Fresno St. Seniors Honored
Nine top graduating seniors have been named Undergraduate DeansMedalists for the Class of 2012 at Fresno State. The medalists are chosen as the outstanding students in eachof the university’s eight schools and colleges of academic discipline and theDivision of Student Affairs. The dean of each college/school selects an undergraduatemedalist and a graduate medalist based on academic excellence, communityinvolvement and other achievements.
One of the medalists will be named the President’s Medalist,the top academic honor, at the 101st Commencement ceremony at 9:30a.m. May 19 at the Save Mart Center.
The 2012 Undergraduate Medalists:
TarileeFrigulti, Jordan Collegeof Agricultural Sciences and Technology – Frigulti, of Visalia, completed aB.S. in Plant Science with a 3.80 GPA. She effectively combined her classroomexperience with work and volunteer experiences throughout her studies. She was secretaryand president for the Students for Environmentally Responsible Agriculture and wasinvolved in the annual FFA Field Days. In the community, Frigulti volunteered atthe Expanding Your Horizons Conference, worked on a program to introduce younggirls to science and math careers and assisted at events for students withcerebral palsy. Her academic adviser describes her as “a diligent andconscientious individual who has demonstrated excellent organizationalskills.” Frigulti has been awarded a Harvey Scholarship/Jordan Assistantshipto pursue her master’s degree in Plant Science at Fresno State. She is planningto continue her research in sustainable agriculture. Her career goal is toteach at the community college level.
Lucerito Salgado, College of Artsand Humanities – Salgado, of Santa Maria, completed a B.A. in MassCommunication and Journalism (broadcast journalism and public relations) with a3.93 GPA. Her minor is in Spanish. A first-generation Latina student, she isfluent in Spanish. Salgado served in numerous leadership capacities on campusand in the community. Salgado is a member of the Golden Key Honor Society, PhiKappa Phi, National Hispanic Professional Organization, and Miss NuestraBelleza Oaxaquefia. She volunteered with Ronald McDonald House Charities of theCentral Valley, Educational and Leadership Foundation, Bulldog Pantry andAmerican Cancer Society. Salgado interned with Univision, Radio Bilingue andKFSR. She plans to complete her graduate studies in International Relations atUCLA and pursue a diplomatic career.
Theresa Voecking, Craig School ofBusiness – Voecking completed a B.S. in Business Administration with a 4.0 GPA.A native of Germany, she worked as a high school student to earn the fundsnecessary to come to Fresno State and then studied to improve her English whenshe arrived. She was a student assistant in two Fresno State offices and workedwith the Fresno Grizzlies to implement fundraising opportunities for thestudent human resources organization in the Craig School. Voecking volunteeredwith the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and the annual asthma health fair forthe Early Childhood Asthma Program and conducted a research project for the CommunityFood Bank. She is a member of the International HonorSociety Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi.Voecking plans to work in the business community before pursuing a graduatedegree, possibly earning a doctorate and undertaking a career in highereducation.
Patricia Sandoval, Kremen School ofEducation and Human Development – Sandoval, of Chowchilla, completed a B.A. inLiberal Studies with a 4.0 GPA. During high school, she enrolled in independentstudies so she could help care for her terminally ill father. A first-generationcollege student, she was encouraged by her husband to pursue her dream of beinga teacher. She commuted from Chowchilla to attend Fresno State and maintainedemployment for seven years as a field representative for the CaliforniaDepartment of Motor Vehicles. Sandoval also helped staff a summer church camp,volunteered at the Community Food Bank and was a team parent for both her son’sand daughter’s athletic teams. While at Fresno State, she worked as a studentassistant in the Center for Economic Research and Education of CentralCalifornia. She has begun working on a dual credential in Multiple Subject andSpecial Education.
