Oakdale Joint Unified School Board Student Representative, Sam Oliveira, is doing more than just updating the board on campus events and student activities.

The Oakdale High School senior stepped up to the podium during the October meeting to present the newly formed OHS Club, One Hundred Students.

During the presentation, Oliveira shared with the board a San Francisco Chronicle article she and her family had happened upon. The article showed data on acceptance rates for high schools throughout California into the UC system.

Oliveira noted that Oakdale had the lowest percentage at three percent of students attending a UC, while 15 percent attend CSU’s. This, compared to a nationwide average of 45 percent, raised concern for the senior.

Upon giving this further examination and thought, she came to the conclusion that it would take an additional 100 students accepted to a four-year college to reach the national average.

“Seeing that was a little disheartening. This is my school and I’m going to be applying to colleges; my peers are going to be applying to colleges. This isn’t very encouraging,” she shared following her board presentation. “So then I started thinking, what is the reason behind this? Considering Oakdale has great test scores, great extra-curriculars, overall a lot of people that would be great applicants for these types of schools. So, what is the issue?”

Oliveira stated she felt there was a disconnect between those who apply and go to college and students who actually could but perhaps don’t apply. Looking for a solution and an answer, the idea for a club seemed a good start.

Each month One Hundred Students (OHS) meets in the big gym where they are treated to information on a college, as well as a guest speaker who shares information on their careers and their education path.

Attendance thus far for the meetings has been good. Open to all grade levels, the initial meeting hosted 80 students and September had 120 students in attendance.

“I’ve heard a lot of positive feedback. I think a lot of people are glad to be hearing more about college and certain careers,” Oliveira said.

While she recognizes not all students will pursue careers or goals that require a four-year college, she feels there is a need for reaching more students to educate them on the process and opportunities.

“I think  part of the problem is people obviously know about college, but never really consider it,” she said. “The whole idea is to get people who maybe were not considering it, to consider it.”

One of the goals of One Hundred Students, is to try to focus on students that may not have thought about college and open them up to the idea.

“You might not be thinking of college right now or maybe you’ve considered it but you’re not for sure,” Oliveira noted. “That’s kind of like the people that are going to be likely to turn over.”

Growing up in a home with two college educated parents, the student board rep shared she feels lucky to have grown up with that set as a goal for herself and her sisters.

“We’re extremely lucky for that,” she said of her parents’ support and exposure to goals to help make this happen. “I think it’s important to expand the opportunity to other people who might not be getting that from their parents or teachers. It’s a way for them to get that at school.”

Facing a busy senior year and college applications herself doesn’t seem to faze the senior when posed with the question of why she felt starting a club was so important.

“There’s a plethora of students with great GPA’s. There’s a lot of people that would be strong applicants; I think a lot of people just choose not to,” she explained. “I don’t want people to think this is a forceful thing … I just hope they would be open minded. This is an option and it’s a very good option.”

Echoing her sentiments, OJUSD Board President Clayton Schemper addressed Oliveira following her presentation during the October board meeting.

“How amazing is this,” Schemper stated. “For you to come in, the kids can go to school, they can ask you guys the questions. Then they come home and I can be like, I don’t know, I didn’t go to college, but let’s figure it out. So, it’s a great resource for parents like me. Thank you for putting this forward.”

Upcoming events and additional information on One Hundred Students can be found on Instagram: Onehundredstudents