SoCalGas Awards Two $5,000 Scholarships to Cerritos College Graduates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2020
Media Contact: Aya Abelon; Public Affairs
NORWALK, Calif. – July 15, 2020 – Cerritos College Foundation has announced Rachelle Elhessen and Tran Pham as the recipients of the SoCalGas Scholarship. Both students will receive $5,000 to support the continuation of their higher education. SoCalGas, a Sempra Energy utility, believes that a well-educated workforce makes good business sense and is essential for a vital and economically healthy Southern California.
Rachelle Elhessen just earned associate degrees for transfer in mathematics and physics
from Cerritos College and has been accepted to the University of Southern California
(USC). She plans to earn a B.S. in chemical engineering with the goal of advancing
technologies in sustainable and clean energy to aid third-world countries. A Bellflower
resident, Rachelle was active in the Cerritos College's Scholars' Honors Program and
NASA Aerospace Scholars Program. She also participated in the Research Experience
Program at USC. "Engineering can be used for so much more than just structurally designing
houses and buildings," said Rachelle. "Having visited third world countries in the
Middle East, I have witnessed first-hand the consequences of water and electricity
shortages. As a chemical engineer, I can remedy this problem."
Tran Pham will matriculate to the University of California, Berkeley where she will
continue her business administration studies. After earning her bachelor's degree,
she wants to work for a Big-4 accounting firm as a certified public accountant (CPA).
While at Cerritos College, Tran served as the President of the Cerritos College Accounting
Club and Vice President of Education at Cerritos College Toastmasters. She also co-founded
the campus chapter of the Association of Latin Professionals for America (ALPFA).
"I want to become a CPA as I believe it will grant me a better future and help me
become a better-rounded professional. Organizations flourish by creating and supporting
transparency and other community values. CPAs play an essential role in delivering
that mission, as they are well-respected strategic business advisors and decision-makers,"
said Tran.
"We are honored to provide scholarships to Rachelle and Tran. Their academic achievements, goals, and volunteer experiences were exceptional," said Julia Emerson, Public Affairs Manager at SoCalGas. Julia is a Cerritos College alumna, who served as Vice President of the Associated Students of Cerritos College and then-mascot Freda Falcon. "We send our appreciation and well-wishes to all of the students who applied," she said.
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