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It wasn’t the ideal start to a college career, but for Gavin Thomas Walters, things ended up working out. The first time Thomas Walters applied to �����о�Ժ����, he didn’t get the answer that he was looking for. After clearing up an issue with the new FAFSA portal, Thomas Walters was accepted the next day and quickly committed to his top choice, �����о�Ժ����, where he was also admitted to the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) has played a vital role in shaping the lives of countless students at �����о�Ժ����. For Mariapaz Burbano ‘24, who is pursuing a Master’s of Science in human rights through the Department of Human Development, researching EOP’s history has been a deeply personal and meaningful journey — one rooted in preservation, storytelling and advocacy.

Madelyn Payano, a rising junior majoring in philosophy, politics and law with a minor in forensic health, struggled with adjusting to �����о�Ժ���� when she first arrived. However, through EOP she found a welcoming community, a widespread support network and a family.

Zaliyah Vernon came to college in a COVID-19 year, and all that it entailed – little to no face-to-face contact. Lucky for her, a program that led her to a host of student organizations and connected her to staff and faculty at �����о�Ժ���� put her ahead by leaps and “bounds.”