California State University Northridge (CSUN) has awarded a rare scholarly recognition (Wolfson Scholar) to a 21-year-old Tongan student, Angelina Finau from Los Angeles. To be a Wolfson Scholar, a CSUN student must not only have an exceptional academic record, but also must have made a significant contribution to the University and community.

Angelina, who studies Political Science, stated in a CSUN media release, “I can’t believe that this girl whose family comes from these little islands in the Pacific, Tonga, that nobody has ever heard of — I’m nobody special — is getting this award.”

Among the many contributions outlined by CSU, Angelina helped improved graduation rates while working in University’s Office of Student Success Innovations [2], researched water conservation habits of Los Angeles renters, performed as the lead witch in a production of “Macbeth”, volunteered as a coach for her former high school’s speech team, and worked as a volunteer at New Horizons – a non-profit that works with persons with disabilities.

Angelina also spent a semester in Washington D.C., as an Intern where she got to shake hands with President Barack Obama.

Finau stated “I remember being in Washington D.C., on the steps [of the Lincoln Memorial] and thinking – How is this possible for a girl from a little island that nobody has heard of?”

“What I learned was that no matter what talents you have, it is your civic duty to give back and change as many lives as possible,”

Angelina will be officially distinguished at an CSUN Honors Convocation this Saturday May 13, she is among only six students singled out of over two thousand CSU graduates to be a Wolfson Scholar. She is due to graduate with a Bachelors in Political Science in two weeks.