San Diego Community College District

Up to 200 of the San Diego Community College District’s highest achieving students will be recognized during the 30th annual Honors Program Reception on May 3 at The Prado in Balboa Park.

California Coast Credit Union is sponsoring the event.

The SDCCD’s Honors Program provides more challenging and engaging learning for students motivated to transition seamlessly to a four-year college or university by emphasizing the critical thinking and research skills needed to thrive in a university setting. Kelly Mayhew, the SDCCD’s Honors Program Co-Coordinator, said the program’s many benefits also include its contribution to access and equity.

“We welcome any student, including those who might not otherwise have thought of themselves as honors students in the past for whatever reasons,” Mayhew said. “We want any student who is looking for a challenge and wants the sort of attention that we can give them, and because we are giving all of our students an opportunity to stretch themselves academically, we have incredibly diverse Honors programs on all three of our campuses.”

In addition, San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges have agreements with several colleges and universities in which Honors students who meet certain requirements receive priority consideration for admission.

Ifechi Ochi, who is transferring from Miramar College to a University of California campus this fall en route to a medical career, is among those who will be honored at the May 3 reception.

“The Honors Program has really challenged me to do better, to do more than what is expected, and to pursue excellence,” Ochi said. “You’re surrounded by people with the same goals and the same mindset. It’s a wonderful way to prepare for a four-year college or university.”

Approximately 2,600 SDCCD students take part in the Honors Program each year at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges. Students being honored May 3 have been accepted into some of the top schools in the country. Past honorees have gone on to earn bachelor’s degrees at Stanford, doctorates at Princeton, and law degrees at Yale.

The May 3 event takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.