1999 Dean's Medalists announced

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One overcame a car accident at age 17 that left him in a wheelchair. Another is already co-author of two professional biology papers. A third is described as a future world-class economist who could help his Third World country off the coast of Africa.

They are just a few of the 10 students who were named 1999 Dean's Medalists and are now in contention to earn the highest honor given to a graduating student at Commencement -- the President's Medal.

Agricultural Sciences and Technology: Emily Ann Wiggins of Lake Isabella has a 3.97 GPA and will earn a B.S. in agriculture education. She is a leader in the Dairy Club and 4-H and has been accepted into the single subject credential program; she plans to teach high school agriculture.

Arts and Humanities: Matthew Espinoza Watson of Fresno is a Step-to-College Program graduate, who in just three years, is receiving two B.A. degrees with a 4.0 GPA in both majors - philosophy (pre-law) and Chicano studies. He has been active in immigration issues and reads for elementary students in bilingual classrooms.

Sid Craig School of Business: Anita Lovejoy of Kingsburg will receive a B.S. in business administration with a human resource option and was a member of the university's first-place team in the 1998 California Human Resource Collegiate Competition.

Education and Human Development: Randy M. Steiner of Coarsegold will receive a B.S. in liberal studies in pursuit of his dream to teach elementary school, a dream that has been unhindered by a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. He helped Fresno City College increase accessibility for the disabled at Radcliffe Stadium.

Engineering and Computer Science: David Hieb of Fresno will receive a B.S. in computer engineering in May with a 3.9 GPA and will take his Fresno State education to work at Lucent Technologies in New Jersey while attending graduate school there.

Health and Human Services: Maria H. Provencio of Squaw Valley, who earns a B.S. in communicative sciences and disorders with a 4.0 GPA, was the recipient of the Robert E. McNair Fellowship Award and the Tokalon Scholarship. She is currently co-president of the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association's CSU chapter.

Natural Sciences: Colby J. Linder of Fresno, who earns a B.S. in biology with a 4.0 GPA, has co-authored two complex technical research biology papers. Linder will present his research at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology meeting in Atlanta in January 2000.

Social Sciences: Amadeu da Silva of Fresno is a 4.0 student from impoverished San Tome and Principe (Africa), who earns a B.S. in economics and in mathematics. Professors praise da Silva highly, saying he "has the best chance to become a world-class professional economist and to make significant contributions to improving the plight of Third World countries."

Division of Graduate Studies: Christopher D. Stickley of Fresno, as head athletic trainer for the 1998 Bulldogs softball champions, works 40 to 60 hours a week but has earned a 4.0 GPA in pursuing a master's in kinesiology. His thesis has been a nationwide study of practices related to how student athletic trainers are taught to evaluate injuries.

Division of Student Affairs: Say Cha of Fresno is a 3.96 GPA Rodman and McNair Scholar who tutors students in the Southeast Asian Student Support Services Program and has served on Associated Student committees. She is now working toward her multiple subject teaching credential in the Teacher Education Program, after completing a B.A. in liberal studies in December.