William Thomas “Tommy” Daly, a senior political science major from Lancaster, is California State University, Fresno’s 2010 recipient of a William R. Hearst/California State University (CSU) Trustees Award for Outstanding Achievement.

The award is given to students – one from each of the 23 CSU campuses – who have demonstrated financial need, experienced personal hardship and model exemplary academic performance, community service and personal achievements. The award is among the CSU’s highest recognitions for student achievement.

The William Randolph Hearst Foundation endowed the scholarship fund in 1984, and it was supplemented, beginning in 1999, with trustee contributions and private donations. Each year, the Hearst/CSU Trustees program awards $3,000 to each student.

Additional annual awards for the Hearst scholars were established later: Two Ali C. Razi Scholarships of $10,000 each; one Murray L. Galinson Scholarship, $6,000; and a special CSU 50th Anniversary Scholarship (marking the golden anniversary of the university), $5,000.

Daly’s commitment to a college education has been fueled by a desire not to repeat mistakes made by his heroin-addicted parents, which he says led to poverty, childhood trauma and emotional damage. He has used his past as motivation to become a role model on campus.

He maintains a 3.62 GPA and volunteers for the American Red Cross Save-A-Family campaign, Children’s Hospital Central California, March of Dimes, Boys 2 Men/Girls 2 Women and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Daly is president of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, vice president of fundraising for the Order of Omega and a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

After graduating from Fresno State, Daly plans to pursue a Master of Public Administration and become a city manager.

Daly and the other Hearst/CSU Trustees scholars will be recognized during the Board of Trustees meeting at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, in Long Beach.

For more information, http://www.calstate.edu/pa/News/2010/release/Hearst2010.shtml.