The Educational Opportunity Program originated from the efforts of Assemblyman Arthur O. Eve of Buffalo in 1967. Eve modeled what we know as the Educational Opportunity Program after the Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) program established by the City University of New York system (CUNY) in 1966 through the efforts of Percy Sutton. In its first year, the State University at Buffalo welcomed 249 Educational Opportunity Program Students to its campus. By 1970, New York State Education Law set up the provisions for SEEK, EOP, and the Higher Education Opportunity Program which included private New York state colleges. The Educational Opportunity Program today has had more than 85,000 graduates.