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 6 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

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Yastrzemski and Chapman Homers Help Giants Rally Past the Brewers

DON'T MISS

Fresno City Council Finally Passes a Tough Smoke Shop Ordinance

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified Trustee Wittrup Says District Had Stronger Candidates Than Misty Her

DON'T MISS

Trump Poised to Offer Saudi Arabia Over $100 Billion Arms Package, Sources Say

DON'T MISS

Lights, Camera, Board Vote: Fresno Unified’s Carefully Choreographed Production

DON'T MISS

US Farm Agency Withdraws Proposal Aimed at Lowering Salmonella Risks in Poultry

DON'T MISS

On Major Economic Decisions, Trump Blinks, and Then Blinks Again

DON'T MISS

Candi Is the Dandy to Add a Little Sweetness to Your Life

DON'T MISS

How Trump Tariffs Could Upend California Farms, Wine Businesses, and Ports

DON'T MISS

Tulare Man Sentenced to State Prison for DUI Crash That Injured Two Women

UP NEXT

On Major Economic Decisions, Trump Blinks, and Then Blinks Again

UP NEXT

Chicago Bears Great Steve McMichael Dies at 67 After Battle With ALS

UP NEXT

Long Wait Is Over for Cam Ward, Travis Hunter and Other Draft Prospects Joining the NFL

UP NEXT

Golden State’s Jimmy Butler Injured in Game 2 Loss, His Status for Game 3 Unknown

UP NEXT

Jalen Green Makes Eight 3s to Help Rockets Even Series With Warriors

UP NEXT

Fresno Students Celebrate Earth Day by Planting 5 Valley Oaks

UP NEXT

US Justice Department Directs Investigations Over Gender-Affirming Care

UP NEXT

US Justice Department Cancels Hundreds of Grants for Police, Crime Victims

UP NEXT

Yelich’s 5th Career Slam and Bauers’ 2-Run Homer Power the Brewers to Win Over the Giants

UP NEXT

Happ Hits Game-Ending Single in the 10th as the Cubs Rally Past Dodgers

Trump Poised to Offer Saudi Arabia Over $100 Billion Arms Package, Sources Say

9 hours ago

Lights, Camera, Board Vote: Fresno Unified’s Carefully Choreographed Production

9 hours ago

US Farm Agency Withdraws Proposal Aimed at Lowering Salmonella Risks in Poultry

9 hours ago

On Major Economic Decisions, Trump Blinks, and Then Blinks Again

9 hours ago

Candi Is the Dandy to Add a Little Sweetness to Your Life

10 hours ago

How Trump Tariffs Could Upend California Farms, Wine Businesses, and Ports

10 hours ago

Tulare Man Sentenced to State Prison for DUI Crash That Injured Two Women

11 hours ago

Judge Partly Blocks Trump Order Seeking to Overhaul US Elections

12 hours ago

Two From Search Group That Uncovered Mexico’s ‘Ranch of Horror’ Killed

12 hours ago

US Warns States They Could Lose Transportation Funding Over Immigration, DEI Policies

12 hours ago

Yastrzemski and Chapman Homers Help Giants Rally Past the Brewers

SAN FRANCISCO — Mike Yastrzemski and Matt Chapman homered as the San Francisco Giants rallied to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 on Thursday ...

6 hours ago

6 hours ago

Yastrzemski and Chapman Homers Help Giants Rally Past the Brewers

7 hours ago

Fresno City Council Finally Passes a Tough Smoke Shop Ordinance

8 hours ago

Fresno Unified Trustee Wittrup Says District Had Stronger Candidates Than Misty Her

President Donald Trump delivers remarks during an 'Unleashing American Energy' event at the Department of Energy in Washington, U.S., June 29, 2017. (REUTERS File)
9 hours ago

Trump Poised to Offer Saudi Arabia Over $100 Billion Arms Package, Sources Say

9 hours ago

Lights, Camera, Board Vote: Fresno Unified’s Carefully Choreographed Production

Chickens sit at a poultry farm. March 12, 2025. (REUTERS/Diego Vara/File Photo)
9 hours ago

US Farm Agency Withdraws Proposal Aimed at Lowering Salmonella Risks in Poultry

9 hours ago

On Major Economic Decisions, Trump Blinks, and Then Blinks Again

Candi, GV Wire's Adoptable Cat of the Week
10 hours ago

Candi Is the Dandy to Add a Little Sweetness to Your Life

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend