Six local students have been accepted as President’s Scholars at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) for the upcoming 2011-12 academic year, and as such, each of these top high-school scholars will receive a full, four-year scholarship from the university worth about $80,000.
The CSULB President’s Scholars Program was created in 1995 to bring valedictorians and National Scholars from California high schools to the Long Beach campus. Today, the program is recognized as the premier program of its kind in the state. More than 1,000 students from 41 of California’s 58 counties have been selected for the program since its inception.
Among the local 2011 President’s Scholars are three students from Millikan High School: Paige Cunningham, Kaitlin Patten and Paige Pelonis. The incoming group also includes a pair of students from Wilson Classical High, Chloee Farris and Alfred Leone, as well as Bess Biscocho from the California Academy of Mathematics and Science.
“The President’s Scholars Program at Cal State Long Beach continues to attract some of the brightest and most academically talented students in California, and this year’s class in no exception,” said CSULB President F. King Alexander. “The program is extremely competitive. Â Each year, we receive hundreds of applications for these scholarships, but this year only 30 students were selected to be part of this incoming group of scholastically outstanding individuals.”
The 2011 President’s Scholars were chosen from an applicant pool of more than 500 high achieving students statewide. The local students will be among 30 new scholars joining the university when fall classes begin on Aug. 29, bringing the total number of high-school valedictorians and National Scholars attending the university to about 210.
As President’s Scholars, the students will attend CSULB on a full scholarship that covers general student fees, an annual book allowance and paid housing in the campus residence halls for four years. Additionally, the scholars receive priority registration, personal academic counseling and more.
The benefits for qualifying valedictorians and National Scholars from accredited California high schools are made possible through the support of the CSULB Alumni Association, President’s Associates and the Corporate Scholars Council.
Bess M. Biscocho of Long Beach was a valedictorian in this year’s graduated class at the California Academy of Mathematics and Science, which is located in Carson on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills. The daughter of Bernard and Lynette Biscocho of Long Beach, Bess is planning to major in biology with a career goal of becoming a physician.
Paige N. Cunningham of Los Alamitos was a valedictorian in the Class of 2011 at Robert A. Millikan High School in Long Beach. The daughter of Charles Cunningham of Los Alamitos, Paige has declared a major in criminal justice at CSULB with plans of becoming a forensic scientist.
Chloee D. Farris of Long Beach was a valedictorian in this year’s graduated class at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School. The daughter of Paul and Dawne Farris of Long Beach, Chloee will major in film and electronic arts at CSULB with a career goal of becoming a film director.
Alfred J. Leone of Long Beach was a valedictorian in the Class of 2011 at Wilson Classical High School. The son of Melody Leone of Long Beach, Alfred has declared a major in photography with plans of becoming a professional photographer.
Kaitlin L. Patten of Long Beach was a valedictorian in this year’s graduated class at Millikan High School. The daughter of Tianne Patten of Long Beach, Kaitlin is planning to major in kinesiotherapy at CSULB and list her career goal as a doctor of internal medicine.
Paige M. Pelonis of Lakewood also was a valedictorian in the Class of 2011 at Millikan High School. The daughter of Peter and Catherine Pelonis of Lakewood, Paige will be a theatre arts performance major at CSULB.
