and grants to cover those costs. Almost half of UC students graduate with no debt at all and, for those who carry debt, the amount they borrow is well below the national average, May said.
“I hope this news gets you excited because we’re looking for talented, hard-working students just like you,” May said.
As UCD’s chancellor, May said, it’s his mission to help young people find academic success that leads to a great career and life.
“I’ve been lucky to see so many former students go on to do amazing things in the world,” he said. “That chance to help students find their path to success is what motivates me every day.”
Nighthawk graduate Rooha Gealani’s comments reinforced the notion that hard work and determination can lead to college, regardless of family income. A Pakistani native, she was 11 when she came to the United States. Her family was hard-working but lived off a modest income, she noted.
“Although my parents could not tell me what steps to take to get to college and make my dreams (come true), their encouragement and their hard work pushed me to work harder each and every day,” Rooha said.
A UC Davis program, the Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP), helped guide her through the college admissions process.
Rooha urged students to keep pushing, never give up. “Don’t let the struggles and obstacles in your life define who you are as a person,” she said. “Making your dreams come true is possible by surrounding yourself with inspirational people and people who are there to encourage your dreams and support you throughout.”
