Key of Knowledge opens doors

At this time of the year, several things come together at Citrus College: it’s graduation time, time to move on, and, time to transfer.

Although many students who met their AA requirements, completed their certification requisites or were able to transfer to another educational institution have earned well-deserved respect, a special place has been reserved for those receiving the Key of Knowledge Award.

“They are the cream of the crop” said Pam McGuern from Students Services when talking about the 11 exceptional students that form the recipients group.

Transcripts of students with the highest GPAs are reviewed by a committee of two faculty members and one administrator to ensure  their coursework is a rigorous mix of major and general education courses.

Key of Knowledge award winner Hien Le of Covina came to Citrus College from Vietnam in 2008. She lives with her sister and has a passion for mathematics.

The Long Life Learning Center and the Vietnam tutors have been instrumental to her success at Citrus College, Le said. She hasn't always been a stand-out student, but after attending Citrus and utilizing the services available to her and her peers, she has landed among the stars of Citrus academia.

Le is an engineering major and has been accepted to four school including Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, University of California Irvine and UCLA.

With a 4.0 GPA, Temple City resident and recipient Damian Rodriguez will transfer to University of La Verne.

“You make the choice to study. You decide for yourself to be inspired,” Rodriguez said. 

Due to high cost of education, Rodriguez is previewing himself with a debt for several thousand, but “it is worth it, anyway, some financial aid may come in the future.”
Rodriguez wants to keep it quiet and not to make a big of a situation about “doing his job at school.”

Recipient Phoebe Mae Sulzen will transfer to Cal State L.A. to major in math. She holds a 4.0 GPA. “I have always loved to learn, it is exiting to learn,” Sulzen said. “I have a very encouraging mom and she was always insisting on the importance of learning,” she said.

Sulzen parents are paying for her education and this, she manifested, created a conscience in her  to do what is proper toward the investment of her education.
Sulsen has dedicated herself to tutoring mathematics at Citrus.

Recipient Travis Sutton is transferring to UCLA with a 4.0 GPA. He plans on majoring in history and after finishing, plans to enter law school at UCLA.

He manifested his plans on being a prosecutor. He did independent studies in high school and combined regular schooling with home schooling. He tutors English, history, and math at Citrus.

“When I see people struggling with a subject but wanting to learn, I happily help them,”  Sutton said. “I owe a lot to my parents.”

With a 3.9 GPA, recipient Tamara Mieko Teragawa has been accepted to Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Long Beach, but is still undecided of where to go.

She is interested in a double major, one being child development and the second either dance or performing arts. She also wants to minor in kinesiology. She is preparing to participate in the Spring Dance Concert at Citrus.

“During high school I took several International Baccalaureate (IB) classes and at the same time I participated in several sports. This taught me how to balance time,” Taragawa said.

With a 3.95 GPA, Meisi Xiao will transfer to UCLA to major in biochemistry, which she hopes to finish in no more than two years, then enter pharmacy school.

“I am very happy and excited for the award. I never thought I would receive it; it is pretty amazing,” Xiao said. “It is really special to receive it together with my sister.”

Xiao attended Temple City High School. She and her sister came from China in 2007.
Huasi Xiao holds a 4.0 GPA, and is transferring to UCLA where she will major in electrical engineering.

She and her sister will have an early start at UCLA in the summer. Xiao said she is looking forward to those two years at UCLA.

“My sister has been a big help to me, not only in classes, but also in life. She is always encouraging me to do better. She is very important to me.”

The Key of Knowledge Award is the highest academic honor granted by the college. It is given to the students with the highest overall academic performance on campus.
Citrus is proud to count them among their 2010 graduating class.