CAMARILLO — The pandemic scattered numerous obstacles onto Serena Palaroan’s road to college, but the Nursing major managed to maintain a solid 4.0 grade point average after dropping out at one point, then coming back with more determination than ever.
And now, the third year Nursing student is one of 23 students selected as a 2023-2024 CSU Trustees’ Scholar. The CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, which is the highest student distinction within the university, grants students scholarships based on academic achievements, financial need, excellence in community service and personal hardship. One student from each CSU campus is chosen.
Each scholarship awards a different amount; Palaroan’s will be $7,000 as a Trustee Emerita Debra S. Farar Scholar.
“I was so surprised and I’m so happy,” Palaroan said. “This takes so much of the financial burden off of me. This gives me some relief so I can focus more on my studies and not having to study, go to work, study, go to work.”