Nine top graduate students have been named Dean’s Graduate Medalists for the Class of 2010 at California State University, Fresno.

The medalists are chosen as the outstanding students in each of the university’s eight schools and colleges of academic discipline and the Division of Student Affairs. The dean of each selects an undergraduate medalist and a graduate medalist based on academic excellence, community involvement and other achievements.

One of the medalists will be named University Graduate Medal winner at the Graduate Degree Hooding Ceremony at 7:30 p.m. May 21 in the Save Mart Center. The university’s 99th Commencement is May 22.

The Class of 2010 Graduate Medalists are:

  • Fredie Pacudan of Dinuba – Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology
  • Rachel Jackson of Lemoore – College of Arts and Humanities
  • Neal Stuckey of Fresno – Craig School of Business
  • Sean Andrew Johnson of Fresno – Kremen School of Education and Human Development
  • Amanpreet Kaur of Fresno – Lyles College of Engineering
  • Zoltan Andre Torok of Madera – College of Health and Human Services
  • Taylor Harris of Fresno – College of Science and Mathematics
  • Kristiana Joy Dixon of Fresno – College of Social Sciences
  • Shawna Blair of Fresno – Division of Student Affairs

Fredie Pacudan, Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, completed his Master of Science in Food and Nutritional Sciences with a 3.84 GPA. His thesis research was on developing and evaluating an eco-friendly technology for peeling peaches and other fruit. His research has been adopted in one local processing plant and others are beginning to move toward using the technology. Pacudan also conducted research as a full-time technician in the Center for Food Science and Nutrition Research while completing his degree. He was secretary of the Food Science Club and received the California League of Food Processors Scholarship.

Rachel Jackson, College of Arts and Humanities, completed her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a 4.0 GPA. Originally from Georgetown, Texas, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Texas in 2001, where she was managing editor of the Texas Travesty. During her time in the M.F.A. program, she was editorial assistant for The Normal School literary magazine and president and treasurer of the San Joaquin Literary Association. Essays drawn from Jackson’s thesis “Here and Gone” have been published in the nationally prestigious journals Front Porch and The Colorado Review. Another piece recently earned an honorable mention in the student fiction contest sponsored by The Atlantic magazine. Last year she won a place in The Bread Loaf Writers Conference. She is working on her first book.

Neal Stuckey, Craig School of Business, completed his Master of Business Administration with a 4.0 GPA. During his coursework, he and a group of peers created a video on securities law that was published as supplementary material on Wikipedia. An avid volunteer, he led a graduate project on nonprofit management related to My Sister’s Closet. His business goal is to launch a design and women’s apparel business to benefit women in need. He is controller for Gerawan Farming Inc. in Sanger. Stuckey credits the experience and knowledge he gained from his graduate studies for inspiring him to start business endeavors that give back to the community.

Sean Andrew Johnson, Kremen School of Education and Human Development, completed his Master of Arts in Education (Curriculum and Instruction option) with a 4.0 GPA. A Navy veteran, he has worked as a rescue team member for the Fresno Fire Department, as an adventure educator and as an international corporate instructor. He has developed a wide range of curricula related to technical rescue operations and is an associate lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom. He is editor of The Rescuer newsletter and has written numerous articles for Technical Rescue magazine. His goal is to earn a doctorate and teach in higher education.

Amanpreet Kaur, Lyles College of Engineering, came to Fresno State from India for graduate studies, earning her Master of Science in Engineering (Electrical Engineering option) with a 4.0 GPA. She worked as an intern at Pelco, where she tested and debugged motor control units for security cameras. She also was a tutor in the Lyles College of Engineering, where she also has been a research and teaching assistant. Kaur was involved in three Fresno State research projects and was awarded the Charles D. Buckley Engineering Scholarship. She has been accepted into two doctoral programs in computer engineering and plans to enter academia as a faculty member.

Zoltan Torok, College of Health and Human Services, completed his Master of Arts in Kinesiology (Exercise Science option) with a 4.0 GPA. He conducted a research study of “The effect of creatine and/or caffeine ingestion on repeated bouts of high-intensity exercise performance.” He was involved in two other research projects within his department, one of which has been accepted to the Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism Journal. He is preparing a manuscript for publication in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, the journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. He is presenting his research at the Southwest American College of Sports Medicine Conference in San Diego. His goal is to earn a doctorate and become a college professor.

Taylor Harris, College of Science and Mathematics, completed her Master of Arts in Psychology with a 4.0 GPA. Her focus is on applied behavior analysis. She received the Outstanding Undergraduate Award in Psychology, the Milton J. Linder Memorial Scholarship and the Tokalon Ina Gregg Thomas Memorial Scholarship. She was student Fresno State chapter vice president of the National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She was an intern for the Central Valley Regional Center’s parenting class and an assistant director at the Central Valley Autism Center. This year she taught a research methods class in psychology and oversaw undergraduate research projects. Harris plans to pursue a Ph.D. in psychology and teach at the university level.

Kristiana Dixon, College of Social Sciences, completed her Master of Science in Criminology with a 4.0 GPA. Her thesis, “An Analysis of a State Victim Compensation Program: A Comparison with Child Protective Services,” deals with child abuse victims who do not access compensation funds. She was a graduate research assistant and assisted other graduate students on their projects. She presented research from her thesis at the International Symposium on Victimology in Mito, Japan. Dixon is interviewing women in prison for a major UCLA research project. Her career aspiration is to work within a law enforcement agency as a victim specialist.

Shawna Blair, Division of Student Affairs, completed her Master of Arts in Education (Administration and Supervision option) with a 4.0 GPA. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and has been active in campus and community service. She was instrumental in shaping the Student Involvement Program, designing special programs for students, working closely with faculty to ensure students’ learning needs outside the classroom were addressed. The basis of her master’s project was implementing and assessing Alternative Spring Break, a program for students and others from campus that reflects the university’s service mission and its commitment to reducing unsafe drinking behavior. Blair is a recipient of the university’s Outstanding Adviser Award. She hopes to become a director of student involvement or outreach.