Hearst Scholar recipient strives for long-sought career goal

California State University, Stanislaus graduate student Maribel Garcia, who has overcome economic hardship and discovered a career ambition after a positive encounter with a high school counselor, has been named one of 23 recipients of the prestigious William Randolph Hearst/California State University Trustees scholarship.

Garcia will join scholarship recipients from other CSU campuses to receive her scholarship at the Tuesday, September 18 CSU Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach. The 24-year-old is enrolled in the Master's Degree in Education program and earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from CSU Stanislaus in May 2005.

"This is another step toward helping me to realize my dream of becoming a school counselor so I can help others as I was helped," Garcia said. "I am so thankful to those people who have provided me with words of encouragement and believed in me."

The award provides $3,000 scholarships to students who have demonstrated financial need, experienced personal hardships and have attributes of merit including superior academic performance, exemplary community service, and significant personal achievements.

A native of Mexico, Garcia came to the United States with her family as a baby and experienced the life of a youngster in low-income conditions. Growing up in an economically deprived atmosphere did not keep her from realizing that education and a college degree could help her find a good job and a better life, Garcia said.

Garcia recalls that when she struggled academically as a freshman at Turlock High School and missed classes, strong advice and encouragement from counselor Chuck Boswell helped her get back on the right course. After graduating with honors from Turlock High, Garcia participated in the CSU Stanislaus Summer Bridge program that helps prepare students for college and began to realize she could succeed. With strong encouragement from University academic advisor Fernando Beltran, Garcia went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from CSU Stanislaus and was well on the way to realizing her goal of becoming a school counselor.

More information on the Hearst Scholars is available on the CSU Chancellor's website at: http://www.calstate.edu/PA/news/2007/hearst07.shtml.