"It was a very difficult decision," she said, but as she talked about her two years as a President's Scholar at Cal State Long Beach, there was no doubt Kathy Gainey made the right choice when she selected CSULB over all other universities.
Gainey was one of 44 incoming freshmen in the President's Scholars Program in 1996. The program was initiated by CSULB President Robert Maxson in 1995. It is designed for high school students who "finish No. 1 in their classes, to have all their expenses paid for four years going to Cal State Long Beach," President Maxson said.
The President's Scholars Program recruits valedictorians and national merit finalists and semifinalists throughout California. These students are offered a full scholarship, which normally only athletes receive.
"[President Maxson's] notion was that we should make superstars out of high achieving students just as we do other students, like athletes," Valerie Bordeaux, director of University Outreach and School Relations said.
Twenty-year-old Gainey went to Paraclete High School in Lancaster. After graduating, "I applied to seven or eight schools total and was accepted to all of them," said Gainey. [Choosing CSULB] "has been absolutely the best decision that I could have ever made," Gainey said.
The scholarships pay for tuition, fees, on-campus housing, a $250 book stipend and parking. In addition to that, the national merit finalists' and semifinalists' scholarships pay for meals at the residence halls, Bordeaux said.
The scholars also have access to the President's Scholars Center in the University Library where they can use e-mail and Internet services.
Besides the financial support, President's Scholars are regularly invited to special meetings and events throughout the four years of the program.
"Each month we have something that we get together for," Gainey said. "Each fall they take all the scholars to the city council to meet with the mayor and get introduced at a council meeting."
At the start of the President's Scholars Program in 1995, 10 scholars were accepted to CSULB. That number has grown to 44 in 1996, and 78 in 1997.
"As the notoriety of the program has grown, then we have gotten more students," Bordeaux said.
"When the president came here he said 'in the next four years we are going to have between 200 and 250 President's Scholars,'" Bordeaux said. With the 121 new scholars coming this fall, that goal is reached.
On June 26, 121 freshmen, together with their parents, gathered at the campus for orientation and registration at their new school.
The recruited students come from various backgrounds from all across the state, Bordeaux said.
[President Maxson] received a proclamation from the California Legislature acknowledging this program and indicating that it is a model program that other institutions should take a look at," Bordeaux said.
Money is not the only reason why the scholars choose to attend CSULB.
The personal attention they are given here is much appreciated by the students, Bordeaux said. "It is really a campus-wide involvement in terms of the recruitment of the President's Scholars. And, of course, our president is our number one yell-leader."
Gainey, who is majoring in philosophy and economics, said she works with Bordeuax and helps with the recruitment process.
"I remember what a difficult decision it was, and I remember wanting to speak with a student who had been on the program when I came on the campus," Gainey said.