Alumni Association Names Outstanding Graduate Student and Senior

A budding financial services entrepreneur and a future teacher from the Class of 2003 are being honored by the Alumni Association during Cal State Fullerton’s 44th annual commencement activities.

Jason Lorge and Carey Kirian — recipients of the Outstanding Graduate and Outstanding Senior awards, respectively — each will be awarded $1,000 and commemorative plaques at tonight’s Honors Convocation, held on the eve of commencement. The awards are presented to the graduating Cal State Fullerton senior and graduate student who are academically outstanding, demonstrate service to their departments, university and/or community, and are active in extracurricular, academic or professional activities.

Lorge, of Sierra Madre, is an M.B.A. candidate with a concentration in finance. He currently works in the College of Communications as director of technology and following graduation, plans to gain additional experience in the financial services industry.

“In five years, I’d like to have my own comprehensive financial planning operation and real estate holding company,” he says. “I want to do it all.”

His service to the community includes volunteering five to 10 hours a month for the Boy Scouts of America and Order of the Arrow, its affiliate citizen group. He is an Eagle Scout and as a volunteer, helps organize and participates in such activities as recycling drives, beach cleanups, tree plantings, camping trips and derby races for younger scouts.

On campus, Lorge is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and served as the university’s chapter president as an undergraduate. Under his leadership, the group was awarded Most Improved Chapter out of 325 chapters worldwide. He also serves on the boards of the University Honors Society Council and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

The Outstanding Senior Award honoree, a transfer student from Cypress College, distinguished herself early on at Cal State Fullerton and last year was named the “Outstanding Junior” in the Child and Adolescent Studies Department.

“I’ve always had an interest in elementary school children,” says Kirian, who will start CSUF’s teaching credential program in the fall. “I’ve had good experiences working with the little ones, so that’s what I want to do.”

The Norwalk resident presently works with first-graders as an instructional aide for an after-school program in Santa Ana, and will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in child and adolescent development.

Kirian’s community involvement has centered on her desire to make a difference in the lives of children, including serving as a mentor at New River Elementary School in Norwalk. For the Orange County Association for the Education of Young Children, she was a student ambassador and committee leader for the group’s spring 2002 conference. That same year, she was program co-chair of the fall conference.

At Fullerton, she has served in various capacities of the Child and Adolescent Studies Student Association, including president, board member and recently, president of the community projects board, with responsibility for finding community volunteer projects for the organization’s members.

The 7 p.m. Honors Convocation is held in the Titan Student Union’s Portola Pavilion. Commencement ceremonies are at 8 a.m. May 31 and June 1 on the sports fields north of Titan Gym. Individual college exercises follow at various locations on campus.

Media Contacts:

Patricia Boggs, executive director of alumni relations, at 657-278-4732 or pboggs@fullerton.edu
Gail Matsunaga, Public Affairs, 657-278-4851 or gmatsunaga@fullerton.edu