Cameron Swick Earns Citizenship Award
Cameron Swick, Placer High School graduate and now Cal Poly graduate with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology, is recognized with the Cal Poly Kinesiology and Public Health Department Citizenship 2019-2020 Award.
"The Department of Kinesiology and Public Health is proud to award Cameron Swick the 2019-2020 Citizenship Award. Cameron consistently demonstrated his dedication to excellence, collaboration and service both in and out of the classroom. He could always be counted upon to answer the call for department activities that required student support such as volunteering to participate in pilot studies, photo-ops, tours for prospective students, Open House, and WOW. Cameron often supported his peers by providing tutoring and facilitating study groups and always treating others with compassion and respect. Notable achievements during his time at Cal Poly include conducting, presenting and publishing research with several professors, leading the Cybathlon Club Soft Goods Team in designing and building a powered exoskeleton for a student with paraplegic cerebral palsy, serving as the trombone section leader in the Cal Poly Marching Band, and being on the team that won the Jeopardy Bowl competition at the 2019 Southwest ACSM Conference. Cameron and the team were slated to compete at the 2020 National ACSM competition, but the conference was cancelled due to COVID-19. We are proud of Cameron's accomplishments and his contributions to our department." -Statement from Kinesiology and Public Health Department.
Swick graduates Summa Cum Laude with minors in both psychology and biology. He attributes his success to the unwavering support from family, friends, and professors.
"I'm extremely grateful for the opportunities that I have been provided," Swick said. "I see this graduation as a steppingstone that will help me to give back to my community and my professional field."
Swick says he enjoys how Kinesiology applies foundational elements of science to health, exercise, and treatment of various conditions.
"If I had chosen a different major, I don't think I would have the same appreciation for my classes, and I would not be near as invested in my education and career," he said.
Swick chose the Cal Poly College of Science and Mathematics and the Kinesiology and Public Health Department because of Cal Poly's emphasis on Learn by Doing.
"The smaller class sizes and the wealth of opportunities to work with professors were the icings on the cake," Swick said, "Cal Poly truly felt like a place where student success was prioritized, and each student was valued."
Swick says that he is incredibly grateful for all of his teachers at Placer High School, who encouraged his curiosity.
"Many teachers went out of their way to make the courses as engaging and interesting as possible so that I was excited to learn about the material," he said.
Swick plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in physical therapy and rehabilitation research.
"I hope that I can contribute to our knowledge of rehabilitation and improve people's lives as they recover from injury and illness."