Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Fresno State's Phan Earns Highest Honor From CSU Trustees
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 5 years ago on
September 24, 2019

Share

By FresnoStateNews.com
A child of immigrants, Jennifer Phan navigated the world as a Vietnamese American and overcame barriers of learning English as a second language. Driven by her self-determination to pursue a higher education, she earned a scholarship from the Smittcamp Family Honors College to attend Fresno State.


Listen to this article:


“All of Jennifer’s academic successes are amplified in light of the fact that she grew up in an immigrant family in which English was a second language, financial hardships were abundant. and higher education was not encouraged and/or supported,” said Dr. Saeed Attar, director of the Smittcamp Family Honors College. “She has exhibited exceptional promise to become a dedicated professional who will serve her future community well, wherever that may be.”
“I know a lot of people just go to school, go to class and then they go to work and then home. But I feel like it’s important to reach out and do community service because you get to really know the people around you and how important it is and their needs. And maybe you’ll learn something about yourself, too, along the way.” — CSU Trustees Award winner Jennifer Phan
Phan, a Fresno State senior biochemistry major and mathematics minor, is one of 23 students chosen by the California State University (one from each campus) to receive the 2019 CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, the CSU system’s highest recognition of student achievement. Phan is the Trustee Emeritus Peter Mehas Scholar.

Award Comes With Scholarship

The trustees’ awards provide donor-funded scholarships to students who demonstrate superior academic performance, personal accomplishments, community service, and financial need. Students receiving the awards have all demonstrated inspirational resolve along the path to college success and many are the first in their families to attend college.
“These 23 student scholars wonderfully embody the ideals and values of the California State University,” said CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White. “They have demonstrated brilliance, tenacity, and extraordinary resolve in overcoming many obstacles in the pursuit of their academic goals. It is inspiring to consider the collective future impact they will have on their families, communities and the state of California.”
Phan maintains a 4.0 GPA while working toward her bachelor’s degree. She received funding to conduct research at Fresno State on natural medicinal projects to fight cancer and has received numerous awards and scholarships for her studies. Her career goal is to become a pediatric oncologist.
“I love being around kids,” Phan said, “and I feel like there are a lack of pediatricians here in California.”

Phan Is Scholar in Service at UCSF Fresno Medical Center

Phan is a scholar in service through the Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning and an academic research associate for UCSF Fresno Medical Center. She volunteers with the Community Revitalization Program, at a medical outreach program and a mobile health clinic serving underprivileged Central Valley residents.
“Jennifer has taken a leading role in many opportunities to serve the Fresno State campus as well as the greater Fresno area community by volunteering her time at organizations such as Tzu Chi Medical Clinic, Community Revitalization Program, American Red Cross and Poverello House,” Attar said.
Phan said the work she has done with the Tzu Chi clinic, a free clinic that offers services in the Valley, ever since her freshman year at Fresno State is especially meaningful, helping people without easy access to medical care to get treatment.

Community Service After Graduation

After graduation, before continuing on with her studies, Phan plans to dedicate a year to community service, perhaps with AmeriCorp’s Vista program, which sends members to impoverished communities to help improve situations there.
“I wouldn’t be here today without these types of experiences,” Phan said. “I know a lot of people just go to school, go to class and then they go to work and then home. But I feel like it’s important to reach out and do community service because you get to really know the people around you and how important it is and their needs. And maybe you’ll learn something about yourself, too, along the way.”
Phan and the other recipients will be publicly recognized during the CSU Board of Trustees meeting in Long Beach on Tuesday.

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Musk, Vivek Will Form Outside Group to Advise White House on Government Efficiency

DON'T MISS

Fate of Clovis Trustee Race Still Up in the Air. So Are Clovis, Sanger School Bond Measures.

DON'T MISS

Richardson Widens Lead Over Bonakdar in Nail-Biting Race for Fresno City Council

DON'T MISS

What to Know About John Ratcliffe, Trump’s Pick for CIA Director

DON'T MISS

Here Are the People Trump Has Picked for Key Positions So Far

DON'T MISS

Waymo’s Robotaxis Now Open to Anyone Who Wants a Driverless Ride in Los Angeles

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

DON'T MISS

Trump Nominates Fox News Host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary

DON'T MISS

Economists Warn of Inflation and Debt Risks in Trump’s Second Term Plans

DON'T MISS

How Many Smoke Shops Is Too Many? Fresno Plan Would Allow Only 49

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

UP NEXT

Chris Wallace Is Leaving CNN, Eager to Explore New Media Landscape

UP NEXT

Last GOP Congressman Anchored in Democratic LA County Concedes in Race Against Former NASA Exec

UP NEXT

US Regulators Investigating Whether Engines on 1.4 Million Hondas Might Fail

UP NEXT

When to Catch the Last Supermoon of the Year

UP NEXT

Mattel Says It ‘Deeply’ Regrets Misprint on ‘Wicked’ Dolls Packaging That Links to Porn Site

UP NEXT

4B Movement: After the Election, a Call for Women to Swear Off Men

UP NEXT

Homeowners’ Effort to Leave Sierra Unified Ends With County Ed Rejection

UP NEXT

FBI Thwarts Iranian Murder-for-Hire Plan Targeting Donald Trump

UP NEXT

Wave of Racist Texts After Election Prompts FBI Scrutiny

What to Know About John Ratcliffe, Trump’s Pick for CIA Director

8 hours ago

Here Are the People Trump Has Picked for Key Positions So Far

8 hours ago

Waymo’s Robotaxis Now Open to Anyone Who Wants a Driverless Ride in Los Angeles

8 hours ago

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

8 hours ago

Trump Nominates Fox News Host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary

8 hours ago

Economists Warn of Inflation and Debt Risks in Trump’s Second Term Plans

8 hours ago

How Many Smoke Shops Is Too Many? Fresno Plan Would Allow Only 49

9 hours ago

US Says It Will Not Limit Israel Arms Transfers After Some Improvements in Flow of Aid to Gaza

9 hours ago

Who With Valley Ties Could Land Spots in the Trump Administration?

10 hours ago

Tulare Gang Member Gets Life Without Parole for 2022 Murders

11 hours ago

Trump Says Musk, Vivek Will Form Outside Group to Advise White House on Government Efficiency

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday said Elon Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new “D...

7 hours ago

7 hours ago

Trump Says Musk, Vivek Will Form Outside Group to Advise White House on Government Efficiency

7 hours ago

Fate of Clovis Trustee Race Still Up in the Air. So Are Clovis, Sanger School Bond Measures.

7 hours ago

Richardson Widens Lead Over Bonakdar in Nail-Biting Race for Fresno City Council

8 hours ago

What to Know About John Ratcliffe, Trump’s Pick for CIA Director

8 hours ago

Here Are the People Trump Has Picked for Key Positions So Far

8 hours ago

Waymo’s Robotaxis Now Open to Anyone Who Wants a Driverless Ride in Los Angeles

A Fresno County man has been indicted on mail fraud charges for allegedly submitting over $300,000 in falsified disability claims using stolen identities. (GV Wire File)
8 hours ago

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

Pete Hegseth walks to an elevator for a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York, Dec. 15, 2016. (AP File)
8 hours ago

Trump Nominates Fox News Host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary

Search

Send this to a friend