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Scholars at the Starting Line
Then and Now:
Glenn Kendall
and
Charles Merrill-
Osenbaugh
Border Lines
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It would be difficult to find two more focused scholars than Elizabeth
Hiscox and Zachary Whitten, who entered Chico State in fall 1996,
as the first recipients of the $5000 President's Scholarships,
the University's largest and most prestigious scholastic awards.The preceding February, both had participated in the President's
Scholars Competition with 109 other high school seniors. Applicants
wrote essays responding to a quotation by Thoreau and summarized
their high school academic records and achievements. Zach and
Elizabeth won the top awards. Twenty other students received $500
scholarships.These two young achievers arrived in Chico with a few things in
common besides scholarship money in the bank. Both were reared
in Northern California and graduated near the top of their classes
at small, semi-rural high schools. Whitten hails from Red Bluff;
Hiscox is from Nevada City. Born in 1978, both represent the last
gasp of Generation X, yet neither fits the slacker stereotype.Other similarities hint at a recipe for collegiate success. They
share a composure and maturity far beyond their years and a strong
sense of self. Both shrug off the pull of peer pressure, and both
are remarkably disciplined when it comes to their studies.But their differences, perhaps, run deeper still. Although they
know each other, these two scholars spend their days and nights
on separate paths toward individual goals. Zach, for instance,
came to Chico State with his future well plotted and planned.
Elizabeth, while every bit as serious, has viewed college as a
voyage of discovery.It was a year ago that Zach and Elizabeth kindly let me and Communications
major Mat Thomas follow them around during their first semester
on campus, asking questions about their lives and shooting photos.
After spending time with them, it became clear to us that each
makes a unique contribution to the delightfully disparate mix
of students who will comprise Chico State's graduating class in
the year 2000.
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