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.
Growing up in San Clemente, California and struggling with English as second language, Alfredo Coria had very little idea of what achievements he would make as a senior at Sonoma State University. In recognition of his many successes at the university and in the community, Alfredo Coria, a Mexican-born immigrant currently majoring in Communications has been named as one of this year's recipients of the prestigious William Randolph Hearst/CSU Trustees Award.
Coria, son of hard-working immigrant parents and one of seven siblings, was named as the recipient of the Hearst/CSU Trustees Award based on his superior academic performance and extensive involvement in the local community. Coria is not only active in several clubs on the SSU campus, but is also a service volunteer and has proven to be an organizational leader. In addition, Coria takes part in academic outreach programs targeting high school students and helps local day laborers better their English language skills. Upon his graduation, Coria hopes to make a difference as a television news anchor.
As a recipient of the Hearst/CSU Trustees Award, Coria will be traveling to Long Beach, California this September to deliver the award-winning speech he prepared as an applicant to the California State University Board of Trustees. Coria is one of 13 CSU students to win this award this year.
The William Randolph Hearst Foundation in conjunction with the CSU Board of Trustees established the William Randolph Hearst/CSU Trustees Award in order to recognize students who have demonstrated financial need and attributes of merit including superior academic performance, community service, personal hardship and personal achievements.
For more information, please contact SSU Scholarship Coordinator Laurie Ogg at (707) 664-2261 or email laurie.ogg@sonoma.edu.
The California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) has announced the All-Academic honors for 2004-05 for student athletes who have maintained high grade-point averages. To receive the award, a student-athlete must achieve a yearly grade point average of 3.4 or higher in a minimum of 24 semester units.
The Seawolves named 42 student-athletes to the CCAA All Academic team in 2004-05.
- Baseball: Ryan Matthew, Able Romero, Robert Holt, Damon Lessler
- Men's Basketball: Kevin Christensen, Vince Inglima
- Men's Soccer: Michael Asaro, Andrew Bailey, Brett Cook, Eric Larson
- Women's Soccer: Khyra Buchanan, Stefanie Gelb
- Men's Tennis: Andrew Muesse
- Softball: Rachael Hutson, Isabel Banales, Donna Callaway, Stacie Cook
- Volleyball: Kaitlin Glass, Kathleen LeBeau, Melinda Orth, Ashley Arriola, Megan Dierker, Erin Manly, Christina Ely
- Women's CC/Track: Renee Chaffin, Marcie Silva, Sandra Wells, Jacqui Trenkwalder
- Women's Track (only): Keely Borck, Catrina Wagner, Alena Cook, Roxanne Sechler
- Women's Basketball: Jessica Jones, Janelle Lombardi, Renee Riberdy, Tara Whiteside
- Women's Tennis: Amy Piepenbrink
- Women's Water Polo: Emily Bondurant, Margot Johnson, Kelly Kill, Lisa Roby, Ann Collins