Pastor Herrera Jr. Scholarship
Scholar: Divjot Kaur
Year Awarded: 2017; Consumer Affairs Scholar
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences (Consumer Affairs)
About Divjot: Nineteen years ago, Divjot boarded a one-way flight with her mother from Delhi to Los Angeles. She knew this journey would grant her the educational opportunities that her homeland could not. Today, she is a hard-working, ambitious student who is determined to achieve her educational goals. She is a Consumer Affairs major, double minoring in Marketing and Management. Divjot is an active volunteer in the community with over 400 hours of service. After graduating, she would like to work at the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs. Her goal is to provide all consumers, regardless of occupation or education, their rights so they can avoid unsafe services and promote a safer and more secure market. Divjot hopes that as she advances in her career, she can gain the necessary skills to open her own business and be able to give back to non-profit organizations, charities and those less fortunate. She is grateful for the Pastor Herrera Scholarship and thankful to Mr. Herrera for the support. She would like to provide the same support to future students’ one-day and give them the opportunity of achieving their goals and lightening their financial burdens.
Scholar: Sara Digre
Year Awarded: 2017; FCS Education Scholar
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences
About the Scholarship: Pastor Herrera, Jr. has been an adjunct professor at CSUN since 2011. He has also served on the California State License Board and held multiple positions at the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs for over 19 years. His most recent position at the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs was serving as the Director for the Consumer and Business Affairs Department. Pastor understands the importance of giving back and felt that supporting scholarships would make the greatest impact and help students with their finances as they work their way through the family and consumer sciences programs.
Rosalie Hilger Achievement Scholarship
Scholar: Katherine Rawson
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences (Nutrition and Dietetics)
About Katherine: Katherine grew up in Maine where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. After she graduated, she worked as a compliance analyst, helping low-income families find affordable housing. Her job brought her to California several times and the warm weather and people influenced her to take up permanent residency in Southern California. Katherine’s dream is to work as a registered dietitian and to reduce preventable diseases through nutrition and the elimination of health disparities. She is thrilled to receive this scholarship and is even more motivated to continue following her passion to improving peoples’ lives through nutrition. She is thankful to the donor, Ernie Hilger, and his family for recognizing her accomplishments. Katherine was able to meet Mr. Hilger and experience his heartfelt generosity firsthand. She is beyond grateful to receive this scholarship that is dedicated to his wife.
Scholar: Christel Bowen
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences (Nutrition and Dietetics)
About Christel: Christel is a first-generation college student from Monterey, CA. She transferred to CSUN two years ago after she received advice from the registered dietitian she was working for at the time. She is glad she did because the nutrition program and the caring faculty members have allowed her to learn and expand her knowledge in the fields of nutrition and health. Christel said that receiving this scholarship means a lot to her. She had been working hard as a student involved in many extracurricular organizations, and being away from her family and living alone for the first time was difficult to cope with. To be recognized for all of her hard work was an indescribable feeling for her. She would like to thank Mr. Hilger for this scholarship and hopes she can live up to his late wife, Rosalie’s, legacy and continue to influence those around her. She plans to sit for the national registered dietitian-credentialing exam after she graduates. Christel hopes to one-day work with the geriatric community, an often overlooked community, and to enrich their lives through nutrition.
About the Scholarship: This scholarship was made possible by a generous gift from Ernest Hilger, on behalf of the Hilger Family Trust, and in honor of Ernest’s most beloved wife, Rosalie Hilger. Ernest established this scholarship to carry on Rosalie’s legacy, her caring and gentle spirit, and to benefit future generations of students, something that Rosalie was passionate about.
Rosalie Hilger was an alumna of CSUN’s Family and Consumer Sciences program and served as an adjunct professor at East Los Angeles Community College and Los Angeles Mission College. This scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated a positive life path for themselves and their family and who utilize their own positive energy and education as a way to help them succeed in their chosen profession.
The Christine H. Smith Scholarship
Scholar: Da Chun
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences
Scholar: Mariah Haroon
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences (Didactic Program in Dietetics)
About Mariah: Mariah was born and raised in southern Pakistan in the city of Karachi. As a child, she was a science buff and looked forward to her physics, chemistry and biology labs the most. Mariah obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Foods and Nutrition from Karachi. She decided to join CSUN’s Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) after a co-worker from Northridge Hospital had mentioned that she was in the program. At CSUN, Mariah has had the opportunity to learn under the guidance of her knowledgeable, kind and passionate professors. This experience has made her even more determined to fulfill her educational goals. If Mariah had the chance to speak to Christine Smith, she said that she would tell her that she was deeply touched by the way she and her husband were remembered at the scholarship ceremony. The loving testimony in Christine’s honor allowed Mariah to see how influential she was to CSUN and how much she is missed. Mariah would like to pursue a graduate degree and obtain a PhD She would like to work as a registered dietitian in both clinical and community settings and one day hold a managerial role. Eventually, she would like to work for an international organization, such as the World Health Organization, and participate in programs directed toward food safety initiatives and related strategic planning.
About the Scholarship: The late Dr.Christine “Chris” Smith was a beloved professor in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department for almost 30 years. She was a co-advisor for the department’s Student Dietetic and Food Science Association for over 20 years and served as the director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). Chris was instrumental in guiding students into becoming registered dietitians and she remained a large part of the DPD program after her retirement. Chris and her husband, Owen ’65 (Theatre), M.A. ’67 (Drama) met at CSUN, had a fairytale romance, and both were influential members of the CSUN community. In 2013, they passed away just 81 days apart — Owen after battling cancer and Chris after an accident at her home. Prior to their passing, the Smiths decided to leave a gift from their estate to CSUN, their second home. In their will, the Smiths directed funds in the form of a planned gift to five different areas at CSUN, including this endowed scholarship for a student in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science.
