FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shirley Melikian Armbruster

May 5, 2003

(559) 278-2795 or (559) 269-5261

18 Dean’s Medalists Named for Class of 2003

Update: President’s Medal Awarded to Sabina Robinson at Commencement Ceremony

Nine undergraduate and nine graduate students have been named Dean’s Medalists – the Class of 2003’s top students – and will be honored at California State University, Fresno’s 92^nd Commencement ceremony on May 17.

The Dean’s Medal honors the top graduating student at the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels in each of the university’s eight schools and colleges of academic discipline and the Division of Student Affairs. The dean of each college, school and division selects an undergraduate medalist and a graduate medalist based on academic excellence, community involvement and other outstanding achievements.

The medalists are then considered for the highest honors given to a graduating student – the President’s Medal (for undergraduates) and the University Graduate Medal (for graduates).

The name of the University Graduate Medal honoree will be announced at the Graduate Degree Hooding Ceremony at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 16, in the university’s Amphitheatre.  The President Medal honoree will be announced at Commencement, which begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 17, in Bulldog Stadium.

The Class of 2003 undergraduate Dean’s Medalists are:

Christopher J. Huth of Poway – College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology  

Sabina Robinson of Madera – College of Arts and Humanities             

William E. McComas of Clovis – Craig School of Business

Judie Ann Russell of Madera – Kremen School of Education and Human           Development

DeLynn Anne Bettencourt of Crows Landing – College of Engineering and     Computer Science

John E. Beadle of Fair Oaks – College of Health and Human Services

Brian J. O’Roak of Madera – College of Science and Mathematics

Elizabeth A. Ullrich of Bend, Ore. – College of Social Sciences

Shelly Cha of Fresno – Division of Student Affairs

The Graduate Dean’s Medalists for 2003 are:

Rodrigo Krugner of Brazil – College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology        

Mary Silva of Laton – College of Arts and Humanities             

Anna K. Hadjinlian of Fresno – Craig School of Business

Robin Roberts of Hanford – Kremen School of Education and Human Development

Troy A. Asher of Roseburg, Ore. – College of Engineering and Computer Science

Michael S. Newsome of Clovis – College of Health and Human Services

Nathanael Fast of Fresno – College of Science and Mathematics

Crystal Marie Faulconer of Fresno – College of Social Sciences

Emily D. Campos of Selma – Division of Student Affairs

 (Brief bios follow. For more detailed information about any of the students, contact Shirley Melikian Armbruster at 278-5292. Photos of the students are available.)

CLASS OF 2003 UNDERGRADUATE DEAN’S MEDALISTS

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

Christopher J. Huth

B.S., Animal Sciences – Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Christopher Huth completes his bachelor of science degree with a 3.83 GPA. He will be continuing his studies in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University. Christopher is responsible for the health care program at the Quarter Horse Unit of the university Agricultural Laboratory and assists in teaching the laboratory portion of one of the equine courses. He was involved in several research studies, including one that assessed the efficacy of a digestive enzyme to improve fiber digestion in horses and another that tested a vaccination for the prevention of hoof warts in dairy cattle. He served as president of the Fresno State Pre-Vet Club and was a volunteer assistant in the Therapeutic Riding program.

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Sabina Robinson

B.A., Special Major – Classics

Sabina Robinson completed her B.A. degree in three-and-one-half years with a 3.69 GPA. She spent the spring 2003 semester at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, studying Classics (in Danish). She grew up in Germany and moved to the United States during her high school years. She entered Fresno State in the first class of Smittcamp Family Honors College in 1999. In April 2001 she was selected to participate in the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, which prepares students for doctoral study. She is fluent in German, English, French and Danish, and is a top student in Latin and Greek. Sabina is the only student this year in the California State University system chosen for the prestigious Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship in Humanities Studies, which she will use for her doctoral studies at Princeton University starting in the fall.

CRAIG SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

William E. McComas

B.S., Business Administration – Legal Environment

William McComas completes his bachelor of science degree in Business Administration and a minor in Philosophy with a 3.97 GPA. He completed the Craig Honors program, is a member of several honors societies and was selected for the inaugural class of the Gates Millennium Scholarship, a national award made to the most promising low-income, minority students. William received the first Outstanding Student Leader Award by the Fresno State Leadership Program and Leadership Education Organization for 2001-02. He also served as president of Chicanos in Law and the Hispanic Business Student Association, and volunteers with Valley Teen Ranch, Empty Bowls, Fresno Reads and Hinds Hospice.

