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.

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