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May 18, 2005
DH 05 PH086
Contact: Pamela Hammond
(310) 243-2001
phammond@csudh.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cal State Dominguez Hills celebrates its
39th Annual Commencement at the Home Depot Center

More than 4,000 graduates to enter California’s economy
better equipped with bachelor ’s or master’s degrees

Carson, CA – The 39th Annual Commencement at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) will be held on Friday, May 20, at the Home Depot Center Soccer Stadium, a world-class sports facility on the CSUDH campus. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.

“When you listen to the testimonies of our graduates,” says CSUDH President James E. Lyons, Sr., “it becomes obvious that CSUDH will be awarding diplomas that will strengthen the South Bay workforce. So many of our graduates use their degree for upward mobility on their current job; or, they use this new degree to seek other employment in a field that is more to their liking.”

Joining President Lyons and the Commencement Platform Party will be two special guests:

• Keynote speaker Dr. Antonia Coello Novello has served the public’s health needs for more than two decades, including as the 14th Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service under President George H.W. Bush and, currently, as the 13th New York State Health Commissioner. She was the first Latina, and first woman, to be named Surgeon General.

• Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters recipient Dr. Ngugi wa Thiong’o has risked his freedom, career, literary rights and his life for his critical writings about colonial rule, Christianity, and the post-colonial corruption and abuses of Kenyan citizens’ civil rights. In recognition of his personal and professional achievements and meritorious service to society, the degree will be presented by California State University Trustees Robert G. Foster and Raymond W. Holdsworth.

The CSUDH Associated Students, Inc. President José Reyes will speak on behalf of the Class of 2005, recently named by Hispanic Outlook magazine in its "Top 100" national list of colleges and universities conferring the most bachelor's and master’s degrees upon Hispanics (according to the latest report by the National Center for Education Statistics).

“Commencement will be a day of joy and fulfillment – a day of celebration,” says ASI President Reyes. “Commencement is not just for the graduating students, it is also a day for the entire campus community, strongly committed to the education and success of our students, our university, our community and our society. I will be thanking them for their efforts in ensuring a healthy education for students at the Great Cal State Dominguez Hills.”

President Lyons and Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Allen A. Mori will be recognizing honors recipients and conferring the degrees. Those graduates are members of one of five colleges on campus – and the first to graduate from CSUDH’s new five-college structure: The College of Education, the College of Business Administration & Public Policy;; the College of Health & Human Services; the College of Liberal Arts; and the College of Natural & Behavioral Sciences; plus the College of Extended and International Education.

President Lyons notes: “CSUDH will be sending a number of our graduates on to graduate school – perhaps professional and law school. Hopefully, they will return to their communities to make them a better to live. At Dominguez Hills, we have instilled this attitude of making a difference and have encouraged our students to participate in the life of their communities.”

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