Elsie Allen High senior Ben Nguyen is Santa Rosa City Schools high school student of the month for May.

Nguyen, the class valedictorian, has earned a 4.58 grade point average and is bound for Dartmouth in the fall.

Because of his extensive studies and commitment to Elsie’s University Center program, Nguyen will graduate in two weeks having completed all of the general education requirements for a bachelors of arts degree.

As president of the award-winning campus Interact Club, Nguyen has been driving force behind big service efforts at Bayer Farm, clean up at Colgan Creek, work at the Marine Mammal Center and a fundraiser that pulled in $14,000 for students in Ghana.

Earlier this month, Nguyen was awarded the Press Democrat Youth Service Award for Community Action.

Nguyen hopes to become a doctor but has embraced philanthropy as a driving force in his life.