2024-25 President's Scholars

Stacie Gines

Bernard and Lucie Bidart President's Scholar

Major: English – Education Emphasis

College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences

Activities: Paraeducator I for Chino Valley USD; Former Parent Faculty Association 501(c)(3) President, Vice President, Secretary, Fundraising Chair; Living Beauty Cancer Foundation member; Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society; Teacher Preparation Institute at Mt. San Antonio College

Stacie says that returning to college after two decades of being an actively involved parent to three boys
has not been as easy one, yet she is no stranger to challenges. After battling breast cancer in 2015, her biggest takeaways were learning humility and the importance of relying on her tribe. “I needed help
from my friends because I could not simultaneously be a mother and patient. They stepped in to feed my
family when I could not get out of bed, drove me to chemotherapy appointments, and held my hand,
surrounding us with their unconditional love and support. They are the ones who have been here to cheer
me on, especially when I decided to return to college in 2019.” Working as a paraprofessional in middle school has helped Stacie realize that every day is a “puzzle that needs solving to help students grasp concepts,” and she feels great satisfaction when she sees student grasp concepts and nurture pride in their own successes. Stacie wants to pave the way for other nontraditional students to consider the leap to higher education and show her sons “the limitless possibilities that come with dedication and hard work.”