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BULLARD HIGH VALEDICTORIAN HEADS TO COLLEGE
ABC30.com
Aug 7 2008
CA
By Graciela MorenoFresno, CA, USA (KFSN) -- Just two months ago Arthur
Mkoyan was days away from deportation & Today he's getting ready to
head off to college.
A stranger has stepped forward to help the Bullard High School Graduate
pay for four years at UC Davis. Arthur Mkoyan, Fresno resident:
"At first I didn't really believe it I thought it was one of those
jokes or something."
But it was no joke. A northern California woman Arthur Mkoyan had
never met ... Is making his dream of going to UC Davis a reality.
Arthur Mkoyan: "This is probably the nicest thing anybody has ever
done for me."
Just days before Arthur and his family were to be deported back to
Armenia-- Senator Diane Feinstein introduced a bill that allows the
family to stay until their immigration status is resolved. But Arthur a
4.0 student at Bullard High-- would not be eligible for financial aid.
Sherry Heacox: "It just seemed like an injustice. I thought about it
for a couple of days and suddenly it was --do something about it if
you're unhappy about it."
Sherry Heacox lives in northern California. She read about the Mkoyan's
plight in the newspaper ... And contacted Arthur's mom.
Sherry Heacox: "I think the first words out of her mouth were 'Oh my
God' and I think there was some crying immediately."
Arthur's father Reuben says he can't find the words to say thank you to
Heacox ... But he still worries about his family's future in the U.S.
Reuben Mkoian, Arthur's Father: "Some people say like okay-- you're
done. But it's not okay-- we have to wait, nobody knows what will
happen next."
For now Arthur looks forward to visiting the UC campus for the first
time this weekend.
Arthur Mkoyan: "I'm feeling excited--I get to move out and start a
new life and I get to continue my education at the school I wanted
to go to."
Heacox's own daughter just graduated from UC Santa Barbara. Now, she'll
begin to pay for Arthur's education. Tuition alone is 25-thousand
dollars a year. Heacox says she has only one stipulation-- quitting
is not an option. And she has one small request & Sherry Heacox:
"Maybe 4 years down the road I'll get a graduation invitation ... and
be standing at Davis watching as he strolls across the stage into a
new life."
Sherry says she and her husband are not wealthy by any means, but feel
fortunate to be able to help. She'll join Arthur and his parents this
weekend for orientation at UC Davis.
ABC30.com
Aug 7 2008
CA
By Graciela MorenoFresno, CA, USA (KFSN) -- Just two months ago Arthur
Mkoyan was days away from deportation & Today he's getting ready to
head off to college.
A stranger has stepped forward to help the Bullard High School Graduate
pay for four years at UC Davis. Arthur Mkoyan, Fresno resident:
"At first I didn't really believe it I thought it was one of those
jokes or something."
But it was no joke. A northern California woman Arthur Mkoyan had
never met ... Is making his dream of going to UC Davis a reality.
Arthur Mkoyan: "This is probably the nicest thing anybody has ever
done for me."
Just days before Arthur and his family were to be deported back to
Armenia-- Senator Diane Feinstein introduced a bill that allows the
family to stay until their immigration status is resolved. But Arthur a
4.0 student at Bullard High-- would not be eligible for financial aid.
Sherry Heacox: "It just seemed like an injustice. I thought about it
for a couple of days and suddenly it was --do something about it if
you're unhappy about it."
Sherry Heacox lives in northern California. She read about the Mkoyan's
plight in the newspaper ... And contacted Arthur's mom.
Sherry Heacox: "I think the first words out of her mouth were 'Oh my
God' and I think there was some crying immediately."
Arthur's father Reuben says he can't find the words to say thank you to
Heacox ... But he still worries about his family's future in the U.S.
Reuben Mkoian, Arthur's Father: "Some people say like okay-- you're
done. But it's not okay-- we have to wait, nobody knows what will
happen next."
For now Arthur looks forward to visiting the UC campus for the first
time this weekend.
Arthur Mkoyan: "I'm feeling excited--I get to move out and start a
new life and I get to continue my education at the school I wanted
to go to."
Heacox's own daughter just graduated from UC Santa Barbara. Now, she'll
begin to pay for Arthur's education. Tuition alone is 25-thousand
dollars a year. Heacox says she has only one stipulation-- quitting
is not an option. And she has one small request & Sherry Heacox:
"Maybe 4 years down the road I'll get a graduation invitation ... and
be standing at Davis watching as he strolls across the stage into a
new life."
Sherry says she and her husband are not wealthy by any means, but feel
fortunate to be able to help. She'll join Arthur and his parents this
weekend for orientation at UC Davis.