Top Scholars Honored for Academics, Leadership, Service

Students Receive Awards at This Weekend's Commencement Ceremonies

May 15, 2008 :: No. 262

Four Cal State Fullerton outstanding students have been chosen for the university's top awards in recognition of their high scholastic achievement, leadership and community service.

The two undergraduates and two graduate students receiving Cal State Fullerton's President's Associates Awards will participate in the Commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18.

This year's honorees are undergraduates Deanne Huang, recipient of the President's Associates Scholastic Award, and Stephanie Diaz, who will receive the President's Associates University Service Award. Graduate students Jennifer Bradley and Sivarama P. Vinjamury will be honored with the President's Associates Outstanding Graduate Student Award.

Deanne Huang

As a student leader and top scholar, Huang readily admits that she is continually seeking knowledge - whether to further her academic achievements or to successfully develop a creative communications company with her sister.

"I always knew college was in my future," said the La Mirada resident, who will graduate summa cum laude. "Most people don't know this, but I was diagnosed with scoliosis in high school, limiting my occupational options. I think I've tried harder since then, trying to push the limits of my capabilities. Since I obviously cannot pursue a physical type of job, college was the obvious route to go in order to push my mental skills."

Huang will earn a bachelor's degree in business administration with concentrations in accounting and finance. After graduation, she plans to take the certified public account's exam and later, pursue a master's degree in accounting. Her career goal is to become a chief financial officer.

A President's Scholar, Huang has been involved with the Business and University honors programs and is a recipient of the Dean's Advisory Board Outstanding Honors Student Award.

Huang also is a member of Beta Alpha Psi honors accounting fraternity and served as treasurer of the President's Scholars Student Association.

Through her various campus involvements and activities, including accounting tutoring, Huang said she has had a positive college learning experience that has helped her grow both personally and academically. "I have definitely experienced firsthand that the more I put into Cal State Fullerton, the more I get out of it. I am coming away from college life with many lovely memories."

Stephanie Diaz

Diaz, who is earning a bachelor's degree in biological science with a concentration in biodiversity, ecology and conservation biology, is lauded for her contributions to the greater community through her service and scientific research.

Diaz has been involved in numerous leadership opportunities, including the Southern California Ecosystems Research Program and serves as president of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Latinos and Native Americans in Science. She also served as chair of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Inter-Club Council.

"These organizations have continued to provide me with new research and leadership opportunities where I have been able to develop into a better student, researcher, leader and mentor to other undergraduate students," said Diaz, who will graduate cum laude and participated in research projects related to environmental science.

The Lakewood resident credits university faculty members for playing a role in helping her attain her academic achievements. "Faculty members have been so supportive and encouraging and helped me to become aware of the many resources available to students at Cal State Fullerton. One of the best decisions I ever made was being part of this university."

Diaz plans to travel to Thailand in July to conduct environmental research related to the use of fresh water algal species as biomarkers for water quality in ponds near power plants. Her future goals include earning a master's degree in hydrogeochemistry and pursuing a career in water resource management.

Jennifer Bradley

Bradley, who will earn a master's degree in English and works as a graduate assistant for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, called her two years of graduate education at Cal State Fullerton "the most rewarding of my life.

"The opportunities I've had to work behind the scenes will be helpful when I become a professor," said the Fullerton resident, who served as a mentor and student liaison at the university's Student Access Center.

Bradley's career goal is to work as a community college English professor. She also plans to pursue a doctorate in English.

She's been involved with the Acacia Group, the English Department's graduate students' organization that sponsors such events as an annual conference that attracts graduate student participants from across the country. She also is a member of Sigma Tau Delta honor society and the Shakespeare Association of America and has served as an English tutor for the nonprofit organization, Project IQ.

Her research interests include early modern English literature, queer theory and historiography. She has completed her graduate project about the intersection between history and identity in the early modern works of Joan of Arc.

Bradley said she has always been a "good student," but that in graduate school, she learned to be an "excellent student" - thanks to her professors and other campus mentors who prodded her to achieve academically. "I was constantly challenged to a higher and higher level of achievement by the excellent teachers of the English Department, especially Professor Ellen Caldwell, whom I cannot say enough good things about."

Sivarama P. Vinjamury

Vinjamury is already an accomplished professor, researcher and clinician - and will be adding his fourth degree - a master's degree in public health - to his list of accomplishments.

While pursuing his graduate degree, Vinjamury, who is married and the father of two children, has worked full-time at Whittier's Southern California University of Health Sciences in the College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

The La Mirada resident came to the United States from India in 2000 to continue his education. In India, Vinjamury received a bachelor's and a medical degree in ayurveda medicine, one of the world's oldest medical systems. It originated in India several thousand years ago and is considered complementary and alternative medicine in this country. He also is a licensed acupuncturist. In 2003, he earned a master's degree in oriental medicine from Southern California University of Health Sciences.

Vinjamury is a member of Eta Sigma Gamma, the national health education honor society, and is the Cal State Fullerton student member on the executive board of the Alternative and Complementary Special Interest Group under the American Public Health Association.

"My education at Cal State Fullerton has given me the confidence and knowledge to reach my career goals of serving the community through development of evidence-based programs and treatment methods," said Vinjamury, who also completed an internship at the City of Hope.

Vinjamury has conducted research as a graduate student, including working on two intervention studies for women with fibromyalgia. He is finishing his thesis on "Efficacy of Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia - A Randomized Clinical Trial" to assess the efficacy of acupuncture for pain and functionality in fibromyalgia patients.

His goal is to continue to conduct research on chronic pain, which he calls a major public health crisis in the United States. Vinjamury also plans to earn a doctorate in epidemiology and obtain federal funding to further his research to better understand the role of complementary and alternative medicine in public health.

Photos: Available online at www.fullerton.edu/newsphotos

Media Contacts:
Debra Cano Ramos, Public Affairs, 657-278-4027 or dcanoramos@fullerton.edu
Paula Selleck, Public Affairs, 657-278-4856 or pselleck@fullerton.edu

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