Though he will return to the United States to participate in Fresno State’s 107th Commencement ceremony on May 19, Leslie Hille has been studying abroad for the past year and a half through the CSU International Program at the Université Paris Nanterre in France.

Leslie, a double major in French and political science with a GPA of 3.61, was the undergraduate student of distinction for the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures.

Université Paris Nanterre is considered to be one of the most prestigious French universities, specifically in the areas of law, humanities, political science, social and natural sciences and economics, according to Dr. Rose Marie Kuhn, professor of French at Fresno State.

“Leslie’s GPA includes his courses at the Université Paris Nanterre, in Paris, France, where grading standards are more conservative than in U.S. universities,” said Dr. Kuhn.

She added: “Leslie is an exceptional person who has dreams and works hard to make them a reality. He is an inspiration to others, an advocate who speaks on behalf of those whose voices are not otherwise heard, and a young man who never gives up.”

Leslie believes Fresno State has made him ready for a globally diverse future.

"My education at Fresno State has prepared me to accept diversity in our world," said Leslie.

See more.