The Joy Kingston Foundation Scholarship
Scholar: Kimberly Le
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences
Scholar: Lindsey Pedone
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences (Interior Design)
About Lindsey: Lindsey grew up in Southern California and feels confident in saying that she and her family are truly living the American dream. Her nationality stems from Cuba, Hawaii, Italy, Germany, and Ireland. She realizes that for her family they have never had the easiest path, but it has always been worth it; she feels extremely privileged to be living this life and having opportunities to work hard and be successful. Lindsey chose to study interior design at CSUN because both of her parents are alumni and she wanted to carry on the Matador pride. Receiving The Joy Kingston Scholarship is something that she will always cherish and she is thankful to all those that were involved in providing her with this gift. It served as a reminder that all of her hard work as an undergrad was recognized. Lindsey is currently back in school, working towards three associate’s degrees, a second bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a master’s degree in Structural Engineering and Architecture. She hopes to continue to be a life-long learner and to have a positive impact on the world.
About the Scholarship: Joy Kingston was a fashion designer who was passionate about design in all forms. In 2011, Paul Matthew Layne, Joy’s cousin, launched the Joy Kingston Foundation in her honor. The Foundation’s goals include perpetuating Joy's legacy in fine design and cultivating the next generation of designers by fostering growth in arts education. The Foundation helps talented young men and women by adhering to their mission of providing scholarship opportunities to promising individuals pursuing careers within the design industry. The Joy Kingston Creative Design Scholarship in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department at CSUN is awarded to two senior students in their last semester; one is awarded to a student studying apparel design and merchandising and the other is awarded to a student studying interior design.
The Nancy J. and Joseph N. Owens Kappa Omicron Nu Scholarship
Scholar: Frida Endinjok
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences (Nutrition and Dietetics)
About Frida: Frida grew up in Mexico City and after she graduated from high school, she decided to pursue her dream of coming to the United States to attend college. She first majored in culinary arts, but discovered her passion for nutrition and health and changed her major to Family and Consumer Sciences with an option in Nutrition and Dietetics. As a member of Kappa Omicron Nu (KON) Honor Society, Frida concurs with the core values of doing scholarly work and providing service to the community. Receiving this scholarship inspires her to keep doing good work within the community. She is thankful to Nancy and Joseph Owens and is honored to be a part of KON. After she graduates, Frida would like to continue with community-based participatory research and earn a PhD.
About the Scholarship: Nancy Owens taught in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences for 36 years, specializing in apparel design and merchandising. She was highly involved at CSUN and has continued volunteering at the university since her retirement. Nancy served as the university’s chapter advisor for Kappa Omicron Nu, the leading honor society for students in the human sciences. Nancy and her husband Joe have continued to support the society by creating this scholarship for an undergraduate and/or graduate student in the department who meets the academic requirements for membership in Kappa Omicron Nu.
The Nancy J. and Joseph N. Owens Scholarship in Apparel Design and Merchandising
Scholar: Jessica Tamboline
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences (Fashion Merchandising)
About Jessica: Jessica currently lives in her hometown of Santa Clarita and works as a sales associate and make-up artist at the local Sephora. In the future, she would like to find a career that combines her love of fashion and cosmetics. She would like to be a part of, or lead, a team of people who help promote self-confidence. She would like to thank Nancy and Joseph Owens for their generosity, receiving the scholarship is a positive reminder that there are people that believe in her. She works very hard and the scholarship serves as an amazing reward for all of her efforts. Jessica hopes to have the opportunity to give back and put her passions to good use.
About the Scholarship: Nancy Owens taught in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences for 36 years, specializing in apparel design and merchandising. She was highly involved at CSUN and has continued volunteering at the university since her retirement. Nancy and her husband Joe continue to support the university through their scholarship endowments that help students achieve their academic and career goals. This scholarship provides support to a student in the apparel design and merchandising program.
The Tom Chen Scholarship
Scholar: S
orana Black
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Family and Consumer Sciences (Food Science and Administration)
About Sorana: Sorana was born in Inner Mongolia (an autonomous region of northern China) and she grew up in Tokyo, Japan. In 2015, after many years of teaching preschool while pursuing an acting career in Los Angeles, she decided to apply to CSUN to obtain a degree in food science. Sorana decided to study food science because she loves to create food and hopes to one day create healthy foods for individuals around the world. She is currently volunteering at Northridge Academy High School and is serving as the coordinator of the Peer Financial Mentor Program in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department. Sorana is honored to be a recipient of this scholarship and she has expressed her sincere appreciation for the support. It is her hope to work with a food company that is committed to creating foods that improve consumer health.
About the Scholarship: Dr. Tungshan “Tom” Chen was a professor in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department and the founding director of the Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics. Marilyn Magaram met Dr. Chen while she was a master’s student and considered him a great mentor and friend. Unfortunately, Marilyn’s life was cut too short. As a tribute to her, Philip Magaram, Marilyn’s husband, and his family dedicated the Center as an honor to her memory. Tom was a large influence in seeing the Center transform from a concept to a reality after it opened in 1991. This scholarship is awarded to a full-time student and member of the Student Dietetic and Food Science Association (SDFSA) who is actively involved in programs and services hosted by the Center.
