Record 11 Guardian Scholars
to Graduate From Cal State Fullerton
Guardian Scholars program acknowledges
the accomplishments of students who have left the foster care
system, were wards of the court or come from similar backgrounds.
May 26, 2005 :: No. 222
A record 11 students from the Guardian
Scholars program are graduating with the Class of 2005. Motivated
to bettering their lives, the scholars’ post-commencement
plans include careers in animation, social work, advertising,
music, television, law and education.
Since its inception in 1998, the Guardian
Scholars program has offered more than just a
scholarship. It acknowledges the accomplishments of students
who have left the foster care system, were wards of the court
or come from similar backgrounds. Lacking even basic resources
during the transition to adulthood, they are willing but not
yet able to help themselves fully, often struggling without
families and the financial, emotional and psychological safety
nets that their classmates rely on.
The Class of 2005 — the largest Guardian
Scholars graduating class to date — includes:
• Markus Jerome Burks of Fullerton;
he will receive his bachelor of fine arts degree in art, with
a concentration in entertainment art/animation. Burks participated
in numerous clubs on campus, including the Pencil Mileage
and Kung Fu Clubs. After graduation, he plans to pursue a
career in animation and the video game industry.
• Krystle Bybee will
graduate with honors when she receives her bachelor’s
degree in human services and a minor in psychology. At Cal
State Fullerton, Bybee was a member of the National Residence
Halls Honorary and the Human Services Student Association,
a resident adviser and a student representative on the Guardian
Scholars Advisory Board. The Anaheim resident plans to pursue
a graduate degree and establish a career in the areas of student
affairs or administration at a university.
• Irvine resident Jason Darr
also will graduate with a B.S. in human services. Darr was
active in various student leadership roles on campus and in
the community, has been involved in California Youth Connection
helping pass legislation for foster youth. As a peer mentor
at Orangewood Children's Foundation, Darr has facilitated
workshops for the Independent Living
Program over the past two years and is currently
a state board member for Court Appointed Special Advocate
(CASA). He has spoken at symposiums on permanency and recently
presented at the National CASA conference in Atlanta. He currently
is a day counselor for Olive Crest Group Homes. Darr’s
goal after graduation is to help end poverty and pursue a
master’s degree in social work.
• Michael de la Torre
will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in communications
— with a concentration in advertising — and a
minor in speech communication. The Placentia resident has
a passion for entrepreneurial enterprises with a focus on
real estate investing. As a student, de la Torre was active
in Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and has participated in
numerous community service projects. He plans to start a successful
career in real estate.
• Nicole Demedenko of
Fullerton was instrumental in recruiting students for the
Digital Storytelling workshop in Berkeley. Last year, Demedenko’s
peers elected her to represent them on the Guardian Scholars
Student Advisory Committee, and, for the past two years, she
has been a peer mentor at Orangewood Children’s Foundation.
She also has advocated for foster youth statewide through
California Youth Connection and is a member of the Y.O.U.T.H.
training project. After graduating with a bachelor’s
degree in psychology, Demedenko plans to pursue her master’s
degree in social work beginning this fall at USC.
• Gladys Gonzalez, also
of Fullerton, will graduate with a bachelor’s degree
in the double major of communications and Spanish. Gonzalez’s
goal is to work at a Spanish television station covering news
and entertainment. She also plans to earn a master’s
degree in communications.
• Megan Gornall will
graduate with a bachelor’s degree in communications
with a concentration in advertising. The Fullerton resident
served on the board of directors for the American Marketing
Association on campus and was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta
sorority, where she was philanthropy chair.
• Peter Gorton of Fullerton
plans to pursue a career in film production — fusing
his musical skills with a love of film — and work as
a music editor, orchestrator or music contractor. Gorton studied
abroad for a year at a music conservatory in southern Germany.
He plans to earn a master’s and possibly a doctorate
after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in music.
Gorton currently is working at Nestle Waters North America.
• Anaheim resident Tonya Hightower
will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business administration
with a concentration in management. She is a peer mentor at
Orangewood.
Children’s Foundation. Hightower is an
active member of California Youth Connection, which has provided
her with numerous opportunities to travel and speak on behalf
of foster youth nationwide. She hopes to utilize her business
degree to work in the field of international patent law.
• Amy Talbutt of Placentia
is looking forward to pursuing a career in social services
or education following graduation with her bachelor’s
degree in human services. Talbutt’s plans also include
getting a master’s degree in counseling.
Commencement ceremonies are scheduled for 8 a.m. Saturday,
May 28, and Sunday, May 29, on the sports fields north of
Titan Gym, followed by departmental and college exercises
held throughout the campus.
Media Contacts: |
Jenny Vinopal, director of guardian
scholars,
657-278-4900 or jvinopal@fullerton.edu
Gail Matsunaga, Public Affairs, 657-278-4851 or gmatsunaga@fullerton.edu
|
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