The California State University has selected 23 students, one from each campus, to receive the 2017 CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement. The CSU Board of Trustees will honor the scholars on September 19 at the CSU Office of the Chancellor in Long Beach, Calif.

The CSU’s highest recognition of student achievement, the awards provide donor-funded scholarships to students who demonstrate superior academic performance, personal accomplishments, community service and financial need. Students receiving the awards have all demonstrated inspirational resolve along the path to college success and many are the first in their families to attend college.

“I want to be an agent of change and serve as a catalyst for success,” said Alejandro Arias, a San Diego State student and Trustee Emeritus Ali C. Razi scholar. A first-generation college student, Arias faced and overcame a variety of challenges while completing two associate degrees and transferring to SDSU. Arias is now pursuing a bachelor’s in food and nutrition and helps community college students navigate the transfer process through the campus’ Transfer Student Outreach Alliance.

As the top scoring Trustees’ Award recipient, Arias will receive a $12,000 scholarship from a fund endowed by Trustee Emeritus Ali C. Razi. The 23 student scholarships range from $6,000 to $12,000, with the total amount awarded this year at $149,000.

The scholarship program was established in 1984 by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation as an endowed scholarship fund to honor William Randolph Hearst, founder of the Hearst newspaper chain. In 1999, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation partnered with the CSU Board of Trustees to supplement the endowment with contributions from CSU Trustees, CSU Foundation Board of Governors, and private donors.

In addition to the William Randolph Hearst recipient, 2017 scholars are named after Trustee Emeritus Ali C. Razi, Cisco Systems Inc., Trustee Emerita Claudia H. Hampton, Ron and Mitzi Barhorst, Trustee Emeritus Murray L. Galinson, Trustee Board Chair Rebecca D. and James Eisen, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, TELACU, Wells Fargo, Trustee Emeritus William Hauck and Padget Kaiser, Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Michael A. and Debe Lucki, Chancellor Emeritus Charles B. and Catherine Reed, Edison International, Santé Health Systems/Scott Wells, Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, SoCalGas, James Key, Trustee Emeritus Kenneth Fong, Mona C. Simpson/Boeing, Trustee Peter J. and Coralyn Taylor and Trustee Emeritus Peter Mehas.

CSUN Mechanical Engineering Student David Nelson awarded Edison International Scholar. Photo Credit: CSU

David Nelson, a Mechanical Engineering student from CSUN, received the Edison International Scholar Award. Nelson hopes to work in the aerospace industry after graduation. For more on Nelson’s story, click [here].

The CSU Board of Trustees meeting will be held at the CSU Chancellor’s Office, 401 Golden Shore, Long Beach, CA 90802. Visit the CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement website for bios on all 23 scholars as well as donor information.