ASI president earns prestigious CSU-wide award

Erin Pruitt receives scholarship from Auxiliary Organizations Association

By California State University, Bakersfield

February 24^th, 2025

Associated Students Inc. President Erin Pruitt was recognized last month for her leadership on campus.

Pruitt was selected to receive an Auxiliary Organizations Association (AOA) Scholarship of Excellence award this year, which recognizes California State University students for their academic excellence and service to auxiliary organizations on their campus, non-profits that support the college’s mission.

Pruitt received the award, which includes a $5,000 scholarship, during the AOA’s annual conference in January.

“It was an out-of-body experience, a pinch-me moment,” she said. “I’m truly honored. It feels great that the work I’ve done through ASI has had an impact.”

This was the first time Pruitt had applied for the scholarship. When she was first told about it, she wasn’t sure if she had any chance of getting it, as it is a CSU-wide award.

“I knew it was a really competitive scholarship, but reading about it, I was super excited and decided to just try,” she said. “When I found out I was a recipient, I was beyond shocked.”

Pruitt has been president of ASI for the past year. Prior to that, she served for a year as ASI’s director of students with disabilities. As an undergrad, Pruitt was selected for a congressional internship in Washington D.C. through the Panetta Institute for Public Policy and had the opportunity to work in the office of a California Congressman Eric Swalwell.

Pruitt holds a bachelor’s in communication from CSUB and is currently in her last year of the university’s Master’s in Business Administration program.

“She has been focused on making sure CSUB is more accessible and accommodating for everyone and has made herself available for anyone,” said ASI Executive Director Mike Kwon. “She is absolutely deserving of the scholarship and the recognition. She is a testament that CSUB is graduating career-ready professionals that will quickly become leaders within their field.”

Pruitt said she will use the AOA scholarship, the largest and most prestigious she has ever received, to pay for the last few classes she needs to earn her degree. She plans to pursue a career in public relations.

“This ensures I won’t have to take any more loans out,” she said. “It was a relief to know I could finish paying off the rest of my classes at CSUB, that I wouldn’t have that financial burden.”