Exceptional College of San Mateo student Richael Young, 20, has been named as a 2009 recipient of the prestigious $30,000 per year Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Richael’s selection is recognition of her academic achievement and contributions to community colleges at the local, district and state levels.

While maintaining a 3.68 grade point average as an environmental engineering major, she presently serves as the president of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges. Richael has also been CSM’s student body president and the San Mateo County Community College District student trustee.

Last summer, she served as an intern for Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) and received an “entry” into the U.S. Congressional Record for being the first female and youngest individual ever elected as president of the statewide student senate and for other educational and extracurricular activities.

Richael will be the student speaker at CSM’s commencement on May 29. She will be transferring to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for Fall 2009 semester, continuing her studies in environmental engineering with an emphasis in hydrology.