Winter 2012
College of Science and Mathematics Celebrates Nine Scholarship Recipients
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Nine students from the College of Science and Mathematics are among 25 recipients of the 2011 Mary Stuart Rogers Scholarship. The Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation, based in Modesto, awards the $3,500 scholarships annually to juniors, seniors and teaching credential candidates at Cal Poly.
“Although their academic interests are varied, they do share some remarkably similar characteristics: They are all committed to helping others,” said College of Science and Mathematics Dean Phil Bailey. “All of these students are active, involved, engaged citizens -- participating beyond the classroom in philanthropic activities, academic clubs and service groups.”
Recipients from the College of Science and Mathematics, which now includes the School of Education and Liberal Studies Department (the undergraduate degree program for those seeking to become K-6 teachers) are:
Ryan Poppin, a biological sciences major from Modesto. Poppin, a senior in the pre-dentistryconcentration, , has been accepted by six dental school graduate programs, including Boston University.
Nathan Meinert, a teaching credential candidate from Thousand Oaks. He earned his B.S. in mathematics at Cal Poly. Meinert recently got married and wants to become a high school math teacher.
In order to enter and finish the credential program, “I had to quit my job, which was paying our rent. I didn’t get paid for my student teaching, and we knew my wife wouldn’t be paid for the next two months until she started her job.
"When I got word I had received the scholarship, we were so happy – mostly because we wouldn’t have to move out of our house.”
Carly Koester, a biological sciences major from Modesto.
She volunteers at an orthotics and prosthetics clinic, and with the STRIDE (Science through Translational Research in Diet and Exercise) center’s PolyFit team.
She wants to go on to earn a master’s degree in prosthetic and orthotic care and go into the medical profession.
Noel Friend, a teaching credential candidate from Goleta. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and wants to teach high school English and serve as a reading specialist.
Before returning to Cal Poly for her teaching credential, she spent two years in East Africa on an internship with the Bringing Hope Project.
The nonprofit group works on AIDS/HIV education and awareness in the rural area of Kitgum, Uganda. One of the places she worked was an orphanage for AIDS/HIV-infected babies and toddlers.
On her return, she and her sister co-founded their own nonprofit organization, “Walk Humbly,” to raise money for the orphanage. So far, the foundation has built the orphanage a tented outdoor pavilion, so children can play outside during the rainy season.
Jeanette Erlendson, a teaching credential student from Los Gatos.
She recently graduated from Cal Poly with a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies and is seeking a teaching credential in English.
After completing her credential program, she plans to apply for the Special Education Program at Cal Poly and pursue a career in Special Education.
Hanna Kassis, a liberal studies major from Modesto. She plans to earn a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential and an Introductory Subject Matter Authorization in Mathematics.
She wants to be a junior high math teacher. “Junior high school is where most students discover either that they love math or they hate it. I want to make a few less kids hate it.”
Lorelle Lohman, a teaching credential candidate from Santa Maria who earned her bachelor’s degree in English at Cal Poly and graduated magna cum laude.
“My first love is baseball, but my dreams changed when I found out I couldn’t play for the Dodgers,” she said.
“I still want to change the world, and I truly believe education is the way to do it. This scholarship is allowing me to student teach and not have to hold down another job – because student teaching doesn’t pay anything."
Kelsey Medeiros, a liberal studies major from Turlock. She is focusing on child development and minoring in Spanish while earning her degree. She wants to go on to earn a master’s degree in education and then become a kindergarten teacher.
Laura Polacci, a psychology major and biology minor from Modesto. She plans to go on to graduate school for a master’s degree and become a clinical psychologist, but before that, is training to run a marathon.
About the Mary Stuart Rogers Scholarship
Launched at Cal Poly in the 2000-01 school year, the Mary Stuart Rogers Scholarship Program honors students who demonstrate academic excellence, personal integrity, leadership, community service and financial need.
Twenty-five scholarships of $3,500 each are awarded annually to honor outstanding students at Cal Poly. For more details visit:
www.giving.calpoly.edu/scholarships/MSRogers.html