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Seventh Chico Student Wins Trustees' Award

Senior psychology major Benjamin Seigler received one of six 2003 William R. Hearst/California State University Trustees Awards for Outstanding Achievement. Seigler is a re-entry student and a single father in the top 2 percent of his major. He plans to become a marriage and family therapist.

Seigler is the first member in his immediate family to attend college. At 14, he dropped out of school, a response to family substance abuse problems, constant moving, and poverty. At 16, Seigler returned to school, was on the honor roll, and began helping second graders learn to read. Unfortunately, a recurrence of family and personal drug use pulled him off track. After six years of homelessness and drug addiction, Seigler’s life changed forever when he attended a church service in 1997. "It was the beginning of a life of more stability and actual achievement," he said.

Seigler will receive $3,000 for his superior academic performance, community service, and personal accomplishments. He is the seventh Chico recipient in eight years.