Scholar: Jennifer Flores
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Health Administration
About Jennifer: Jennifer is a first-generation student receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Administration and minor in Gerontology, from CSUN in May 2018. Growing up in a rural Latino community, she was exposed to the health disparities in underserved communities, such as inadequate access to healthcare, increased environmental threats, and the other factors that lead to adverse health outcomes. This exposure shaped her interest in healthcare management at an early age and eventually became a passion for her. Her plan is to become a healthcare administrator, assuring that healthcare organizations deliver quality services to underrepresented communities by effective planning, organization, and leadership. Currently, she works as an underwriter assistant, researcher, and Kaiser Permanent intern. She has worked on research projects that involved community outreach and focused on long-term or hospice care services for underserved communities in Los Angeles. In her spare time, she volunteers for patients in the medical/surgical and telemetry units at Simi Valley Adventist Hospital. Jennifer is thankful for this scholarship and honored to be a recipient.
Scho
lar: Carolina Silva
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Health Administration
About Carolina: Carolina was born in León, Guanajuato México. She came to the United States with her parents and brother 10 years ago to find a peaceful life with better economic gains and educational opportunities. The family’s arrival marked a new beginning and Carolina has accomplished a great deal. She was able to overcome the language barrier and is the first-generation in her family to attend a university. She chose health administration because she enjoys helping people and would like to play an active role in the healthcare delivery system; a system she realized was flawed when her parents suffered from delicate health conditions. Carolina would like to give back to her community by emphasizing to others the importance of prevention and leading a healthier lifestyle. Her parents moved her family to the United States with hopes of a better life; Carolina sees her career path as helping her live that life her parents had intended for her. She is proud and honored to call herself a Matador.
About the Scholarship: The Health Administration Scholarship Program was initiated through a generous donation from alumnus, Ronald “Ron” Sorensen, and further supported by alumna, Dori Holnagel. The scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students who are majoring in health administration and have successfully completed the first two introductory courses. Recipients are selected based on evidence of financial need, being among the first in their family to attend college, and have a proven commitment to the community.
Scholar: Cyril Cayco
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Public Health
About Cyril: Cyril is the eldest of four and the first in her family to attend a university. She came from Northern California to CSUN as a transfer student in 2015. Though her time in college was a longer journey than those of her peers from high school, she is grateful to have undergone the hardships she did prior to transferring. Without those obstacles, she would not have found her calling in the field of public health. Cyril’s pursuit of public health education has enabled her to be a leader at CSUN. She joined the CSUN Peer Health Exchange, where she found her passion for teaching. She also assists people in the community through education and has an internship with Planned Parenthood Los Angeles’ Sexual Health Curriculum Internship Program. At her internship, she is able to reach out to seventh and ninth grade students to advocate for the sexual health needs. Cyril said that receiving this scholarship is a symbol of her dedication to herself, family, and the organizations with which she engages. She is grateful for being selected for the scholarship and said the award will assist her in her pursuit of her educational goals of becoming a health educator. She plans to continue to give back to her community in any way possible.
Scholar: Caro
lina Rios
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Public Health
About Carolina: Carolina is the eldest of five and the first in her family to attend a university. She chose the path of public health because it allows her to work in various settings while still accomplishing her goal; the goal of giving back to her community and being the change she wanted to see when growing up. Carolina has been involved in various trainings and volunteer opportunities, including a position at Planned Parenthood that provides training focused on sexual reproductive health. Currently, she works at Northeast Valley Health Corporation (NEVHC) as a receptionist. Once she graduates, she wishes to pursue a career as a family care coordinator at NEVHC so she can work with families in her community and give them the best healthcare possible. Carolina said she feels beyond grateful to have received this scholarship from the Hunt family and it gives her the boost of encouragement to continue her education.
About the Scholarship: Holly Hunt graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health Education at CSUN in 1979, was admitted to the Master of Public Health in Health Education graduate program and worked with children as a teacher. While Holly was a graduate student at CSUN she tragically passed away. In 2006, her siblings, Beryl Loughlin and Ronald Hunt, along with his wife Joyce, established this scholarship in memory of Holly. This scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate public health student who contributes to the community and is committed to public health.
Scholar: Adella Katz
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Health Administration
About Adella: Adella has been passionate about healthcare since she was a child. Her life has revolved around the pursuit of education and the perpetuation of altruism. She has a great passion for research. In the last year and a half, she has been conducting research with two professors in the Department of Health Sciences and will assist in publishing a review of the efficacy of a cultural competency assessment tool. Adella is also a service learning student scholar and works with a health sciences leadership class to organize a bone marrow registry drive on-campus. She also volunteers at both Bright Star Physical Therapy and at Pediatric Care Physicians where she serves as a medical scribe. She is also an intern at Be the Match (a national bone marrow registry) at the City of Hope Medical Center where she conducts community outreach. In the future, Adella would like to work in the realm of strategic planning and public policy, facilitating progress and innovation in the healthcare sector. She plans to focus on medically underserved areas and foster opportunities for community engagement, youth education, and access to affordable medical care.
About the Scholarship: Julian Beck was a teacher, politician and judge in Los Angeles and was instrumental in the establishment of San Fernando Valley State College (now CSUN). This scholarship is made possible by a generous contribution from the Judge Julian Beck Health Sciences Endowment that was established in 1984. It is the intention of the donor to provide financial assistance to an outstanding senior each year. Recipients should demonstrate a commitment to professional growth and service, leadership, have a positive and professional attitude, and, where applicable, outstanding clinical potential.
Scholar: Susan Seiler
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Master of Public Health
About Susan: Susan enjoyed past careers as a life-science teacher, naturalist, microbiologist, and ultimately, a registered environmental health specialist with Ventura County. However, when she became a mother of two kind, funny, and smart sons, volunteering in their classrooms and extracurricular activities took up much of her time, so she placed her dream of pursuing a master’s in public health on the backburner. Eventually, she returned to work at Ventura County. She also discovered her MPH folder in a pile of paperwork at home and then thought to herself “what’s stopping me now”? Susan applied and was accepted into CSUN’s program. She said that earning her MPH degree will be invaluable in her work as the environmental health liaison with the County of Ventura Public Health Department. Currently, she leads the food-donation program called “Waste Not VC”. In the program, she trains new staff and educates about foodborne illnesses. She is dedicated to her county’s environmental and public health. One day she hopes to become a community college professor, inspiring students to learn the value of the area of study in their own lives and communities. Susan is grateful for the scholarship and she thanks the selection committee from the bottom of her heart.
About the Scholarship: The late Dr. Lennin H. Glass was a professor of health sciences and served as the Dean of the School of Communication and Professional Studies (now Health and Human Development) from 1979-1987. The scholarship was dedicated to Dr. Glass by his wife Rosalee before her passing. The scholarship is made possible due to a generous contribution from the Lennin H. Glass Scholarship Endowment. It is the intention of the donor to provide financial assistance to a returning adult student who can demonstrate a commitment to professional growth and service, leadership and has a positive and professional attitude within the health sciences field.