KREMEN SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Judie Ann Russell

B.A., Liberal Studies

Judie Ann Russell completes her B.A. degree with a 3.59 GPA. A wife andother of three, she is the first member of her family to graduate from college. After making the decision at age 37 to begin her higher education, she was diagnosed with Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy. She started her work at Fresno City College and entered Fresno State in 2001. She has been active in PTA work, including serving as president at Holland Elementary School. She also served as a volunteer crossing guard and a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. After completing the credential program at Fresno State, Judie plans to teach at  a low-performing school.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

DeLynn Anne Bettencourt

B.S., Engineering – Electrical Engineering

DeLynn Bettencourt, a member of the inaugural class of the Smittcamp Family Honors College, has achieved a 4.0 GPA while earning her bachelor’s degree. She has been a Gold Medalist in national TQM competition held by Vocational Industrial Clubs of America and recipient of eight scholarships, including the First Place Wescon Scholarship, sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. She is a member of several honor societies. DeLynn has participated in advanced engineering and physics research projects at UC Berkeley and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. She has held several offices in student organizations and tutored elementary school children. She was accepted at eight graduate schools and will attend UC Berkeley with several scholarships, including the National Science Foundation fellowship. 

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE

John E. Beadle

B.S., Nursing

John Beadle completes his degree in nursing with a 3.81 GPA. He is a member of three academic honor societies and was chosen as a Valor Student Nurse for his academic excellence by the Fresno Veteran’s Administration Hospital. He has been active in the California Nursing Students’ Association and the National Student Nurses’ Association, where he has held local, state and national office, including co-president of the Fresno State Chapter. He also has been involved in community service, campus committee work and has taken on an unofficial role as mentor to first-semester nursing students.

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

Brian J. O’Roak

B.S., Biology

Brian O’Roak completes his bachelor’s degree in Biology with an emphasis in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, earning a 4.0 GPA. He minored in mathematics. He received nearly every research award available for undergraduates and several intended for graduate students as well. He is a member of the inaugural class of the Smittcamp Family Honors College and served as an Associated Students Inc. senator, chaired the Community Service Council of the President’s Scholars. He gave more than 200 hours of service to Stone Soup, Children’s Hospital and other organizations. He is co-founder and president of the CSU Fresno Brain Trust and captain of Fresno State’s College Bowl team. He will begin a doctorate program in Genetics at Yale University in the fall.

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Elizabeth A. Ullrich

B.A., Women’s Studies and Political Science

Elizabeth A. Ullrich completes her bachelor of arts degree with a dual major in Women’s Studies and Political Science and minor in Philosophy with a 3.75 GPA. She has worked as a research assistant for two professors and was editor of “Voices,” a peer-reviewed, student journal that publishes creative writing of Fresno State women. She is chair of the Women’s Alliance at Fresno State which sponsors events such as “Take Back the Night,” and has been involved in Women’s History Month activities, the “Vagina Monologues” performances and the Habeas Project, a statewide effort to interview and research the cases of women imprisoned for killing their batterers. Elizabeth will attend Pennsylvania State University in the fall as a doctoral student in Political Science, and has offered a full graduate assistantship.

DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

Shelly Cha

B.S., Business – Finance Planning

Shelly Cha, who completes her bachelor’s degree and the American Humanics Certificate program with a 3.70 GPA, was in the inaugural class of the Smittcamp Family Honors College. She graduates with both University and Craig School of Business Honors. She is the recipient of several scholarships and was regional winner of the New York Life Insurance Internship summer sales competition. She has made contributions to the College Entrepreneur Organization, the Hmong Club, the campus Civic Engagement Committee and the Southeast Asian Mentoring Program. She was a University Student Union Board member, chair of various committees, coordinator of the Hmong Culture Night, committee member of the Hmong Higher Education Conference and reception coordinator for the 2002 Asian American Graduation.

CLASS OF 2003 DEAN’S GRADUATE MEDALISTS

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

Rodrigo Krugner

M.S., Plant Science

Rodrigo Krugner, who was born in the United States but grew up in Brazil, completes his M.S. in plant science. Despite the fact that English is not his first language, he completed his degree in one-and-a half years with a 4.0 GPA while working full time as a staff research associate for the University of California at its Kearney Research and Extension Center. He will continue his studies at the University of California at Riverside, where he will pursue a PhD in entomology. Rodrigo’s thesis studied the biology of a parasitoid of a pest that preys on pistachios and almonds. His research is being summarized in two papers expected to be published later this year.

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Mary Silva

M.F.A., Creative Writing

Mary Silva, the daughter of a Portuguese dairy farmer, simultaneously earned an Advanced Certificate in Composition Studies while pursuing her Master of Fine Arts degree, earning a 3.93 GPA. Her thesis is a collection of personal essays, at least one of which has won an award, about coming of age as a first generation Portuguese woman. Her poetry also is award winning and has been published. She has been awarded the Leon S. Peters Graduate Student Scholarship, a Graduate Equity Fellowship Award and the CSUF 2002 Prize for Creative Writing. While completing her degree requirements, Mary has been working to pursue an extended study on literacy in public education.

