CSU Trustees' Award For Outstanding Achievement

The William Randolph Hearst Foundation established an endowed scholarship fund in 1984 to honor William Randolph Hearst, founder of the Hearst newspaper chain. In 1999, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation partnered with the CSU Board of Trustees to create the CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement. Contributions from CSU Trustees and private donors increase the value and number of available awards. Special named scholarships will be awarded by the selection committee based on criteria such as studying in the STEM or education fields, veterans, and exemplary community service.

The awards recognize students who have overcome adversity, demonstrated financial need, and have attributes of merit including superior academic performance, significant personal achievements, and exemplary community service. The recipient who receives the highest score by the CSU Foundation scholarship selection committee is designated the Trustee Emeritus Ali C. Razi Scholar and will receive a $18,000 scholarship. Also distributed will be the Reed Scholarship ($12,000), the Hampton Scholarship ($11,000), Stauffer Foundation Scholarship ($11,000), Barhorst Scholarship ($10,000), and the Galinson Scholarship ($9,000).

Twenty-three (23) scholarships will be awarded. Most scholarships will be $7,000. Applicants must:

• Demonstrate superior academic performance with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and be in good academic standing.
• Demonstrate financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships for the 2024/2025 academic year.
• Be currently enrolled as a full-time equivalent undergraduate or graduate student in any major field at Fresno State and remain a full-time Fresno State student during the 2024/2025 academic year.

The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships will review the applications to ensure that they meet all requirements and, in consultation with the campus President, will select and forward one final nominee. Nominees with the highest scores will be interviewed for one of the top scholarship awards.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
In addition to completing the general scholarship application on this site, applicants must also fulfill the CSU Trustees’ Award requirements listed below:

1. What experience has impacted your personal growth?
2. Tell us about a time you failed. What did you learn from that experience?
3. Why are you pursing your major? How does it relate to your career aspirations?
4. Provide an example of service beyond the classroom (i.e., have you taken on significant family obligations, helped others in a specific way, been involved in political action, worked/volunteered/interned at a particular organization, etc.). Why is this example significant to you?

Submit two letters of reference from individuals, such as teachers/professors, counselors, or community leaders, who can attest to the candidate’s meritorious performance and personal strengths and assess the nominee’s potential for success. One of the letters of reference must be from a current faculty member at Fresno State. All letters must be dated this calendar year and signed. Recycled letters of recommendation from prior years will not be accepted for this scholarship.

This scholarship opportunity has a financial need requirement. To qualify for this scholarship applicants must also submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the California Dream Application, for the upcoming 2024/2025 academic year. When the Office Financial Aid Office & Scholarships receives and processes the FAFSA information, a financial need calculation will automatically be uploaded to your scholarship application.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
If nominated, the final nominee will work with the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships to submit the following supplemental materials to the CSU Foundation:

• A one-paragraph Biography.
• Photos of the nominee, including a formal headshot to include in the program and individual informal shots of the nominee on campus, at home, at work, or at play. If the nominee does not have a formal headshot, then Fresno State may assist the student in getting one before the student leaves the campus for the summer.
• Biographical Statement Copy Release Form and Visual/Audio Image Release Form, need to be signed and submitted.

All recipients of the CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement will be invited to attend the awards presentation in September at the Board of Trustees meeting. Transportation expenses will be covered by the CSU Foundation.

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 3, 2024

Please direct all questions to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Phone Number: (559) 278-2182