Lincoln student receives scholarship to CSU Long Beach

Kristin Baltazar of Lincoln has been named a President's Scholar with the fall 2008 incoming freshman class at California State University, Long Beach and as such will receive a full, four-year scholarship from the university worth about $45,000.Established in 1995, the CSULB President's Scholars Program is recognized as the premier program of its kind in the state. It was created to bring valedictorians and National Merit scholars from California high schools to the Long Beach campus, and to date, 921 President's Scholarships have been awarded since the program began.Baltazar is a valedictorian for the Class of 2008 at Roseville High School. The daughter of Christine Goulet of Lincoln, Baltazar plans to major in business management at Cal State Long Beach. She also has an interest in sociology. "This program offers me a chance to study at a university well-known for its diversity and high-achieving young minds," she said. "I feel excited over the chance to study with other students who have been recognized for their great achievements. Learning in an environment as enriching as this will motivate me to work even harder in every one of my endeavors and will help me grow as an individual as well."Baltazar was selected for the program from an applicant pool of 615 high-achieving students statewide. She will be among 50 new scholars joining the university when fall classes begin on Sept. 2, bringing the total number of high school valedictorians and National Merit Scholars attending the university to just more than 300. "The President's Scholars Program at Cal State Long Beach continues to be a state and nationally recognized scholarship program for many of the brightest and most talented students in California," said CSULB President F. King Alexander. "The program is extremely competitive. Each year, we receive hundreds of applications for these scholarships, but only about 50 are selected to be part of this incoming group of scholastically outstanding individuals." As a President's Scholar, Baltazar will attend CSULB on a full scholarship that covers general student fees, an annual book allowance and paid housing in the campus residence halls for four years. In addition, she will receive priority registration and personal academic counseling.The benefits for qualifying valedictorians and National Merit scholars from accredited California high schools are made possible through the support of the CSULB Alumni Association, President's Associates and the Corporate Scholars Council.With nearly 37,000 students, Cal State Long Beach is the third-largest campus in California and the second-largest campus in the 23-campus Cal State system, which is the largest public higher education system in the nation.