April 19, 2012

UC Education Abroad Program to Hold 50th Anniversary Alumni & Friends Reunion

Study abroad participants recall the past, celebrate the present, and prepare
for the future at UC systemwide event.

Santa Barbara, CA – The University of California Education Abroad Program(UCEAP) will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a gala Alumni & Friends Reunion to be held Saturday, April 28, 2012, on the UC Santa Barbara campus. The UCEAP event will coincide with the campus’s 2012 All-Gaucho Reunion to be held April 27–29.

First launched in 1962, UCEAP has grown to become the largest undergraduate exchange program in the United States and a vital component of UC’s academic mission. The 50th Anniversary Alumni & Friends Reunion will provide an historic opportunity for UCEAP alumni, current students, faculty, staff, and supporters to reconnect with the program and one another.

“Current education abroad participants share the same experiences as their counterparts 50 years ago, but the world into which they’ll be graduating has been dramatically altered by globalization, economic shifts, and the interconnectedness of the digital age,” said Jean-Xavier Guinard, Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director of UCEAP. “International education is the ideal preparation for success in our modern era.”

“The Alumni & Friends Reunion,” Guinard added, “is a wonderful opportunity for everyone involved with the program to celebrate a half-century of amazing success and outline ways of ensuring that study abroad remains available and affordable for tomorrow’s UC students.”

UCEAP’s 50th Anniversary Alumni & Friends Reunion will include a hosted wine and cheese reception, dinner buffet, and dessert reception. The dinner program features remarks by UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Henry T. Yang and distinguished alumni. Guests will also be invited to share their own stories about how studying abroad helped shape and enrich their academic, professional, and personal lives, including insights on the many ways the experience gave them fresh outlooks, new language skills, an appreciation of different cultures, international friendships, and new levels of self-confidence and independence.

All are invited to this landmark celebration of UCEAP’s past, present, and future.See the UCEAP 50th Anniversary website for reunion information and other 50th events.

Event Details:

     Date: April 28, 20125:30 p.m.
     Place:Corwin Pavilion, University Center,UC Santa Barbara campus
     Admission: $30 per person ($20 for recent UCEAP participants from 2007 – 2012)
     Registration: Register at http://ucsb.imodules.com/uceap50reunion before April 16
     Contact: Kim Bluitt, kbluitt@eap.ucop.edu, 805-893-4233
     Event web page: http://eap.ucop.edu/anniv/Pages/Events.aspx

The University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) has served as the UC systemwide international exchange program since 1962. Serving all ten campuses, UCEAP continues its support of the University of California’s mission through academic instruction and exchange relationships around the world. Through study abroad, UCEAP provides the opportunity for students to become international citizens and global thinkers, equipping them with the understanding and skills necessary for success in the global marketplace. For more information, visit eap.ucop.edu