The Daily Bulletin Archive

By Mary A. Durlak

The annual Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program Honors Convocation will take place today, May 6, at 3:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. This year’s convocation is dedicated to the late Patrick Hartwick, ’78, ’84, who attended Buffalo State through the EOP program. Hartwick, who was appointed dean of the Ross College of Education at Lynn University in June 2007, died in the earthquake in Haiti on January 12. He was one of two faculty members leading a group of Lynn University students on an experiential service-learning course, “Journey of Hope—Haiti.”

“Dr. Hartwick stands as an example of the true benefit of the EOP program,” said Yanick Jenkins, EOP director. “EOP helps students get into college if they demonstrate potential, even if they have not yet demonstrated academic achievement. Dr. Hartwick achieved great things, and he gave up his life serving others.”

This year, the EOP Honors Convocation recognizes 395 EOP students who have achieved a GPA of at least 3.0 during the spring or fall 2009 semester, or whose cumulative GPA is greater than 3.0. “It is important to celebrate the accomplishment of these students,” noted Jenkins. “They demonstrate that EOP succeeds in its mission to help academically and financially disadvantaged students reach their potential.”

The theme of this year’s convocation is “Imagine, Believe, Achieve: Citizens of the World, Lending a Helping Hand.” In conjunction with this theme, platform baskets will be donated to Journey’s End Refugee Services. Student members of the EOP Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society will be selling 50/50 raffle tickets before and after the program in the Rockwell Hall lobby, with proceeds going to the Children of Haiti Project.

Other program highlights include a DVD showing Buffalo State faculty, staff, and students expressing their reaction to recent global devastations. Angelo Ruiz, who will receive an EOP Distinguished Alumnus Award, will say a few words. Patrick Hartwick will receive the EOP Distinguished Alumnus Award posthumously, and his daughter, Allie Hartwick, is expected to attend.

Students singled out for academic achievement include Ruthie Coleman, who graduated in December 2009 with a 3.95 GPA, and Venus Wiggins, who graduates in May 2010 with a 3.91 GPA. Both will receive the Buffalo State Alumni Award.

More than 800 students are enrolled in EOP, which serves as an undergraduate college admissions and support program for students facing economic or academic challenges. The program was established in 1967 at Buffalo State by former New York State Assemblyman and Deputy Speaker Arthur O. Eve, and was the first of its kind in the SUNY system.