Wheaties may call itself the breakfast of champions, but over 400 students at the University know there’s a “Breakfast of Champions” with a more fulfilling prize than any found in a cereal box, thanks to the Center for Multicultural ‘#38; Academic Initiatives.
At a recognition breakfast in the Union Ballroom, historically underrepresented minorities who achieved a 3.0 GPA last semester will receive a certificate of academic excellence in the company of their families and friends this Saturday.
“It makes me feel honored that my work paid off,” said sophomore Asha Grayson, who was invited to the event. “It makes me want to keep doing well.”
Over 20 VIPs on campus will also be in attendance including vice presidents, directors of departments and student advisors, said Juan Enriquez, the coordinator of special programs for CMAI.
Grayson said she liked that the different University officials would be at the breakfast, because she would stand out and be recognized in front of them.
Because it is held over Family Weekend, the fall semester Breakfast of Champions also shows students their support system.
“[Each year] there are a lot of really proud parents,” junior Racquel Colon said, who has attended and performed at several breakfasts. “My parents didn’t go to college, so it makes them a lot more proud to be a part of the little things like this,” she said.
The event will include a formal breakfast buffet, musical entertainment, two speakers, an opportunity to donate to the Hurricane Katrina cause and a raffle of donated items including tickets to the football game.
The Breakfast of Champions, held each semester, was started in spring 1999 to encourage academic excellence and to encourage critical support networks of family and friends, Enriquez said.
The breakfast has seen a noticeable increase of qualified students in the past two semesters from the past three years, showing that the breakfast is motivating students to academic excellence, he said.
“Programs like this need to exist to encourage all minorities – not just ethnic – to continue to search out educational opportunities and avenues to success,” Enriquez said. “So eventually, they take their rightful place as recognized, successful, and contributing members of our very diverse society.”
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