Nick Conoway, a graduate of La Quinta High School, began his educational journey as a first-time freshman at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus in the fall of 2017, and just over three years later, he became a member of the CSUSB Class of 2020, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in accounting.

Conoway, who graduated this fall summa cum laude, or with the highest distinction, is a member of the first group of University Legacy Scholars at PDC and the first University Legacy Scholar to graduate from the Palm Desert Campus since the program began in fall 2017.

The University Legacy Scholarship at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus provides an opportunity for outstanding graduating high school seniors attending high schools in the Coachella Valley to compete for an academic scholarship to attend the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus. The University Legacy Scholarship provides for up to $7,000 per year (currently the cost of tuition and standard fees, net of financial aid) for four academic years, leading to a baccalaureate degree.

“Being awarded the University Legacy Scholarship was a major accomplishment for me,” said Conoway. “Obviously, the instant relief of not having to bear the financial burden of college was amazing, but the best thing about the ULS is the change to your psyche. As a University Legacy Scholar you feel an immense sense of honor and duty to your community and campus, and you are pushed to do your best. Being a University Legacy Scholar provided me credibility with the staff, faculty and students that led to amazing opportunities and relationships.”

While attending PDC, Conoway was involved in many student activities including being a member of the Student Ambassadors Society, an orientation leader and an officer of the Business Club. He was also selected to attend the 2020 University of California Summer Institute for Emerging Managers and Leaders (SIEML) at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, which was held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, based on his exceptional leadership and graduate academic potential.

Conoway says that his fondest memory from his years at PDC was working as a tutor at the campus’s Student Success Studio (S3). “Professor Gina Hanson was an incredible boss, mentor and friend. My co-workers were amazing and are still some of my closest friends today,” said Conoway. “I also really enjoyed helping students achieve their academic goals. I will miss the daily interactions with my classmates and professors at PDC. Fortunately, I remain in contact with many of my classmates, professors and advisors.”

Conoway has some advice for current college students who are on their way to graduation: “Get into a group of classmates that will support you. College can be an emotional rollercoaster and you will need other classmates that you can share your frustration, stress and success with. Also make meaningful relationships and leverage them. University life became much easier once I made relationships with PDC’s advisors, counselors, professors and students. I heavily relied on so many people at PDC and would have not been successful without them.”

Now that Conoway has graduated, he has big career plans. He recently accepted a full-time offer to join Deloitte’s Los Angeles office in summer 2021 as a tax consultant within the Business Tax Service (BTS) group. Between now and summer 2021, he will be studying for his CPA exams, and hopes to earn his CPA credential by the end of next year. 

For more information about the University Legacy Scholarship program at the Palm Desert Campus, including the form to apply, visit the University Legacy Scholarship website.

The CSUSB Palm Desert Campus offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees, a doctorate in educational leadership, and teaching credentials and certificates. With more than 1,600 students, it is the Coachella Valley’s four-year public university and plays a vital role in educating and training the region’s growing population.

For more information about the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, contact Mike Singer in the Office of Strategic Communication at msinger@csusb.edu or (760) 341-2883, ext. 78107, or visit the campus website at www.csusb.edu/pdc.