PUSD Student Rep Chosen to Speak at Summer Conference

Poway High School senior Gustavo Lopez, the 's student board member for 2011-12, has been chosen from more than 800 applicants to speak at a summer institute focused on closing the achievement gap.

The news release:

AVID Center has selected 16 high school students, two for each of the eight AVID Summer Institutes, and one postsecondary student to be guest speakers and tell their stories to more than 2,000 educators attending each Institute. Over 800 essays were submitted for the contest, and the semi-finalists also had to present their essay via online or video to be chosen for the coveted honor.

Gustavo Lopez from Poway High School in Poway, California was selected to speak at the AVID Summer Institute in San Diego, California this August. Gustavo will travel as AVID’s guest along with his AVID teacher and members of the AVID site team who will be attending the Institute as well. 

Since 1989, AVID has held Summer Institutes to train educators in AVID strategies and methodologies to prepare students for college.  One of the highlights of each Institute is the student speakers, who in sharing their stories of struggles to success, inspire, encourage and motivate participants.  In 2011, nearly 20,000 educators attending AVID’s Summer Institutes heard stories of great achievement from students who, because of AVID, were able to achieve their dream of attending college.

“Our student speakers reaffirm our work, reminding everyone how important our jobs as educators are in shaping the lives of young people,” said AVID Executive Director Jim Nelson.

AVID is a non-profit, proven college readiness system that closes the achievement gap. Today, AVID is implemented in approximately 4,800 schools in 48 states and 16 countries/territories; AVID serves more than 425,000 students in grades 4-12, as well as students in 24 postsecondary institutions. The AVID College Readiness System transforms a school’s academic culture to increase the number of students who enroll in four-year colleges and succeed in postsecondary education and training.  For more information, visit www.avid.org.  

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