Scholar: Mary Nelly Geronimo
Year Awarded: 2016
Major: Physical Therapy (first year recipient)
About Mary Nelly: Mary Nelly said her journey to CSUN began years ago when she decided she wanted to be a physical therapist. She had worked for two years with patients who had spinal cord injuries. She credits that invaluable experience as inspiring her desire to further her education. She also credits the experience with pushing her to progress her professional career and to aspire to one day be able to contribute to the ever-growing research on the physical therapy population. Mary Nelly is honored and grateful to receive the Dee Lilly Scholarship. The much-needed financial assistance allows her to focus more time and energy on her studies and get more involved in the community.
Scholar: J
oanne Maragakis
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (second year recipient)
About Joanne: Joanne worked as a massage therapist at a chiropractic office for 13 years. She helped clients heal from soft tissue injuries and to improve their overall well-being. Joanne loved that job, however, she felt she needed to learn more so she made the decision to finish her degree in Kinesiology and apply to the physical therapy doctorate program. Since she started the physical therapy program, she has assisted with teaching an undergraduate class in the anatomy lab and symposium classes for visiting Japanese students. These experiences, along with participating in the CAMINO pathways to healthcare careers mentor program, have piqued her interest in teaching. Joanne considers it a great honor to receive the Dee Lilly Scholarship and it has enhanced her determination to become a successful physical therapist.
About the Scholarship: Dee Lilly, now retired from CSUN, was a valued faculty member throughout the 1980’s. She taught anatomy and physiology and was known for instilling a yearning for knowledge and a motivation to help others in students studying physical therapy. This scholarship was made possible by a generous contribution from physical therapy alum, George Erb. George said that Dee Lilly was instrumental in encouraging him to complete his physical therapy degree at CSUN. He created the Dee Lilly Scholarship in 2009 to honor his influential professor; the scholarship has since been enhanced by long-time physical therapy program supporter and alum, Jeff Vargo. The scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to professional growth and service, outstanding leadership, a positive and professional attitude and who have shown outstanding clinical potential.
Scholar: Julia Adame
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 59)
About Julie: Julie faced many barriers along the road to graduation. She grew up in an impoverished neighborhood that did not put education as a high priority. However, she beat the odds and was the first to graduate college in her family, and will soon be the first to become a doctor. She hopes to serve as an example to her family and other less privileged children to pursue higher education. Julia is grateful to receive this scholarship. She is thankful to the Campanellas and the Dodgers, a team in which she has been a fan of her entire life.
Scholar: Jermaine Ang
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 59)
About Jermaine: Jermaine moved to the United States from Malaysia when she was 14 years old and she is the first in her family to attend graduate school. As an immigrant, she and her family have had to overcome housing challenges and work hard to pursue their dreams. Jermaine’s goal is to become a physical therapist because she is passionate about helping others, especially those whose second language is English. She has been involved in several groups and volunteer programs during her time in the doctorate program that focus on helping others. Receiving this scholarship encourages her to work even harder toward her goal of becoming a physical therapist and to continue to help others and give back to the community. Jermaine is grateful to Roy and Roxie Campanella and the Dodgers.
Scholar: James Choe
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 59)
About James: James has long been a passionate sports fan and that passion has led him to where he is today. During his time in the physical therapy program, he has been involved in several volunteer opportunities. James said that it is an enormous honor to receive the Campanella Scholarship and the Dodgers will always hold a special place in his heart because he grew up in Los Angeles. He is thankful to the Campanellas and the Dodgers for their generosity.
Scholar: Naeiri Khachkian
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 59)
About Naeiri: Naeiri came to the United States in 2009 from Iran. She said that women in Iran tend to have fewer opportunities to pursue certain careers due to traditional gender roles. However, she was able to pursue her passion for sports and be actively involved in the rehabilitation and recovery of her fellow teammates in track and field. When she moved to the United States, she found a position in an outpatient physical therapy office. While working as a physical therapy aide, she discovered her passion for others and her strong desire to be of service to patients. Naeiri is grateful to the Dodgers, the Campanella Family, and the Department of Physical Therapy and because of their generosity, is inspired to help others and continually give back to the community. She hopes to help students achieve their goals and reduce their financial burdens in the future just as this scholarship has helped her.
Scholar: Staphany Lao
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 59)
About Staphany: Staphany was born and raised in Southern California and has had a strong passion for pursuing the medical field since she was in high school. As an undergraduate student at UCLA, she was able to volunteer in physical therapy clinics. During her time at the clinics, she fell in love with being able to be a part of the rehabilitation process of helping patients get back to their daily life. Staphany is a first generation student and said that this scholarship means a lot to her and her family. She is grateful to the Campanellas, the Dodgers, and the Department of Physical Therapy and will continue to pursue her dreams and stay involved in CSUN in any way she can.
