• Who: CSU Stanislaus faculty members including leaders of the Stanislaus chapter of the California Faculty Association; and Ripon Christian High School senior Courtney Jespersen who was previously denied a scholarship.
• What: CSU Stanislaus faculty members to present $5,000 check to student who applied for a ‘President’s and Provost’s Scholarship’ but was suddenly informed by CSU Stanislaus that they were no longer offering the scholarships.
• When: Wednesday, June 2, 2010 – Members of the media are invited to the award presentation which begins at 3:00 pm, media availability will follow.
• Where: CSU Stanislaus, Room 118 in the Faculty Development Center (FDC 118)

Turlock, CA – Faculty members at CSU Stanislaus will lend their support to an incoming student who was abruptly denied her opportunity for a CSU Stanislaus Foundation scholarship amid speculation over the fee to be paid by the Foundation for Sarah Palin’s upcoming speaking engagement.

Faculty members, including leaders of the Stanislaus chapter of the California Faculty Association, will award a $5,000 check to high school student Courtney who – despite a 4.44 grade point average and status as class valedictorian – was not awarded a shot at scholarship. In a recent letter to Courtney, the college claimed the reason was “the current situation with the economy.”

All this comes in spite of the fact that the university and campus foundation is paying a reported $75,000 to contract with former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to headline the campus’ 50th anniversary celebration in June.

Last year the university awarded 28 “President's” and “Provost's” Scholarships, the biggest paid out at more than $12,000 a year. Earlier this month, these scholarships were eliminated without warning.

These scholarships, funded through the CSU Stanislaus Foundation, were developed with the idea of bringing the best and brightest students from the surrounding high schools to CSU Stanislaus. The Stanislaus foundation is the same entity paying for Sarah Palin’s visit.

The $5,000 figure is equivalent to what Courtney would have received from a President's scholarship.