President's
Scholars enjoy top priority
By
Paul DeCarlo
On-line Forty-Niner
Whether
they are registering for next semester's
classes, in line at crowded on-campus computer
labs, or jockeying for admittance into the
dormitory, one thing is for sure: if their
name is listed in the President's Scholars
Program, everything becomes a whole lot
easier.
For
the 380 students now taking part in the
program, ample benefits proved to be the
selling point to get them to choose Cal
State Long Beach, as opposed to competing
universities throughout the state. Since
introducing the program in 1995, President
Robert Maxson has put CSULB on the map by
enticing top-notch California high school
valedictorians to further their education
here, rather than joining on at another
institution, which many of them are qualified
for.
Neng
Chhean, a former president's scholar, graduated
from CSULB in 2001 and made the decision
easier for her younger sister, Chhunny,
a creative writing and philosophy double
major, who is currently enrolled in both
the school and the program.
"She
got me excited about it," said Chhean
of her elder sibling's influence. "She
was really happy with the way the program
worked. That kind of showed me that it was
a good program and that I should probably
choose this school."
Chhean
was the valedictorian at Wenatchee High
School in Porterville, Calif., and plans
to graduate in four years before moving
on to law school. Her older sister, Neng,
now attends the New England College of Optometry
in Boston.
Kevin
Darwazeh, former valedictorian at East Nicolaus
High School in Sacramento, is an international
business major now in his sophomore year
at CSULB.
"I
can't say I was doubtful at the beginning,
because they told us exactly what it would
offer and what we could get out of it,"
Darwazeh said. "They've come through
with everything. I can't complain."
Darwazeh
said he is thinking of going to graduate
school at Pepperdine, but hasn't made a
decision yet.
The
plate of perks that CSULB serves its President's
Scholars is impressive. Besides receiving
full paid tuition, incoming freshmen scholars
receive a guaranteed housing vacancy that
is paid for through the scholarship. A book
allowance of $200 is provided each year.
The dorms remain open to all in the program
throughout the entirety of their college
career, with food being the only item that
the participants must pay for. Priority
registration is another bonus offered to
all program participants, especially with
the reality of shrinking classes.
The
Thomas E. Miller Scholars Center, located
on the third floor of the University Library,
is available exclusively for those in the
program, complete with 13 shiny new computers,
a copy machine and no lines or annoying
information check-in stations. Here, scholars
can study together and receive guidance
for any questions that they may have relating
to schoolwork. As far as academic performance
is concerned, freshmen in the program must
maintain a GPA of 3.0. The GPA requirement
increases to 3.75 by the time scholars reach
their senior year.
Chase
Landers, 24, graduated in spring of 2003
with a bachelor's degree in political science
and is currently working as a substitute
teacher and assistant basketball coach at
Tulare High School, located in the San Joaquin
Valley just south of Fresno.
"There
is nothing wrong with it," Landers
said of the program, of which he was a part
of during his time at CSULB. "When
they told me I could graduate after five
years, I was amazed. I don't think I would've
graduated college without [being a part
of the program]."
Because
of private funding, the current budget cutbacks
are not going to affect the program per
se. President Maxson currently has about
$100,000 in his budget set aside for the
scholars.
Prospective
scholars must submit a separate application
for the program in addition to the official
CSULB application. Once selected, scholars
must also complete three community service
requirements each semester with the Office
of the President at CSULB, University Outreach,
and on-campus housing. A trip back to the
scholar's high school alma mater is also
required for the first two years, where
participants talk to high school students
about the program and CSULB.
"If
you're getting a full-ride scholarship,"
Landers said, "the least you could
do is help [the school] out a little bit."
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