HUNTINGTON BEACH : Golden West Picks Outstanding Student

Eric Arnold, a 29-year-old Garden Grove resident, is the recipient of this year’s “outstanding student” award at Golden West College. He will receive the award at Golden West’s commencement ceremonies Friday.

The award is given annually by the Associated Students of Golden West College “to the student who most exemplifies the qualities of scholarship and leadership.” It is the college’s most prestigious award to a student, and the winner receives a $1,000 scholarship.

Arnold has been active in Associated Students, which is the campus student government, since 1990. As a representative of the student body, he served on many committees, including Academic Senate, student services budget and planning, instructional planning, ad hoc material fees, academic honesty, food services, affirmative action, substance abuse prevention and shared governance planning.

Recognizing Arnold’s active involvement in student issues, Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) recently asked Arnold to testify before the state Assembly Committee on Higher Education about fee increases and their impact on community colleges.

Upon graduation from Golden West, Arnold plans to attend San Francisco State University, where he will major in philosophy and urban studies. His goal is to be a community college teacher.

“Golden West is a place I’ve been able to explore, make changes and find direction in my life,” Arnold said. “The learning environment here has given me the opportunity to find new options, uncover skills and talents, make some mistakes, find out what I like and develop myself. . . . I’ve had a lot of help from the people at Golden West.”