James Randall
2009 Student Awards and Scholarships
CLAS Student Achievement Award
The CLAS Student Achievement Award is bestowed on students whose lives and academic accomplishments are extraordinary in many ways. The recipients serve as beacons for others to follow.
"My experience in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change has been phenomenal! From the knowledge I've acquired in the classroom to the awareness I've obtained attending social, cultural and educational events, I have been able to embrace my experiences and mature as a student, as a leader and as a young man."
— James Randall
James was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated from Alhambra High School. He chose to attend Arizona State University because, as he explains, "it is a premier institution that is close to home." As a first-generation scholar, James wanted his family to be a part of his college experience and felt that "coming to an institution that is relatively close to home offered the perfect opportunity to share this remarkable achievement."
A well-known student leader, James has programmed several successful social and cultural projects, including Culture Fusion Night; Latin Night; and Hispanic Heritage Month. In academics, he has focused on archaeology, the early civilizations of the Americas and the early peoples of the American Southwest.
Jokingly referring to Indiana Jones and Laura Croft as his inspirations, James was drawn to anthropology at an early age. He states that, "growing up, I was captivated by the achievements of mankind and intrigued by the complex nature of human evolution." He has a particular interest in the aesthetics of culture and a desire to understand and serve humanity.
As such, his career goal is to work as a student success coordinator or program coordinator that focuses on the dynamics of multicultural students and at-risk youth. James would also like to eventually earn credentials as a secondary education instructor so that he can become head coach of a high school football team. He has been accepted into the higher and post-secondary education master's program in ASU's Mary Lou Fulton College of Education.
Special thanks to:
Alissa Ruth, Tom Hudak, David Abbott, Steven Falconer, Don Johanson, Brenda Baker, Kaye Reed, Michael Smith, Christopher Stojanowski, Barbara Stark, Colleen O'Brien and Alicia Wilbur.
James would also like to recognize the following people who helped him throughout his undergraduate experience.
I would like to say thank you to my mentors John Rome and Sheila Garcia and a big thank you to Egyirba High, Señora Anne Walton-Ramirez, Señor Jabier Elorrieta and Señora Falce-Ramirez for inspiring me to work hard on my Spanish!
I also would like to thank Jennifer Stults and the rest of the staff of Fraternity and Sorority Life, as well as all those in Student Affairs; Residential Life; and Event and Meeting Services.
And to all my friends, M&G family, brothers of Lambda Theta Phi, S.T.E.P. Multicultural Honor Society, Adelante, AAMASU, N.A.T.I.O.N.S., & S.T.A.R.S…THANK YOU!"
