Chico Stories: Jacob Acosta

Philanthropy at Work

Jacob Acosta was honored with the Lt. Robert Merton Rawlins Merit Award from California State University, Chico.

The award is presented annually to students based on academic achievements, extracurricular activities and professional accomplishments. Award recipients receive a $3,000 scholarship.

Acosta is majoring in both Philosophy and Religious Studies and is an active participant in Ethics Bowl activities. He was elected president of the Chico State chapter of Phi Sigma Tau, the international Philosophy Honor Society, and wrote his senior honors thesis in Religious Studies. He is philanthropy chair for the Kappa Sigma fraternity, raising funds for Fisher House, an organization that builds homes near military hospitals in the U.S. for families of wounded soldiers, and for Pennies for Peace, an organization that builds schools in remote regions in the Middle East. Under Jake's direction his fraternity adopted Picnic Site #9 in Bidwell Park, which involves Kappa Sigma members helping to restore the site to its natural state. Jake has also organized and promoted several blood drives at Chico State and is a volunteer for the Butte Outdoor Classroom program.

Becky Cox-White, a professor in the Department of Philosophy at CSU, Chico, recommended Acosta for this award.

The Rawlins Merit Award was established in recognition of World War II hero Lt. Robert Merton Rawlins. After Rawlins died piloting a B-29 over Tokyo Bay, his mother wanted to leave a legacy in the name of her son. In 1981, Mrs. Fern Rawlins established the Lt. Robert Merton Rawlins Merit Award endowment.

Since the award's establishment, more than $910,000 in scholarships has gone to accomplished CSU, Chico students.