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Chico State
Chico State

Reentry student

A photo collage of reentry student scholarship award winners, featuring two female students and two male students.

A Degree of Determination

Every year, students drop out of the education system for various reasons. It takes a special kind of grit to return and finish their degree. Meet four students who refuse to give up.

Anthony McKinney sits on a short flight of stairs holding his skateboard.

Engineering Strikes Creative Chord For Musician

In his youth, Anthony McKinney chose his rock band over education and became addicted to drugs. Once sober, he struggled through school until discovering engineering—and now is graduating as a double major.

Brandon Wright holds his young son on his back and they smile at each other.

Accounting Major Counts on Finishing What He Started

From losing his home in the Camp Fire to his father's unexpected death, accounting major Brandon Wright has endured significant setbacks—but he refuses to give up.

Irene Echavarria sits on her couch with her laptop open in front of her.

Sociology Major Committed to Breaking Negative Family Cycles

Growing up in a household where abuse and addiction were the norm, sociology major Irene Echavarria has her focus on improving her family's trajectory through education.