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Register Today for EOP Celebration 2012

Now is the time to reserve your seat for the 42nd annual Celebration, Fête and Honors to be held Thursday, May 10, at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel.
Hosted by the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity and the Friends of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), this annual dinner and scholarship fundraiser honors the outstanding accomplishments of EOP student scholars and recognizes 2012 Charles E. Odegaard Award recipient, Gertrude Peoples.

2011 Student Speaker Fitradin Shanle

A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the dinner and program at 6:30 p.m. UW alumna Colleen Fukui-Sketchley, ’94, will serve as the program emcee. The event will also feature remarks from UW president Michael K. Young, vice president for Minority Affairs and vice provost for Diversity Sheila Edwards Lange, UW Foundation director Nate Miles, and Wells Fargo Washington regional president Patrick Yalung.
Thanks to the support of presenting sponsor Wells Fargo, all funds raised by Celebration directly benefit EOP students. Registration is available online through April 19. Ticket prices are $120 for an individual and $500 for a patron (includes two seats and additional recognition). Table sponsorships are available by contacting Greg Lewis.
Celebration has enjoyed long-standing community and corporate support with more than 500 community and business patrons attending the event each year. Since its inception in 1971, nearly 900 EOP scholarships have been funded through donations raised at Celebration, making it possible for many underrepresented minority, economically disadvantaged, and first-generation students to receive support. On average, 80 scholarships per year are given from funds raised at the event.

The 2011 EOP Recognition Scholars with Odegaard Award recipient Assunta Ng (front, center), then-Interim President Phyllis Wise and Dr. Sheila Edwards Lange (back, center)

Highlights of Celebration include the presentation of the Odegaard Award, as well as scholarship presentations to EOP students. Established in 1973, the Odegaard Award honors an individual or group whose leadership sustains former the former UW president’s work on behalf of diversity on campus. It is considered the highest achievement in diversity at UW and has honored a long list of civic leaders including Northwest Asian Weekly founder and publisher Assunta Ng, ’72, ’76, ’79; businessman and philanthropist Nelson Del Rio, ’84; chairman and executive director of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe W. Ron Allen, ’83; former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, ’72, ’74; and State Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, ’79.
Read more about becoming an EOP student sponsor. View photos from last year’s event.
Photos by Mary Levin