COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SCIENCES SCHOLARSHIP PORTFOLIO (2013) | Page 138

Gerontology Program
Student Honors
Margot Katz, MA in Gerontology, is a recipient of the Graduate
Distinguished Achievement Award for her academic work and
experiential contributions in Gerontology. Margot successfully
completed her culminating research project on Family Councils: A
Route to Family Advocacy in Nursing Homes.
Katrin Richter, MA in Gerontology, is a recipient of the Graduate
Distinguished Achievement Award for her academic work and
experiential contributions in Gerontology. Katrin successfully
completed her culminating research project on Benefits and Challenges
of Creating an Age-Friendly Community.
Elizabeth Miller, MA in Gerontology, is the recipient of the Patrick
Nobis Scholarship for Excellence in Residential Care Facilities for
the Elderly (RCFE) Administration. Elizabeth’s previous experience
with American Hospice contributed to her interest in Gerontology.
She continues to be an advocate for older adults in an effort to end age
discrimination, and is a hotline volunteer with the Friendship Line at the
Institute on Aging. After graduation, Elizabeth plans to pursue a career
in long term care administration.
Kimberly Cusson, MA in Gerontology, is the recipient of the Michelle
Benjamin Scholarship for Excellence in Service Learning in LongTerm Care Administration. Kimberly is successfully completing her
internship with the San Francisco Ombudsman Program. Kimberly also
received a Sixty Plus Scholarship for Excellence in Lifelong Learning
in Gerontology. Sixty Plus is a self-financed and self-governing
organization which promotes lifelong learning experiences at SF State.
Rowena Tsang, MA in Gerontology, received a Sixty Plus Scholarship
for Excellence in Lifelong Learning in Gerontology. Sixty Plus is a
self-financed and self-governing organization which promotes lifelong
learning experiences at SF State.

Christopher Cherney, MA in Gerontology, was the recipient of the
Graduate Distinguished Achievement Award for his academic work
and experiential contributions in Gerontology. He has been a California
licensed Nursing Home Administrator in continuous practice for over
15 years. As Christopher pursued his graduate coursework and served
as a Teaching Assistant in the Gerontology Program, he excelled in
his full-time position as the Assistant Administrator of the Kaiser Post
Acute Care (K-PAC) Center serving 130 patients per day, with 330 staff,
and a $30 million annual budget.
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