Taeyou Jung, Director of the Center, says the Cutlers established the award last year after taking a tour of the center. “Dr. Leslie Cutler told us that he was deeply inspired by our students' clinical experience and research projects,” Jung said. “Les told us that he was impressed by what our students are doing for their clinical experience and research projects, and that knowing how great an impact student projects can have on professional development, he wanted to do what he could to ensure these students would be able to complete their degrees and excel in their professions after they graduate.” The scholarships support tuition expenses.
Les and Terry Cutler named one of the scholarships to honor their mothers, Marian Cutler and Lucille Grubman. The Marian Cutler and Lucille Grubman Outstanding Graduate Research Award is given to the most outstanding graduate student in the kinesiology graduate program. The award is for excellence in graduate coursework and research endeavors.
The Cutlers are long time contributors to California State University, Northridge and this gift expands their giving to the university following with their interest in health care and the health care field. Les Cutler attended CSUN (then San Fernando Valley State College) in 1963 and, although he did not graduate from CSUN, went on to become a dentist, get his Doctorate and become the Chancellor and Provost of Health Affairs at University of Connecticut.
The Cutlers shared a deep appreciation of the work students do at the Center, especially the interaction between students and faculty in their work with clients. “It all started from his short visit to the Center,” Jung said. The criteria for the award was strict. “For the Marian Cutler and Lucille Grubman Outstanding Graduate Research Award, the committee looked at research abstracts and specific work performance in student research projects,” Jung said. “As for the Leslie and Terry Cutler Scholarship, the selection was made based on outstanding undergraduate student work. They specifically wanted to help a student who is working at the Center and who plans to stay on to study in the graduate program in Adapted Physical Activity next year.”
Though the Cutlers’ calendar did not permit them to make the trip from New England to CSUN for the scholarship awards ceremony this spring, they sent their congratulations to the students. “We are proud of these students,” Jung said. “At the Center of Achievement, we focus on student success and we also know that is how we can make our clients’ lives better. Working as closely as our students do with their clients and faculty supervisors in the Center, we also impact the greater community. Our students graduate with world-class health and fitness skills to help people with special needs.”
Jean O'Sullivan
Su2014