EOP 60th Anniversary Celebration

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Welcome Home, EOP Family & Friends!

For 60 years, the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) has been a powerful foundation, a catalyst for social mobility, and a vibrant community where first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented students find their launchpad and thrive—truly delivering the promise of Berkeley. The impact of EOP lives on not just through our thousands of incredible alumni, but through the dedicated staff, visionary donors, and community partners who have championed our mission every step of the way.

This historic milestone intentionally coincides with UC Berkeley's campus-wide National First-Generation College Celebration. Today, over 30% of our undergraduate population identifies as first-generation! For 60 years, EOP has opened doors at UC Berkeley. Now, it’s time to walk back through them. Join us for this historic milestone at the EOP 60 Year Anniversary Celebration. Whether you walked our halls as a student, guided the way as staff, or invested in our vision as an equity champion, you are a vital part of this legacy.

Who are you excited to reconnect with? Text your former classmates, invite your favorite colleagues, share this with fellow changemakers, and save the date for an unforgettable evening. Let’s come together for an evening of shared memories, inspiration, and a collective commitment to pave the way forward for another 60 years of EOP excellence.

Special thanks to our distinguished Honorary Host Committee: 

Gloria Burkhalter - Past EOP Director

Nate Carroll - Past EOP Counselor 

Linda Morris Williams - Associate Chancellor Emeritus

Harry Le Grande - Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs Emeritus 

Susan Hagstrom - Past Advising Administrator across various units 

Dave Stark - Past Executive Director, Stiles Hall 

Abel Guillen - EOP Alumni

Pablo Gonzalez - Continuing Lecturer, Chicana/o Studies Program and Ethnic Studies 

Jenny Soojean Kwon - Past Associate Chief of Staff, Office of the Chancellor

Tickets go live in September!

EOP 60th Anniversary Celebration:

A Legacy of Promise Fulfilled 

Our Story Started in 1966. Be Part of The Next Chapter

Thursday, November 5th, 2026 

5:00 - 8:30pm Pauley Ballroom, UC Berkeley 

Cocktail attire

Stay connected: Join our event listserv

Save the Date: EOP 60th Anniversary Celebration

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Support Fund

Six Decades of Community

From the pioneering student-led movements of our founding years to the vibrant, thriving community on campus today, our story is written by you. Take a walk down memory lane and celebrate the faces, the spaces, and the moments that defined our first 60 years.

Pause
A black and white photo of a large crowd marching through Sather Gate with a "FREE SPEECH" banner.

1966: The Educational Opportunity Program is introduced at UC Berkeley as a faculty initiative in to address the issue of low-income students, particularly minority students, entering and graduating from the University in disproportionately small numbers.

Black-and-white photograph of Gloria Burkhalter smiling across a desk at a student during an advising session, with a "Ghana" po

1974: EOP becomes decentralized so that students could reap the benefits of the services provided by specialists in the various Student Affairs Units, Office of Admissions and Records, Financial Aid Office, and the Student Learning Center. Financial Aid goes to the Office of Relations with Schools, and Counseling to student Advising and Assistance. Summer Bridge is launched and welcomes its inaugural class.

A black and white group photo of ten diverse young adults posing together outside a building with "The Play" written on it.

1976: EOP Counseling merges with the Student Learning Center to increase student retention and the frequency of contacts between counselors and students. Soon after, the Chancellor’s Office integrates the Affirmative Action student population with EOP (which at the time consisted of African American, Pilipino, Chicano, Latino, and Native American students).

Five young adults pose and smile together at an indoor social gathering with balloons in the background.

1990: The EOP and Affirmative Action Counseling Component of the Student Learning Center becomes integrated with the Office of Student Life. The office changes its name to Student Life Advising Services (SLAS/EOP/AA).

A close-up group photo of four smiling young adults—one man and three women—standing together indoors.

1996: Proposition 209 eliminates Affirmative Action at the University of California. The office removes AA from its name and becomes known as SLAS/EOP.

A group of diverse adults posing in an office, with two people holding an "EOP" sign.

2008: SLAS/EOP joins the Division of Equity and Inclusion.

A high-angle shot of a large, diverse group smiling and looking up from an outdoor paved area.

2012: SLAS/EOP launches the “Undocumented Student Program” and then opens the Haas funded “Dreamers Resource Center.”

Four smiling young adults pose together outdoors with arms around each other, backed by green foliage

2013: EOP phases out “Student Life Advising Services (SLAS)” and restores its original name.

A group of smiling students posing in a classroom with STEM shirts, EOP bags, and a small dog.

2014: EOP STEM is founded by student leaders in an effort to bridge the needs of EOP students in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields.

A large group of diverse young adults posing together in a Berkeley-themed indoor space.

2017: EOP implements the "Road 2 Resiliency" (R2R) a Degree Completion initiative to support students navigating academic difficulty.

A smiling woman outdoors holding a "First, and not the last" sign for First-Generation College Celebration Day.

2019: EOP hosts UC Berkeley's inaugural "National First-Generation College Celebration Day" in an effort to build an asset-based narrative around the first-generation experience. This date honors the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and celebrates the achievements & resilience of first-generation students, staff, faculty, and alumni.

A wide shot of a crowded auditorium with a screen displaying "Power in Community Day" and the Berkeley logo.

2021: "Power in Community Day" is implemented as a collaborative event between EOP, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions & the Center for Educational Partnerships to welcome newly admitted first year students and their families to Cal.

A collage of graduates in navy and gold regalia celebrating with hugs and diplomas against a blue patterned background.

