Twenty-seven junior and senior students have been named Alumni Leadership Scholars for 2007-2008.
Among the diverse recipients of the $2,000, two-year award are a future oceanographer, veterinarian, teacher, doctor, journalist, civil rights attorney, businessman and dancer.
Two of this year’s designated scholars are:
Charles Erwin, Muir College, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November of 2006. He has also been the primary caretaker of his ailing and amputee grandmother since 2003. Charles has earned an almost perfect academic record since enrolling at UCSD. His yearlong thesis, under the sponsorship of a faculty member, led him to work with the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego—a position unprecedented for an undergraduate. He plans to pursue an M.F.A. and ultimately teach visual arts.
Tricia Frazier, Warren, is the first in her family to attend college. Following high school, she found herself homeless. Ultimately she entered City College of San Francisco and become active in the Cheer and Dance Club where she was elected cheer captain of the dance team for two consecutive years. She plans to pursue a career in professional dance and theater.
The Alumni Association’s Leadership Scholarship Program was created in 2005 to enable top third and fourth year students with distinguished academic records, who are experiencing considerable financial hardship, to succeed in the challenging environment of UCSD.
Sue Hart, Ph.D. ’86, and her husband Steve, M.A. ’80, who met as graduate students at UCSD, are among the alumni whose gift to support outstanding students represents a continuum of involvement with the campus that they’ve maintained since graduation.
They were attracted to the idea of helping young people with ambition and ability. In memory of their son, they established the Kevin T. Hart Memorial Endowment.
“The scholarship will go to a student who has personally experienced mental illness or homelessness,” says Steve. “Kevin cared deeply about the homeless and the disadvantaged, so this is a fitting tribute to his memory,” added Sue.
John Valva, director of Alumni Relations, says “these are exceptional and inspirational students and we’re pleased we can offer 27 scholarships in our third year.” He is confident that the alumni-giving scholarship program that has generated almost $900,000 in just two years will continue to resonate with alumni volunteers and donors. He added that the Association seeks to establish a $2 million endowment that will ultimately generate 40 scholarships annually.
For more on the awards go to: http://alumni.ucsd.edu/awards/index.htm
For more on the Alumni Leadership Scholarship go to:
http://alumni.ucsd.edu/scholarships/index.htm 
— Mary Johnson
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