Among the thousands of graduating Titans from the class of 2020 are 19 President’s Scholars – the most prestigious scholarship program at Cal State Fullerton, with academic, leadership, service and mentorship opportunities.

Among these President’s Scholars graduates are two Mihaylo College alumnae: Haley Hunt ’20 (marketing and information systems) and Caroline Vu ’20 (finance – real estate). Matt Pilker ’20, a geology and political science student who served as a student assistant at Mihaylo College’s Dean’s Suite for three years, is also a part of the graduating President’s Scholars cohort.

Haley Hunt

Hunt recently shared her Titan experience with CSUF News.

President’s Scholars and CSUF Open Doors of Opportunity and Possibility

As a high school student playing basketball and involved in student government at Whittier Christian High School in the early 2010s, Hunt held on to her collegiate goals, though family financial challenges made a higher education seem like an impossible dream.

Arriving at Cal State Fullerton in 2016, Hunt was accepted into the President’s Scholars Program, receiving a four-year financial scholarship, along with opportunities for personal and professional development and community impact.

“The President’s Scholars program provided me a fully funded education and opportunities to grow academically, personally and professionally, which I believe would not have been possible otherwise,” says Hunt, who graduated magna cum laude this spring. “I learned practical leadership skills, lessons in finances, and I was involved in service to the community, which allowed me to see the direct effects of many social and economic issues in our area. This helped me become more compassionate and inspired me to strive to be mindful of my actions in any situation.”

Caroline Vu, another Mihaylo College President’s Scholar graduate, was also a Dean’s Honor List recipient each semester during her time as a Titan and served as a student assistant at the Academic Advising Center. She looks forward to obtaining her real estate license and selling residential properties.

Highlights of a Mihaylo Titan Experience

Among the highlights of Hunt’s Fullerton experience were making the Dean’s List every semester while at Mihaylo College; working as a student assistant supporting the Mihaylo College development team in such high-profile events as the Mihaylo Golf Classic, Summer Wine Mixer and economic forecast conferences; and studying abroad with Business Honors in Europe in early 2019.

Resting on her background as a former arts student, Hunt gave the class of 2020 a unique digital art piece she created.

“I know we are all a bit sad that final events to celebrate our graduation were cancelled, but we could still celebrate our achievements,” she says.

Since August 2019, Hunt has served as a product marketing intern at Lake Forest-based Spectrum Brands Inc., where she plans to work as a product marketing manager post-graduation.