SAN BERNARDINO -- While being in the top 1 percent of your high school class helps with college admission, it doesn't guarantee cash flow. Unless, that is, you attend Cal State San Bernardino.

San Bernardino County students who graduate in the top 1

percent of their class qualify for the $5,000-per-year scholarship at the university. The President's Academic Excellence Scholarship is renewable for four years as long as the student maintains a full course load and a 3.5 GPA.

"We think it's very, very important to have the best students possible at the university,' President Al Karnig said. "By having them, we'll have programs and commitments that lift everything on campus.'

For Laura Thompson, it meant the difference between attending a university and a community college.

Thompson, who graduated from Chaffey High School in Ontario, was accepted to UC Riverside, the University of La Verne and Cal State San Bernardino.

"But none of the other schools had really offered that much (scholarship money),' the 18-year-old said. "If I hadn't gotten (the scholarship), I would have gone to a community college. . . It's not that people look down, but you sort of feel pressured to go to a four-year. I wanted to go to a four-year.'

Yucaipa High School graduate Charles Billhardt can put off enlisting in the military until after college. Then, he hopes, Uncle Sam will pay for medical school.

"I really couldn't afford college,' the 18-year-old said.

The award also is part of the university's effort to keep top students close to home.

"The chances of students going to another area and not coming back, and the region losing that talent, is certainly a factor,' Vice President of Student Affairs Frank Rincon said.

Student surveys show that about 80

percent of the university's graduates stay in the region.

"By virtue of attending here, they're likely to employ their skills, go to graduate school here and provide great benefits to the community we serve,' Karnig said.

Cal State San Bernardino started the scholarship program last year with six students. This year, 16 others signed on. Fifteen will start this fall and another in the spring. The university has not set a limit on the number of scholarships it can award, but it might have to eventually.

"On the other hand, (more scholars) will inspire us to seek more donations,' Rincon said.

The scholarship will allow 18-year-old Erica Torner to save money for UCLA medical school. The Redlands East Valley High School graduate will study psychology at Cal State.

"I can get just as good an education (at Cal State) as anywhere,' Torner said. "But it's not going to cost me an arm and a leg.'

More top students have shown interest in Cal State San Bernardino as the university has matured in the last decade, Rincon said.

"I think the region is looking at this campus in a way it hasn't before,' he said. "I think there's more recognition of the quality that's really here.'

Recipients of Cal State San Bernardino's $5,000 per year President's Academic Excellence Scholarship and their majors:

Charles Billhardt, biology, Yucaipa High School.

Andrea Brandt, physics, Rim of the World High School, Lake Arrowhead.

Elizabeth Brunelle, liberal studies, Chaffey High School, Ontario.

Adriana Cachua, administration, Rialto High School.

Rachel Ferguson, history, Eisenhower High School, Rialto.

Kristi Hardesty, accounting (second-year recipient), Fontana High School.

Brandi Harper, political science, Upland Christian High School.

Kiersten Hinckley, nutrition and food sciences, A.B. Miller High School, Fontana.

Malaina Johnson, art, Victor Valley High School, Victorville.

Michael Manzo, physics, Colton High School.

Gabriel Mueck, chemistry (second-year recipient), Serrano High School, Phelan.

Shane Olguin, communication studies (enrolling this spring, Barstow High School.

Brenda Quintero, math, Colton High School.

Megan Robinson, biology (second-year recipient), Hesperia High School.

Amber Schooley, biology, Yucca Valley High School.

Ashley Stewart, accounting, Upland Christian School.

Laura Thompson, liberal studies, Chaffey High School, Ontario.

Erica Torner, psychology, Redlands East Valley High School.

Audra Wise, biology (second-year recipient), Sultana High School, Hesperia.

Tanya Zeferjahn, administration (second-year recipient), Hesperia High School.