Cypress resident Elizabeth A. Chelling was named a President’s Scholar with the 2013 incoming freshman class at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and has been awarded a full, four-year scholarship from the university, worth about $70,000.
Cypress resident Elizabeth A. Chelling was named a President’s Scholar with the 2013 incoming freshman class at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and has been awarded a full, four-year scholarship from the university, worth about $70,000.
Chelling, a valedictorian for the Class of 2013 at St. Joseph High School in Lakewood, is the daughter of Todd and Karen Chelling of Cypress. She is planning to major in either psychology or human development at Cal State Long Beach.
“The President’s Scholars Program at Cal State Long Beach is recognized as the premier scholarship program of its kind in California, and it is extremely competitive,” said CSULB President F. King Alexander. “We received more than 700 applications for these scholarships this year, but only 25 students were selected to be part of this incoming group of academically talented students.”
During her senior year at St. Joseph’s, Chelling served as vice president for both the National Honor Society and the Math Honor Society. She has been active with the national Science Honor Society and the National English Honor Society and is a four-year member of the California Scholarship Federation. She has won numerous academic awards throughout high school, including an AP Scholar Award and Outstanding Student for Marine Biology, and she served as a student ambassador at the school. Additionally, she is treasurer this year (two year member) for the speech and debate team and a member of Quill and Scroll.
Chelling founded (and served as president) a club at St. Joseph’s called S.A.L.T. (Save a Life Today). The group was dedicated to helping kids with life-threatening diseases. For the group, she planned and publicized special events including group visits to Miller’s Children’s Hospital, a toy drive for Miller’s and a walk for the Children’s Hospital of Orange County raising more than $10,000.
She also played on the St. Joseph’s basketball team for two years, serving as the team’s captain this past season. Her interest in basketball translated into her serving as an assistant coach for the National Junior Basketball from 2009-13.
“I love working with people and have always had a passion for service. I would particularly like to get involved in community service that works with kids with physical disabilities or kids who are fighting a disease,” said Chelling, who has a sister currently studying chemical engineering at CSULB and two cousins who were CSULB President’s Scholars. “It is important to me to be at a university where the teachers are there to teach, and I am very excited to check out the wide range of student clubs on campus. I want to become the best version of myself and I believe that the President’s Scholars Program can help foster me into a leader.”
As a President’s Scholar, Chelling will attend CSULB on full scholarship covering tuition, student fees, an annual book stipend and paid housing in the campus residence halls for four years. Additionally she will receive priority registration, personalized advising, guaranteed acceptance to the University Honors Program, opportunity for international study abroad and more.
The CSULB President’s Scholars Program was created in 1995 in an effort to bring valedictorians and national scholars from California high schools to the Long Beach campus. It is recognized as the premier program of its kind in the state, and since its inception, nearly 1,100 students from throughout the state have been selected for the program.
To be eligible for the program and scholarship, students must be a senior class valedictorian or ranked No. 1 at their high school, a National Merit finalist or semi-finalist, a National Achievement Scholar or a National Hispanic Recognition Scholar.
The benefits for qualifying valedictorians and National 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 more than 36,250 students (fall 2012), Cal State Long Beach is among the largest university campuses in California. It is a part of the 23-campus California State University system, the largest public higher education system in the nation.