2026: With over 15,000 EOP students on campus and a 3.3 average GPA, today’s EOP community embodies the strength, diversity, and academic excellence at the heart of our campus. EOP’s six decades of advocacy paved the way for today’s generations of student success.

EOP Alumni Testimonials

Dr. Lanikque Howard, Class of 2012, American Studies Major (Former EOP Peer Academic Counselor Coordinator)

"The foundation EOP helped build shaped the trajectory of my life and career. After earning my B.A., I went on to receive both an MSW and Ph.D. in Social Welfare and today serve as a Scientist at the Institute for Research on Povertyat the University of Wisconsin–Madison. I have also had the privilege of serving as a political appointee under every Democratic presidential administration since I was old enough to vote. In many ways, the work I've done throughout my life, and the work I am engaged in today is deeply connected to the values EOP embodies: expanding opportunity, removing barriers, investing in people whose potential is often overlooked, and creating pathways for others to thrive I will always be grateful for the role EOP played in helping me not only access higher education, but truly believe that I could succeed within it — and beyond it.”

Miriam de la Cruz, EOP Peer Academic Counselor Co-Coordinator, Political Science Major & Data Science Minor, Senior

“As a student leader, EOP showed me the significance of being a helping hand to others and passing knowledge down to students who were once in my shoes. To have the opportunity to support Berkeley students and hear their stories is an honor that truly has made my time memorable. I can't imagine navigating Berkeley without EOP.”

Anonymous EOP STEM Student

"Coming from a background where I didn't know anyone in these fields, the EOP STEM company visits broadened my horizons in terms of what is possible for me after college. The brunch before career fairs gave me the opportunity to talk with employers I would never otherwise have access to. This program gave me community, confidence, and faith in my future.”

Dr. Michael Pham, Class of 2018, BA in Integrative Biology

“EOP taught me something far more valuable: that once you find your place, you create space for others. As a first-generation and former low-income student, the support and community I found there gave me the confidence to dream bigger than I thought possible. That foundation led me to earn an MPA from CSU East Bay, an MBA from Johns Hopkins, and, most recently, a doctorate from USC. Today, I carry those same values into my work at Stanford Medicine and into mentoring 300+ students, because the greatest impact of opportunity is not what it does for one person, but how many others they can lift along the way.”

Travel & Lodging

Lodging Information

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Holiday Inn Express & Suites Berkeley

Affordability: $$

Address: 1175 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702

Website: ihg.com

Details: Located further down University Avenue in West Berkeley (about 1.5 to 2 miles from Pauley Ballroom). A reliable budget-friendly option that includes free hot breakfast and free parking. It is a short 5–10 minute rideshare or catch the AC...

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Berkeley Marina

Affordability: $$$

Address: 200 Marina Blvd, Berkeley, CA 94710

Website: hilton.com

Details: A full-service waterfront hotel situated on the San Francisco Bay, about 3 miles west of campus. It is a ~10–15 minute drive to Pauley Ballroom and it offers a resort-style stay with scenic bay views, an indoor pool, and on-site waterfront dining...

Residence Inn by Marriott Berkeley

Affordability: $$$

Address: 2121 Center Street, Berkeley, CA 94704

Website: marriott.com

Details: A new modern, upscale all-suite hotel located steps from West Campus and Downtown Berkeley BART. It’s about a 10-minute walk through campus to Pauley Ballroom and features a popular rooftop lounge with views of the Bay

Campus Parking & Logistics

While parking is not hosted or covered by the event, we have outlined parking logistics to create a seamless experience.

Parking

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Alternative Off-Campus City Garages

Telegraph-Channing Garage: Located at 2450 Durant Ave (between Telegraph and Dana), roughly a 5-minute walk to Pauley Ballroom. Offers hourly rates and predictable evening flat rates.

Rideshare & Public Transit: For those wanting to skip parking altogether, rideshare drop-offs are recommended along Bancroft Way, or guests can take BART to the Downtown Berkeley station (about a 10-minute walk through campus).

Berkeley Faculty / Staff Permit Holders

Campus Permit Access: Guests holding a valid UC Berkeley Faculty/Staff permit (such as C or F permits) can utilize campus lots.

After-Hours Rules: Permits allow parking in designated central campus and lot spaces according to standard UC Berkeley evening and weekend parking regulations (generally valid after 5:00 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends).

Street & City Metered Parking

Street Parking: Metered street parking is available along Bancroft Way, Durant Avenue, Telegraph Avenue, and surrounding side streets.

Enforcement & Time Limits: Check posted signs carefully; metered spots typically charge hourly rates and have strict enforcement hours and time limits (often up to 8:00 PM or 10:00 PM depending on the block).

On-Campus Paid Garages (Closest Options)

Lower Sproul Garage (Under Eshleman Hall): Located directly beneath the event precinct at 2465 Bancroft Way This is the closest possible parking to Pauley Ballroom (less than a 1-minute walk).

Recreation Sports Facility (RSF) Garage: Located nearby at 2299 Bancroft Way (at Ellsworth St), roughly a 3–5 minute walk to Pauley Ballroom.

Payment & Hours: Available for public hourly pay via pay stations or mobile parking apps (e.g., PayByPhone).

Rideshare

Guests are strongly encouraged to use rideshare services (Uber/Lyft) or public transit to avoid parking delays. The closest drop-off location for Pauley Ballroom is directly on Bancroft Way in front of the MLK Jr. Student Union / Eshleman Hall.