Scholar: Jana Sadler
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 59)
About Jana: Jana grew up in Oregon, and although she misses her hometown dearly, she made the move to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming a physical therapist. She says that as much as she misses and loves her home state, the experiences that she has had here will make it very hard to leave, including becoming a Dodgers/Campanella scholar. She is grateful for the scholarship and said that everyone has made her feel like family. Jana is also passionate about marathon running and was part of the Boston Marathon in April.
Scholar: Paulina Yaghoubian
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 59)
About Paulina: Paulina has taken on numerous leadership roles since she was the captain of her high school cheerleading team. In the physical therapy program, she has assisted in various volunteer programs, including the annual CSUN ECLIPSE event for people living in prosthetics. Receiving the scholarship is a tremendous honor for her. She was excited to be a recognized scholar on the field at her first Los Angeles Dodgers game. Paulina intends to continue to learn and grown to help make a difference in people’s lives.
Scholar: Diana Yu
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 59)
About Diana: Diana’s interest in CSUN was piqued after taking a few courses through the Tseng College. She loved CSUN’s diverse cultural environment and the commitment to helping students achieve their professional goals. This resonated with her and her vision of contributing to society in the future. After she had worked alongside a graduate of CSUN’s physical therapy program, she was convinced that attending would mold her into an outstanding professional and a conscientious person. Diana is now in her third year in the program; she is committed to ensuring that others have the same opportunities as she has had through collaborative volunteer efforts that focus on student achievement. She gives her warmest thanks to the Department of Physical Therapy, and the Campanella and Dodgers Foundations for their generosity. The scholarship grants her the opportunity to be even more dedicated to her education and serving others. She will be the first healthcare professional in her family and she is emboldened by the responsibility that such an occupation carries in the community. Diana is a believer in happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give and she desires to live her life full of purpose and meaning and this scholarship has brought her one step closer to that goal.
Scholar: Devon Go
ff
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 60)
About Devon: Devon always wanted to attend a highly acclaimed university that would provide a challenging and gratifying opportunity to pursue her desired career, at CSUN, she found just that. During her time in the physical therapy program, she has volunteered for a number of opportunities that have increased her focus and drive to use her skills to benefit others. Devon says that it is an honor to receive this scholarship and she is thankful for the kindness and generosity of the Campanellas and the Dodgers. She has been a Dodgers fan her entire life and after being awarded with this scholarship she is encouraged to continue to work even more diligently so she can help others and give back to the community in the near future.
Scholar:
Elaina Gregerson
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 60)
About Elaina: Elaina knew she wanted to be a physical therapist after watching her mother help treat children with special needs. As a doctoral student in the Physical Therapy program, she has been involved in several volunteer opportunities hosted by the Department. She has always had a heart for helping underprivileged communities and a desire to help others, a desire that has led her to join three other students in Malawi to research stroke rehabilitation for the summer. Devon is grateful to the Campanellas and the Dodgers and she said that they have become a part of her journey to becoming a physical therapist. She believes the generosity shown by the foundations in awarding her this scholarship will go beyond her and touch all of the people that she will have the privilege of treating in the future.
Scholar: Ellen Hauck
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 60)
About Ellen: Ellen describes herself as a “non-traditional student” because she has returned to school after 17 years of working in the fields of dance, massage therapy and dance instruction around the country. She has been involved in several volunteer opportunities in the Physical Therapy Department and is a member of the California Physical Therapy Association and the American Physical Therapy Association. Ellen says it is an honor to receive this scholarship. She is especially sensitive to athletes who have sustained injuries because of her years of being a dancer. Ellen said that living a life of compassion, artistry, and curiosity has led her to the field of physical therapy and she is deeply grateful for the opportunity to pursue such a career path.
Scholar: Alexis Heredia
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 60)
About Alexis: Alexis understands the importance of building a community and helping others. As an undergraduate student, she served as a residence advisor for three years and was a tutor-counselor for first generation, low-income students striving to attend college. At CSUN, she has served as a mentor for CAMINO, a program providing financial and educational opportunities for first-year graduate students pursuing careers in healthcare. She has also been involved in several volunteer opportunities through the Physical Therapy Department. Receiving this scholarship is a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Alexis because she is passionate about physical therapy and an avid baseball fan. She hopes to carry on Roy Campanella’s legacy by making an impact on the lives of others through rehabilitation and compassion.
Scholar: Willy Wayne Quach
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 60)
About Willy: Willy is a Chinese-Vietnamese student whose parents came to America as refugees. He is the first in his family to finish college and now attend graduate school. As an undergraduate Kinesiology student, he developed a deep connection to CSUN. He interned at the Abbott and Linda Brown Western Center for Adaptive Aquatic Therapy and the psychophysiology lab. As a graduate student, he has been involved in several volunteer opportunities through the Physical Therapy Department. Willy said receiving this scholarship is a tremendous honor for both him and his family, as they believe in the lifelong pursuit of education. He wants to ensure that his future physical therapy patients can become the greatest version of themselves and to go on to relish in their improved quality of life. Thanks the Campanellas and the Dodgers, he is one-step closer to making those dreams a reality.
