作者：辛西娅·休伯特

2023年3月6日

Arik Santos, a sophomore at Laguna Creek High School in Elk Grove, felt positive vibes while attending 萨克拉门托 State’s annual APIDA College Day on March 3.

“I like the inclusivity,” he said, looking around at hundreds of other students and their chaperones gathered in the University Union Ballroom to learn more about attending 囊状态. “This is a group that I can relate to.

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people, and exploring everything that 囊状态 has to offer.”

这个为期一天的活动，旨在提高亚太裔美国人（APIDA）学生对大学的早期意识，吸引了来自萨克拉门托地区6个学区的约700名学者。

在这次活动中，他们参加了关于招生过程和经济援助等主题的研讨会，听取了有成就的演讲者的演讲，参观了校园，并参加了一个资源博览会，在那里他们可以获得有关各个学习领域的信息。

“Do you know how good it feels to look out and see the future, to see the diversity, and to celebrate that diversity?” asked 囊状态 President Robert S. Nelsen, welcoming the crowd. “Today, we celebrate our APIDA students.”

近7000名萨克州立大学学生被认定为APIDA，这是一个代表40多个国家和数百种语言的组织。 The University is a federally designated Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving institution, and on Feb. 28 it 开设了新的APIDA中心 to serve as a cultural and support hub for those students.

拉古纳河高中的辅导员何塞·阮（Jose Nguyen）说，许多与会者在新冠肺炎封锁期间错过了参观大学的机会。

“A majority of our students who are here today didn’t have that chance during COVID, so they are really excited to look at all of the buildings and see that college is important and accessible,” Nguyen said. “It’s an avenue for them to see a diverse campus that offers a great education.”

Participants learned about 囊状态’s successful Finish in Four and Through in Two graduation initiatives, the University’s Ernest E. Tschannen Science Complex and Planetarium, and its campus tree canopy, among many other topics.

"Education is going to challenge the way you think and open you up to so many opportunities.” -- Amy Tong, California secretary of Government Operations

Jorge Aguilar, 萨克拉门托 City Unified School District’s superintendent, urged participants to take full advantage of the event’s offerings.

“When I was your age, I came to 囊状态 for a conference like this one, and it changed my life,” Aguilar said. “Today, be a learner. 你属于这里。 This is your university.”

Amy Tong, California secretary of Government Operations, was the day’s keynote speaker. A first-generation immigrant from China, she holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from 囊状态.

“As you walk around campus today, take a good look at all of the amenities at a place that will make you feel right at home,” she said.

“Absolutely, take the step to attend college,” Tong said. “It doesn’t really matter what college you attend. Education is going to challenge the way you think and open you up to so many opportunities.”

在资源博览会上，萨克拉门托海拉姆·约翰逊高中（Hiram Johnson High）的学生弥赛亚·汤普森（Messiah Thompson）仔细阅读了提供学习领域信息的表格，包括文科、科学技术、时尚营销和营养学。

“I’m interested in the medical field, and I’m looking at a lot of different colleges,” she said.

她停下来向负责研究与参与的副院长马银发（音）询问了一些可能的专业。 Ma mentioned Chemistry and Biology, but his biggest pitch to Thompson and other students, he said, was the University’s culture.

“We are a great University, and we really care about our students,” Ma said. “I tell them, ‘We will help you all the way through to graduation.”