Christopher McComb, Lyles College ofEngineering – McComb, of Pinehurst, has completed a double major in MechanicalEngineering and Civil Engineering with a 4.0 GPA. He was an intern at theNational Renewable Energy Laboratory, Brooks Ransom Associates and theCalifornia Department of Transportation. His work at the National RenewableEnergy Laboratory culminated in a research publication and presentation at aninternational conference in Brazil. McComb also worked on research projectswith faculty mentors. He is a member of the TauBeta Pi Engineering and Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honors societies, and was awarded a $10,000scholarship by Tau Beta Pi. He volunteered with the Lyles College ofEngineering’s MESA program, Sierra Foothill Conservancy and at Kids Day fundraisers.McComb was a student ambassador for the Jan and Bud Richter Center forCommunity Engagement and Service-Learning. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. and thenstart his professional career in a federal Department of Energy laboratory.
Nancy Lopez, College of Health andHuman Services – Lopez, of Bakersfield, completed a B.A. in CommunicativeDisorders and Deaf Studies with a 3.78 GPA. Her minor is in Art. Emigratingfrom Mexico with her parents and siblings, she bought and sold chocolate barsand cookies and worked in the fields to raise money for her education. Lopez, avolunteer in the community helping Spanish-speaking parents of deaf and hard ofhearing students, has become a trilingual, tricultural mediator for the deaf,Hispanic and American communities. She was a member of and held leadershippositions in several clubs. Lopez volunteers with the nonprofit Colors ofLanguages, translating educational videos for deaf children and their familiesinto Spanish. She plans to earn a doctoral degree, ultimately establishing afree school for deaf and abandoned children in a Spanish-speaking country.
Katherine Urabe, College of Scienceand Mathematics – Urabe, of Livermore, completed a double major in Mathematicsand Linguistics with a 4.0 GPA. Her minor is in Spanish. A Smittcamp FamilyHonors College student, she has a passion for mathematics. Urabe has receivednumerous awards, including President’s Honors, Bertha and John Garabedian,McClatchy and Provost’s Study Abroad scholarships. She is a member of the PhiKappa Phi National Honor Society and a scholar for the National Alliance forDoctoral Studies in Mathematics. Urabe has presented her undergraduate mathematicsresearch at national and regional conferences. One poster presentation earned OutstandingUndergraduate Poster Presentation at the joint meeting of the AmericanMathematics Society and the Mathematics Association of America. Urabe has beena math tutor for the Learning Center on campus. She has also volunteered at theBulldog Pantry and worked with kindergarteners to help them improve reading andmath skills. She plans to earn an M.S. degree and a teaching credential in mathematicsat Fresno State, prior to working on a Ph.D.
Samantha Peel, College of SocialScience – Peel, of Fresno, completed a B.A. in History with a 4.0 GPA. Herminor is in Mathematics. She is a Smittcamp Family Honors College scholar andmember of the Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Alpha Theta honor societies. Anaccomplished researcher, her senior honors project was a paper on women’spolitical role in the United States during the 1790s. Peel volunteered with theFresno Historical Society at the Civil War Revisited re-enactment and theHistoric Home Tour, and also with the Fresno County Office of Education as ajudge of the History Day competition. Peel also volunteered at Bulldog Pantry,served as a middle school soccer coach and tutored high school students inalgebra, statistics and U.S. history. She has been accepted into the FresnoState graduate program in the History Department. Her goal is to teach.
Selena Farnesi, Division of StudentAffairs – Farnesi, of Fresno, completed a double major in Anthropology and Philosophywith a 3.85 GPA. She has served Fresno State students as a senator, executivevice president and, most recently, president of Associated Students Inc. ASmittcamp Family Honors College scholar, she received the Achievement Awardfrom the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Farnesi was the leadresearcher for a textbook study that advised the campus technology committeeson how the university should proceed in adopting electronic textbooks. Her thesisfor the College of Arts and Humanities Honors Program stemmed from her researchon civic education. She presented her research at four conferences. Dedicatedto community service, Farnesi was honored with the President’s CommunityService Award. In the fall, she will attend law school on a full scholarship.
