A sophomore biology major from Bakersfield, Arienne is California State University, Monterey Bay’s 2011 recipient of a William Randolph Hearst/CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement. The award is among the CSU’s highest recognitions for student achievement.
This story comes to us via Joan Weiner of CSUMB.
Arienne and the other recipients were recognized at the CSU Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach on Sept. 20.
The award is given to students who have overcome significant challenges to demonstrate superior academic performance and personal achievements and have demonstrated financial need. Only 23 out of thousand students system wide receive it.
Arienne wants to become a surgeon and be in a position to save lives -- like she would have her mother if she'd had the chance. When she was 2 years old, her mother died of an aneurism while giving birth to her younger brother. “I believe her death would have been preventable if she’d received proper medical care,” she said.
After her mother’s death, Arienne's father left her and her four siblings in the care of her grandparents, both of whom were fieldworkers. In middle school, she began acting out, and was suspended for fighting. Soon after, a teacher intervened and helped Arienne realize she wanted to put her life on a different course. She changed her attitude and began taking school seriously. She found she enjoyed the mental engagement classes offered, particularly solving science and math problems. “It’s like a game or puzzle to me,” she said.
Arienne gained a strong work ethic from her grandparents, but they had little experience or enthusiasm when it came to education. She was determined, however, and became the first member of her family to graduate from high school and attend college. She’s on track toward her goal, majoring in biology with a pre-med concentration and a 3.5 GPA. She did this all while working multiple jobs in order to support herself and help her family.
Congratulations to Arienne. Enhorabuena!
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