Cal State Fullerton will be honoring its top graduating students and recent graduates Friday, May 19, during the 2017 Honors and Scholars Awards Program.
The annual program is held on the eve of the University’s commencement ceremonies, which are scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21.
Among the honorees:
Tim Alexander of Fullerton, who is completing his master of science in education-higher education, is this year’s recipient of the CSUF Alumni Association Outstanding Graduate Student Award, in recognition of academic accomplishment and service. The honoree, who also earned a bachelor of fine arts from CSUF, has served as emcee for the Hispanic Scholarship Golf Tournament, Vision & Visionaries, Titan Awards and Concert Under the Stars — one of the University’s signature events.
Luc Ceci of Yorba Linda, a business administration-finance major and a Business Honors student, is the 2017 recipient of the CSUF Alumni Association Outstanding Senior Award. A valedictorian at community college before transferring to Cal State Fullerton, Ceci has maintained his high academic standing by making the Dean’s List throughout his studies as a Titan. Outside of the classroom, he has been a leader in the CSUF Finance Association and the Business Honors program, and recruited area business leaders to speak on campus to enrich his fellow students’ educational experience.
Chelsea (Rankin) Felbeck of San Diego, who earned a master of science degree in environmental studies in May 2016, is the recipient of the Giles T. Brown Outstanding Thesis Award for her thesis on the colony dynamics of elegant terns and major factors influencing seabird abundance and distribution in ocean habitats. Felbeck has presented her research at four scientific meetings, including the Waterbird Society conference in Germany, and expects to submit her thesis manuscript for publication in Marine Ecology Progress Series, a leading journal in the field.
Gloria A. Gallardo of Cypress is this year’s recipient of the Excellence in Promoting International Experience and Global Engagement. Gallardo, who is completing a bachelor’s degree in health science, has dreams of one day serving as a physician in underserved communities. She has conducted research through the Puerto Rico International Education Program, is the president and founder of the Spanish for Health Services Club and established a CSUF student internship with the American Heart Association. This summer, she will be conducting epidemiological research in Thailand through the Minority Health and Health Disparities International Research Training Program. Last year, she received the Student Leadership Award from the Center for Internships and Community Engagement.
The 2017 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Betty Robertson Award will be awarded to Sanford George of Anaheim, who is completing his master of arts in geography. The scholar belongs to Theta Alpha Kappa and Phi Sigma Theta and conducted research for his thesis on economical ways to use virtual reality to provide immersive visualization of geographic physical and spiritual landscapes. This fall, George plans on continuing his education at USC toward the ultimate goal of teaching at the community college level.