Sonoma State University welcomes 42 Presidential Scholars out of a freshman class of more than 1000 students to the campus this year. This year's group of scholars represent many different communities around the state of California, from San Diego to Fort Bragg. The lone out-of-state Scholar hails from Frankfort, Illinois.
Some of the Scholars name nursing, business and teaching among their vocational aspirations.
These students join a coterie of 12 returning scholars in receiving a $1000 scholarship, regular luncheons and meetings with university president Dr. Ruben Armiñana, and priority course registration at the beginning of each semester.
Dr. Armiñana founded the Presidential Scholars program with monies from the SSU Alumni Association in 1995, and enjoys the close, mentoring relationship he forms with the students. This year, Sonoma State Enterprises and the Pepsi Bottling Group donated an additional $10,000 to the Scholarship fund.
"The Presidential Scholars are the brightest and most disciplined students who in addition to excellence in their studies, have varied interests and interesting lives,” says Dr. Armiñana. “I always learn something new from them about the University and the challenges that young people encounter."
In order to qualify for the Presidential Scholarship, a first-time freshman must have sustained a grade point average of 4.0 or higher throughout their high school career. Continuing SSU students must maintain grades of all A's or A-'s. Because of its rigorous standards, the Presidential Scholarship remains as the most exceptional academic award for first-time freshmen.
Students in this year's class of freshman Presidential Scholars include:
-Amber Arbini - Pre-Nursing, Templeton, CA
-Blair Bazdarich - Biology, San Francisco, CA
-Chloe Badat - Kinesiology, Santa Barbara, CA
-Rachel Beardsley - Undeclared, Rohnert Park, CA
-Sadie Bissett - Undeclared, Suisun City, CA
-Hollie Brown - Undeclared, Auberry, CA
-Megan Cable - Undeclared, Oakhurst, CA
-Stephanie Castaneto - Pre-Nursing, Lodi, CA
-Kara Chiono - Business Administration, Vallejo, CA
-Max Church - Biology, Santa Rosa, CA
-Kurlpeter Dapula - Undeclared, Richmond, CA
-Greg Fontana - Undeclared, Rohnert Park, CA
-Jodi Gentile - Undeclared, Rocklin, CA
-Stephanie Gillen - Business Administration, Oceanside, CA
-Katrina Grant - Pre-Nursing, Santa Clara, CA
-Maegen Harris - Undeclared, North Highlands, CA
-Janell Hughes - Hutchins, Newhall, CA
-Rachel Higgins Global Studies, Canyon Country, CA
-Charissa Jung - Undeclared, El Cerrito, CA
-Jamie Kyrullo - Undeclared, Folsom, CA
-Allison Langell - Pre-Nursing, Chino, CA
-Kathleen Leidenthal - Hutchins, Antioch, CA
-Laurel Lombardi - Pre-Nursing, Fort Bragg, CA
-Melissa May - Undeclared, Cambria, CA
-Cecile Merrin - Business Administration, Arroyo Grande, CA
-Ross Middlemiss - Undeclared, Arcata, CA
-Joseph Muller - Computer Science, Healdsburg, CA
-Ashley Parliman - Undeclared, Corona, CA
-Angela Pustarino - Hutchins, Windsor, CA
-Amy Row - Undeclared, Del Oro, CA
-Chris Saccone - Kinesiology, Frankfort, IL
-Brian Shaughnessy - Undeclared, San Diego, CA
-Steven Sanderson - Communications, Castro Valley, CA
-Danielle Smith - Business Administration, Elk Grove, CA
-Danni Stallings - Psychology, Felton, CA
-Tristan Theis - Hutchins, Ridgecrest, CA
-Adrienne Turcotte - Undeclared, Willits, CA
-Marylinn Wheatley - Psychology, La Mirada, CA
-Alexandria Winters - Pre-Nursing, Rohnert Park, CA
-Lisa Wood - Biology, Santa Rosa, CA
-Ellise Yu - Pre-Nursing, Vacaville, CA
-Alisha Zare - Hutchins, San Ramon, CA
For details on the Presidential Scholars program, contact Laurie Ogg in the University's scholarship office at (707) 664-2036 or visit www.sonoma.edu/scholarship/html/university.shtml.
Posted by at September 28, 2005 10:54 AM