CRAIG SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Anna K. Hadjinlian

M.B.A., Business Administration

Anna K. Hadjinlian completed her graduate studies in fall semester 2002 with a Master’s in Business Administration and a concentration in entrepreneurship, with a GPA of 3.93. She served as the MBA Student Association president and was the student representative to the School Graduate Committee. She led the Riveratech MBA Team Consulting Project and served as a graduate research assistant. She volunteered as program director with the Central Valley Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. In spring 2003, she was in Yerevan, Armenia on a Professional Development Fellowship for International Education with the U.S. Department of State to research economic development in the region.

KREMEN SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Robin Roberts

M.A., Education – Curriculum and Instruction

Robin Roberts completes his graduate studies with a 3.94 GPA, earned while working full time as head of the Pioneer Middle School Physical Education Department, district Webmaster and Technology Coordinator. His thesis, the Kremen School’s nominee for the University Thesis Award, explores how educators can more effectively use computer technology to meet the needs of 21^st century students. While pursuing his M.A. degree, Robin completed a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Technology and an Administrative Services Credential. He has worked extensively on the California History/Social Science project, the TALENT Project and helped staff design the Kremen School Website.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

Troy A. Asher

M.S., Engineering – Mechanical Engineering

Air Force Maj. Troy Asher graduates with a 4.0 GPA and earning a M.A. degree after 2½ years of part-time study at Edwards Air Force Base. While pursuing his master’s degree, Troy simultaneously pursued his career in the Air Force as a B-1B and B-2A test pilot and as a T-38 instructor pilot at the prestigious Air Force Test Pilot School. He serves as the Director of Operations for the 419^th Flight Test Squadron, responsible for executing developmental tests for all of our nation’s bombers. His master’s degree project, entitled “Design of an Altitude Hold Auto-pilot for the T-38 Aircraft,” was submitted to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for consideration as a modification to NASA-operated T-38 aircraft flown by the astronaut corps.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Michael S. Newsome

M.S., Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist

Michael Newsome completes his M.S. degree with a 4.0 GPA, earned while working full-time as a registered nurse and supervisor at Veterans Administration Medical Center. He completes a dual graduate major in the primary care and clinical care specialist options, plus the School Nurse Credential Program. He has exceeded 1,200 clinical hours of work. He completed two graduate projects, which will serve as a base for his doctoral program at UC San Francisco beginning in fall 2003. He eventually plans to teach in a school of nursing. Michael has tutored and mentored undergraduate and graduate students, substituted for clinical nursing instructors as a volunteer assistant and volunteered with the American Cancer Society.

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

Nathanael Fast

M.A., Psychology

Nathanael Fast completes his M.A. in Psychology with a 4.0 GPA and substantial research accomplishments. He has six professional publications and presentations, several at meetings of major society in his field. He was co-instructor of a course at Fresno State and has been invited to present five lectures at Fresno State and Fresno Pacific University. He is co-founder of the Relational Cultural Institute and organized the Northeast Fresno Partnership to deal with the quality of life issues in the area around the Fresno State campus and has assumed leadership roles in the San Joaquin Organizing Project, a seven-county effort to address similar issues in underserved communities throughout the Valley.

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Crystal Marie Faulconer

M.S., Criminology

Crystal Marie Faulconer, who works as a Juvenile Correctional Officer for the Fresno County Probation Department, completes her M.S. degree with a 4.0 GPA. She has been a research assistant to several National Institute of Corrections projects detailing gender-responsive policy in corrections. She also has been a field researcher for the UCLA-based evaluation of the in-prison drug programs for women and conducted her own survey work on the role of gender and sexual identity in perceptions of domestic violence. Crystal plans to pursue a second master’s degree in computer science and work in an emerging area of Criminology, computer and white collar crime, which she intends to pursue in a doctoral program.

DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

Emily D. Campos

M.A., Psychology

Emily Campos completes her M.A. degree with a 4.0 GPA and is enrolled in the doctoral program in clinical psychology at the University of California at Santa Barbara. At Fresno State, she was Mental Health Research Coordinator of the Mental Health Research Infrastructure Development program at University Health and Psychological Services from January 2001 to August 2002. Emily also coordinated activities associated with National Depression Screening Day in fall 2001 and the College Anxiety Screening Day in spring 2002. She also was an English tutor and peer adviser for the CAMP program. She received the Roger L. Bailey Memorial Scholarship for an outstanding graduate student in Psychology in spring 2001.

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