Note to reporters: To request a digital photo or to arrange an interview with Daniel Pyon, please contact the Public Affairs office at Cal State L.A., (323) 343-3050.
Pre-law honor student garners University’s annual Phi Kappa Phi fellowship
At 18, CSULA’s outstanding senior to head to law school
Los Angeles, CA – Cal State L.A.’s outstanding senior Daniel Pyon (Montebello, CA resident)—who will complete his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a pre-law option this spring at 18 years old—is the recipient of CSULA chapter’s $500 Phi Kappa Phi fellowship.
Pyon, who will be graduating summa cum laude, will pursue a Juris Doctor degree at Harvard Law School starting next fall. He is also the University’s nominee for this year’s Phi Kappa Phi National Graduate Fellowship.
A Dean’s List student, Pyon is a member of the CSULA’s Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society—the oldest and largest national honor society dedicated to the recognition and promotion of academic excellence in all fields of higher education. This year, a $250 Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship was also presented to Cal State L.A.’s chemistry and biochemistry major Angela M. Guerrero (Downey resident).
“I have been incredibly blessed to work with the faculty in various departments,” said Pyon. “I have benefitted tremendously from the commitment my professors have shown to mentoring me in both my academic and professional pursuits. Working with such a diverse and unique group of students across campus in classes and extracurricular activities has also been very rewarding.”
Pyon‘s accolades include the Golden Key Business Achievement Award, the Korean American CPA Society of Southern California Scholarship, the Youngnak Academic Scholarship, first place in Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Paper Contest, and “Outstanding Delegate” at UC Riverside’s 2011 Model United Nations Conference.
“Over the years, I have worked with many gifted students in this [Early Entrance] Program, but Daniel is the most impressive of all,” said Maria Kathleen Boss, professor of business law at CSULA. “...The fellowship recognition to Daniel by Phi Kappa Phi will contribute to what I have no doubt will be a distinguished legal career.”
Pyon took advantage of CSULA’s Early Entrance Program (EEP) to start college at the age of 14. EEP admits extraordinarily gifted youngsters—some as young as 11—directly into college, providing the early entrants with monitored evaluation, regular counseling sessions, and the opportunity to study with like-minded peers.
“Being a part of EEP has truly been an amazing experience,” Pyon said. “The director, staff, alumni, and other students have created a positive environment that helps students flourish during their undergraduate careers. I am grateful for the support that EEP has provided to me throughout the past four years.”
Also at Cal State L.A., Pyon currently serves as vice president for finance for Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) campus government and academic chair of the EEP Club. He previously served as the chief justice and associate justice for ASI and as a mentor for the EEP Club. He is also an active member of the Mock Trial Club and the Chemistry and Biochemistry Club.
Off campus, he has volunteered for LOVE LA: Food for the Homeless and AWANA (church youth group).
“Daniel is one of the youngest student leaders that I have the honor of working with, and he demonstrates a standard of leadership within ASI that is respected by fellow student leaders and staff,” said CSULA’s Intef W. Weser, ASI executive director. “I can reassure you that any investment in Daniel will be repaid through commitment, leadership, motivation, and determination to meet the academic goals and challenges placed before him.”
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Working for California since 1947: The 175-acre hilltop campus of California State University, Los Angeles is at the heart of a major metropolitan city, just five miles from Los Angeles’ civic and cultural center. More than 20,000 students and 220,000 alumni—with a wide variety of interests, ages and backgrounds—reflect the city’s dynamic mix of populations. Six Colleges offer nationally recognized science, arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education and humanities programs, among others, led by an award-winning faculty. Cal State L.A. is home to the critically-acclaimed Luckman Jazz Orchestra and to the Honors College for high-achieving students, opening in fall 2011. Programs that provide exciting enrichment opportunities to students and community include an NEH-supported humanities center; a NASA-funded center for space research; and a growing forensic science program, housed in the Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center. www.calstatela.edu