11:50am | The California State University Board of Trustees has selected 23 students, one from each campus in the system, to receive the 2011-2012 William Randolph Hearst/CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement. The trustees will honor the scholars on Sept. 20 at the CSU Office of the Chancellor in Long Beach, California.
Among those selected to receive the award is Grace Kim of California State University, Long Beach. Kim was born in California, and lived her early years in Korea, returning to the United States to attend middle school. According to Kim, she found it difficult to adjust to a culturally different and academically challenging new environment. However, she says that it is precisely this experience that made it possible for her to empathize with the needs of other struggling students.
Grace achieved her bachelor’s degree in child development at UC Berkeley. While completing her undergraduate studies, she suffered intense chronic back and neck pain that resulted from being the passenger in seven vehicular accidents. However, she channeled her personal adversity into an opportunity to mentor and motivate students at Oakland High School.
Today, Grace is working toward completing a master’s degree in nutritional science at CSU Long Beach and mentors students at Kettering Classical Elementary School. She also serves on the board of the Student Dieticians Association and will chair their fall symposium. Grace plans to become a registered dietitian and continue to motivate at-risk youth to pursue healthy lifestyle choices.
The Hearst/CSU Trustees’ award is among the highest forms of recognition for student achievement in the CSU. The students receiving the awards have all demonstrated inspirational resolve along the path to college success.
For more information about the award, and to read the stories of the other recipients, visit calstate.edu/foundation/hearst/.