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back
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Special scholars
get great perks
By Marissa Tschiedel
Special to the On-line Forty-Niner
The President's
Scholars program offers California's most successful high
school students complete financial support for their educational
goals and unique opportunities at Cal State Long Beach.
Fredric Cruz, 22,
participated in the program at CSULB. "Getting into the
program made my university experience so incredible,"
Cruz said.
Cruz is one of
450 students who have gone though the President's Scholars
program, started by CSULB President Robert C. Maxson in 1994.
Armando Contreras, executive assistant to the president, said
the concept was to give scholarships to valedictorians of
California high schools and National Merit finalists and semifinalists.
"The program
has been going extremely well," Contreras said.
Three classes of
President's Scholars have graduated from CSULB. Many have
gone on to graduate school, while others have chosen to work
instead, Contreras added.
"Kathy Gainey
is at Harvard Law School, John Philips has gone on to Yale
to earn a Ph.D. in political science, a lot have gone on to
medical and law school," Contreras said.
The President's
Scholars program is limited to 356 students. More than 400
applications were submitted for the 64 available 2001 President's
Scholars awards.
"The program
can take one valedictorian and National Merit finalist per
school," Contreras said. "SAT scores, grades and
personal essays are reviewed."
Recipients of the
scholarship receive full payment of tuition, general student
fees, an annual book allowance, paid housing in the campus
residence halls, priority registration, personalized academic
advising, campus student parking privileges and Internet access
with an e-mail account.
"The best
parts of the program were the people involved and the experiences,"
Cruz said. "People were amazing, they helped me with
my academic and professional life, as well as my personal
life. It became an extended family, not a typical university
experience."
As part of the
program students are required to be involved with campus programs
and activities.
"I was able
to get very involved with President Maxson and the staff,"
Cruz said. "I became part of the President's Ambassadors
program."
President Maxson
invites qualified scholars to CSULB, with a letter highlighting
the unsurpassed opportunities of the program, in the President's
Scholars brochure. Cruz found the President's Scholars program
lived up to Maxson's invitation.
"I planned
on only staying a couple years, Long Beach wasn't my first
choice of university," Cruz said. "After the first
year, it was so amazing the treatment the President's Scholars
got, I decided to stay."
Cruz graduated
last semester, and has continued working with CSULB. He is
a full-time staff member in the president's office.
Selected students
from California will be joining the Presidents Scholars program
this fall. Five of the incoming students are from the Long
Beach area. Contreras said a lot of students come from local
areas and central California.
The President's
Scholars program is funded through the support of the CSULB
Alumni Association. The President's Association and the Academic
Corporate Council are also financial supporters of the program.
Convocation was
held on Friday at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center at
CSULB. At that time, 64 president's scholars, who have been
recognized for their academic achievements, became special
members of the CSULB student body.
"I feel fortunate
to have been part of the President's Scholars Program,"
Cruz said.
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