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| Former Army Ranger Peter Sprenger speaks during the 2008 President's Council Scholars Conferral Dinner. |
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| Candice Tirta receives the Norman Williamson Family Scholarship from President Michael Ortiz and Associate Dean Dale Turner. |
Cal Poly Pomona recognized some of the university's brightest students with President's Council Scholarships on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Now in its 25th year, the President's Council Scholars program is considered the most prestigious scholarship series at the university.
The program awards a select group of students based on academic and co-curricular excellence. This year, 26 students representing all of the academic colleges have been awarded $2,500 each.
The students represent a broad range of experiences and interests. One is a former Army Ranger who received a Purple Heart after being seriously injured by a suicide bomber in Iraq. Another is responsible for organizing the university's largest annual community event, the Pumpkin Festival. Their goals include becoming an astronaut, engineer, teacher, biologist, financial analyst, lawyer, professor, composer, urban planner, and more.
Each of the endowed scholarships is named by its benefactor. The President's Council is a group of business and community leaders who excel in their professional fields and demonstrate a record of public service. The council has played an active role in improving educational, cultural and social life at the university. The council serves as the major support group for the president and brings university concerns to the attention of civic, government, and business leaders throughout the region and the state.
This year's recipients and their benefactors include:
- Amanda Dolinski, Albert Zoraster President's Council Scholarship, College of Agriculture
- Peter Sprenger, Gregoire Family President's Council Scholarship, College of Business Administration
- Beth Winchell, Mark Aldrich President's Council Scholarship, College of Business Administration
- Gregory Mauleon, Michael and Eileen Considine President's Council Scholarship, College of Business Administration
- Marco Ibarra, Gwen Evans La Bounty President's Council Scholarship, College of Education and Integrative Studies
- George Urena, Roberts Family President's Council Scholarship, College of Education and Integrative Studies
- Syed Masood Ul Haque, Chang Family President's Council Scholarship, College of Engineering
- Jose Martinez, Iana Williams President's Council Scholarship, College of Engineering
- Arby Argueta, Oscar Perlaza President's Council Scholarship, College of Engineering
- J. Viranga Perera, Shelton Family President's Council Scholarship, College of Engineering
- Cassandra Pruett, James H. Jones President's Council Scholarship, College of Environmental Design
- Jennifer Cryer, Arthur M. Berman President's Council Scholarship, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
- Lori Ottaviano, Bernard and Lucie Bidart President's Council Scholarship, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
- Ara Astourian, Hugh and Judy La Bounty President's Council Scholarship, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
- Brandon Ecks, Lowell Overton President's Council Scholarship, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
- Jenna Kinsey, Nicole Christine Cote President's Council Scholarship, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
- George Fillinger, Annette F. and Morton J. Blumner President's Council Scholarship, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
- Cassandra Stepp-Bolling, Kim Family President's Council Scholarship, College of Science
- Priscilla Antunez, Siu Family President's Council Scholarship, College of Science
- Matthew Donoghue, Al Levie Family President's Council Scholarship, Collins College of Hospitality Management
- Qian Wang, Dr. Andrew G. Chong President's Council Scholarship, At Large
- Lena Provoost, Rinehart Family President's Council Scholarship, At Large
- Ramsey Ayass, Bridgette Cheeks President's Council Scholarship, At Large
- Jorge Yip, Frank D. Whitehead President's Council Scholarship, College of Engineering
- Jessica Rivera, Bernard and Lucie Bidart President's Council Scholarship, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
- Candice Tirta, Norman Williamson, Jr. Family President's Council Scholarship, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences.