Lizbeth Mendoza: From CBET to Straight A's in Engineering

There are some on campus who believe students in the Community-Based English Tutoring Program take a few classes to learn English but don't pursue their education after they improve their job prospects. Don't tell that to Lizbeth Mendoza.

Mendoza, who moved to California from Mexico four years ago, started learning English in the CBET Program at John Gill School in Redwood City. But when she had command of the language, she didn't stop learning. Instead, she transferred to Cañada where she is studying electrical engineering and planning to eventually transfer to U.C.-Berkeley.

But if you think the 24-year-old Mendoza is content earning straight A's in engineering you're wrong. She joined Phi Theta Kappa, the school's honor society, where she is vice president of hospitality. She is also tutoring English and math in the Learning Center . And, did we mention, she has found time to play volleyball for the Colts?

Linda Haley, CBET instructor/coordinator, points to Mendoza when describing the type of student the CBET Program is trying to recruit. The CBET Program is an off-campus English as a Second Language (ESL) program that provides free beginning level ESL courses to parents and community members who pledge to tutor a child once their English is proficient. This program is a collaboration between the college, local school districts, Nuestra Casa/One, EPA, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Mid-Peninsula. It is funded through Proposition 227. For more information about CBET call Haley at (650) 306-3495.