Whether it was an ear-shattering whistle from a fellow graduate sitting close by, or the thunderous cheers of a group of friends and family in the stands clad in the same colored T-shirt, the reading of each graduate's name during California State University, Dominguez Hills' (CSUDH) commencement ceremonies elicited unique responses that could be shared by the entire Class of 2016. The cheers actually began long before the names were called and CSUDH President Willie J. Hagan shook the hands of the more than 3,000 graduates in in the StubHub Tennis Stadium on May 20 and 21. The loud din first erupted from the audience when the soon-to-be Toro alumni emerged from the tunnel at the ... Read More
Hollywood by the Horns Provides a ‘Voice’ for Student Storytellers
Fearlessly stepping up to the microphone without notes and in front of a live audience, 15 California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) students and two alumni shared dramatic, funny, and tear-jerking personal stories from their lives during the Hollywood by the Horns 2nd Annual “Story Slam” on May 7 in the Loker Student Union ballroom. To prepare for the Story Slam, the student participated in two workshops, “Finding Your Voice and Telling Your Story,” created to develop their verbal communication and storytelling skills through an examination and sharing of personal experiences, and “Deconstructing the Entertainment industry.” Each week throughout the spring 2016 semester, ... Read More
MSW Graduate Layla Sewell Works to ‘Awaken the Greatness’ in Local Communities
When Layla Sewell is out in the community and she hears someone say, “Look! It's Ms. Sewell!” it warms her heart –as it should having worked to warm the hearts of entire families for over 20 years. Sewell is executive director of the Awaken the Greatness Foundation (ATG), which she founded in late 2011. The Los Angeles-based non-profit facilitates, organizes and moderates workshops, classes and events that “enrich and improve the lives of African-American parents and youth.” “Working with young people just seems to come naturally to me. It's truly a joy,” said Sewell. “It's been a major part of my life for so long.” Along with her work for ATG, Sewell has been balancing her role as ... Read More
David Garza Battles Back from Car Accident to Become Army Officer, Olympian
David Garza has a lot of fight in him. He fought his way out of a coma in 2012 after a devastating car accident left the then 19-year-old California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) freshman with a traumatic brain injury. “I was in a coma for about five weeks in the hospital after the car accident. I broke my jaw–I have a metal plate in there–and my left knee was cut wide open [by a metal fuse box under his steering wheel],” said Garza, who also had his left eyebrow completely torn off, and had to breathe and eat through a tube in his neck while in the hospital. After six operations and ongoing rehabilitation, Garza was back at CSUDH fighting through his injuries for four ... Read More
Thomas Philo Honored with ‘2016 Excellence in Service Award’
For Thomas Philo, an archivist in California State University, Dominguez Hills' (CSUDH) University Library, an “exceptional sense of service” requires one to persistently look for ways to serve on campus and for “opportunities to serve that were not there before.” For his eagerness and skill in applying his vision of service for the entire CSUDH campus community, Philo was honored with the 2016 “Excellence in Service Award.” Philo will carry the University Mace, an honor reserved for highly distinguished faculty members, at the College of Business Administration and Public Policy Commencement Ceremony at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 20. The Excellence in Service Award recognizes “contributions ... Read More