Sch
olar: Brianna Martin
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 60)
About Brianna: Brianna says that as a Hispanic student, she is extremely proud to be the first in her family to attend college and to further her career by attending graduate school. Her family is extremely proud of her for receiving this scholarship. During her three semesters at CSUN, she has participated in several community service/outreach programs, including CAMINO, where she mentors first year physical therapy students. Brianna is thankful to the Campanella and the Dodgers Foundations She grew up around baseball and is excited to be part of a profession like physical therapy that allows her to work one-on-one with patients and witness that change in their lives.
Scholar: Je
anine McDonell
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 60)
About Jeanine: Jeanine embraces her education at CSUN and is eager to continue to learn and serve others as a physical therapist. She has volunteered at various physical therapy events at CSUN as well as in the surrounding community. Next year, she will perform international research in Africa to improve rehabilitation for individuals who have had strokes. Jeanine is grateful to receive this scholarship and thankful to the Dodgers and the Campanella Foundations. She hopes to pass on such generosity to others as she moves through her career in physical therapy.
Scholar: Catherine Soliva
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 60)
About Catherine: Catherine earned her Master of Science degree in Biology at CSUN prior to starting the Doctorate in Physical Therapy program. As a physical therapy student, she has been involved in various volunteer events and was part of Bridges to Stem Cell Research at UCLA. Catherine has always wanted a profession where she can help people in a real and measurable way on a daily basis and as an aspiring physical therapist, she cannot think of a better profession to do so. As a physical therapist, she will be able to help someone walk again, relieve them of their pain, and help them return to a level of function they had prior to injury. She is thankful to the Campanellas and the Dodgers in helping her pursue her goal of becoming the very best physical therapist she can be.
Scholar: Julie Watkins
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 60)
About Julie: Julie has always been committed to health, wellness, and making a difference in people’s lives. She has participated in AmeriCorps and has volunteered in programs benefiting health education in her community and programs for low-income youth. As a physical therapy student, Julie has continued her commitment to helping others. She attended the student-run physical therapy pro-bono clinic conference last spring semester in Salt Lake City and looks forward to helping CSUN create a similar pro-bono clinic. Julie is grateful to the Campanella and Dodgers Foundations and this scholarship helps her to continue toward her dream of becoming a physical therapist.
Scholar: Carina Huynh
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 61)
About Carina: Carina graduated from CSUN with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology/Exercise Science. During her time as an undergraduate, she was part of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and Coaching Corps, where she served as the secretary and director of communications. As a first-generation college student, Carina is proud to have received her undergraduate degree and to go on to be the first in her family to attend graduate school. As a physical therapy graduate student she has been a part of CAMINO, a program that encourages professional development opportunities in the healthcare field.
Scholar: Margo Kwiatkowski
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 61)
About Margo: Margo knew she wanted to be a physical therapist from a young age. She attended Westmont College and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with the highest honors. After graduation, she continued her education by becoming a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Margo recently began her doctoral studies in physical therapy at CSUN. She has volunteered to be the co-president of class 61, is involved in outreach programs, and has been volunteering with the Ventura College baseball team. Margo is a life-long Dodgers fan and she said she is honored to be recognized by such an outstanding foundation. The scholarship is a generous gift and complement that she is grateful to receive.
Scholar: Monica Zak
Year Awarded: 2017
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 61)
About Monica: Monica obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from CSUN where she was also a member of the Kinesiology Major’s Club. She is proud to be the first in her family to attend a doctoral program. During her first semester in the physical therapy program, she was involved in collaborating with inter-professional students at CSUN and international students visiting from Japan. Monica has been a Dodgers fan all of her life and receiving this scholarship is an incredible honor for her. She is thankful for the generosity of the donors and the support they have given her while working towards completing her degree.
About the Scholarship: Roy “Campy” Campanella was a catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers and one of the first African Americans to play Major League Baseball; he was also a three-time National League MVP. In 1958, he was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down, ending his baseball career. He started physical therapy which helped him gain enough mobility to become a guest instructor at the Dodgers’ spring training camp, offering lectures to young catchers. Roy passed away in 1993, a year later his wife Roxie began donating money to physical therapy programs and she continued to do so until her passing in 2004.
The scholarships at CSUN are made possible due to a generous contribution from the Campanella Family. In 2005, the Roy and Roxie Campanella Foundation and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation partnered to dedicate scholarships to CSUN physical therapy students. Roy and Roxie’s daughter, Joni Campanella-Roan, has enhanced the partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers and continues to be actively involved with the College. Read more about the honoring of this year’s recipients from CSUN Today here.
