Tanequa Bailey Awarded the CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement

San José State University student Tanequa Bailey has been named one of the recipients of the 2025 CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement . The prestigious annual honor, which includes a $7,000 scholarship, recognizes students for their superior academic performance, personal accomplishments and remarkable resilience in the face of challenges.

Bailey is pursuing a degree in software engineering at San José State and is interested in developing technology that expands access to essential resources for underserved communities. After a period of disruption in her life, Bailey decided to turn personal setbacks into renewed purpose. She returned to college with resilience and a strong determination to succeed.

"Overcoming homelessness has given me the courage to pursue my goals with a fervor and strength I did not have before," Bailey says. "It's an experience that shapes who I am today."

Bailey has shown a commitment to supporting thousands of Bay Area residents outside of her academic pursuits. She has worked as a courier and helped families, seniors and individuals with mobility challenges receive essential goods. What began as a job evolved into a form of service and a reminder that every effort counts.

Bailey's own experience with economic hardship has fostered a deep sense of empathy and a commitment to helping others. That is why her future plans include earning a master's degree and becoming a software engineer dedicated to building solutions that promote opportunity and equity.

The CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement is the highest student distinction within the university and grants scholarships based on academic achievements, financial need, excellence in community service and personal hardship. Since the program's inception in 1984, more than 500 CSU students have been honored with the Trustees' Award.