Sunday, 8 June 2008

Cambodian parents' group to honor grads

Press-Telegram
06/06/2008

LONG BEACH - Long Beach high school graduates of Cambodian heritage are invited to a Class of 2008 Graduation Celebration tonight at St. Mary Medical Center.

The Khmer Parents Association in conjunction with the Cambodian Association of America, the United Cambodian Community and St. Mary Medical Center will hand out more than $2,000 in scholarships to about 10 local graduates and expect about 200 local residents to attend.

Any 2008 high school graduate with at least one Cambodian parent is invited to the free dinner.
Appropriate business attire is requested.

The celebration, the brainchild of KPA president and activist Chan Hopson, returns after a three-year hiatus.

A French-school educated teacher in Cambodia before the rise of the Khmer Rouge, Hopson also sponsors Cambodian health forums in Long Beach. Education, however, remains her passion.

"We want to support them and motivate them to go higher in education," Hopson said of Cambodian students, noting that many high school graduates are the children of uneducated parents and have lacked to the direction of their peers.

"We want people to see in this country if you don't have a higher education, you're not going anywhere," Hopson said.

Today's dinner is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Parr Enhancement Center Building at St. Mary Medical Center, 1055 Linden Ave. For information call Chan Hopson 562-276-5888.

- Greg Mellen

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