Class of 2009 Celebrates Commencement

More than 2,000 new graduates of California State University, Dominguez Hills participated in commencement exercises at the Home Depot Center located on the Carson campus. The master’s hooding ceremony, which took place on Thursday, May 21, welcomed 490 graduate students, their families and friends to the Tennis Stadium. Jamie McCourt, CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers gave the keynote address. The following morning, 1,525 undergraduate students celebrated graduation on the facility’s main soccer field. U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis saluted the Class of 2009 with her keynote address.

Solis urged graduates to keep striving in the face of difficult economic times. "We need you to help us overcome this challenge," Solis said. "We need people like you to step up. We need your enthusiasm, energy, and your creativity."

Joining the undergraduates in their celebration were 20 CSU Dominguez Hills alumni representatives. In addition to marching in the commencement processional, alumni had a chance to connect with and support graduates, and reconnect with each other and faculty.

Clara Weston: History Undergraduate Takes Statewide Honors With Research on Street Vendors

When Clara Weston was looking for a topic to present as her senior seminar project in History 490, she was directed by her professor, Erika Verba, to find one at the Southern California Social Studies and Research Library in South Los Angeles. While looking through several options, the 60-year-old history major at California State University, Dominguez Hills found documents that described initiatives that were established more than 20 years ago to regulate and protect Los Angeles' growing population of street vendors.

After presenting her findings on "Street Vendors: Compelling Voices on the Pathway to Social Justice and Acceptance" at the CSU Dominguez Hills Student Research Day last February, she took her project to the 23rd annual CSU Student Research Competition last month, and placed second statewide in the Humanities and Letters category. Click here for full story.

Alumni Notes

Valerie Soohoo (Special Education Certification '02) is one of six teachers recognized as Preschool Teacher of the Year by Los Angeles Universal Preschool. Soohoo has 12 years of classroom experience and teaches special education students at LAUNCH Preschool in Torrance.

Audra Pittman (MA '04), an assistant principal at Pioneer High School in Whittier, has been appointed principal of La Cañada High School.

June Averiette (BA '80), a teacher at St. Paul Catholic School, has been recognized by Cambridge Who's Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in all aspects of education. With 27 years of experience in the education field, Averiette specializes in teaching reading and composition writing.

We’d like to hear from you! Your friends at CSU Dominguez Hills want to know what you're up to! Email the Office of Alumni Programs at alumniprograms@csudh.edu.

June 26. Music, Movies and More Symposium will introduce students to influential people in the entertainment industry, both onstage and behind-the-scenes, and educate participants on the future of the industry. The symposium will be held from 12 noon to 4:30 p.m. in the Loker Student Union Ballroom. This event is free for CSU Dominguez Hills students and only $3.50 for high school students. Register online or contact David Gamboa at (310) 243-3819 for more information.

Stay Connected! Help us keep your contact information current so you don't miss out on invitations to events, your alumni e-newsletter, and more! Update your information online here.

If you submit the online form by July 10, 2009 your name will be entered in a raffle to win a $100 Visa gift card.

Did you know that the percentage of alumni who make donations to CSUDH is one of the primary ways we are judged in publications like US News & World Report? Your gift, regardless of the size, helps your alma mater!  Visit our Online Giving website to make a donation or call (310) 243-2182.

Did you know you can make a gift that provides a fixed income for life? More information can be found on our Planned Giving website or by calling 310-243-2182.

Athletics

Alumni Connection

Alumni Giving

Dateline: Dominguez Hills

Social Networking Sites