Excitement, jubilation, and pride were palpable throughout the six Commencement 2022 ceremonies, where thousands of graduating Toros finally realized their dreams of walking the stage to the resounding cheers of family and friends.
This year, CSUDH welcomed the return to its traditional commencement format, with more than 3,300 graduating students and 34,000 guests packing the Dignity Health Sports Park Tennis Stadium over the course of May 20 and 21.
Prior to the reading of graduates’ names, each ceremony included a distinguished keynote speaker and speech by a selected student. The student speakers praised their fellow graduates’ perseverance in the face of grave challenges, shared their visions for the future, and expressed profound gratitude for their time at CSUDH and their supporters.
Excerpts from the Commencement 2022 Student Speakers
“I can humbly say that I gave my entire heart to different pieces of this university, and in return, it gave me the best experiences of my life. Thank you endlessly, Dominguez Hills, for giving me the space to let my light shine as bright as the sun.”
– Katrina Felipe, Physical Education
“I thank my parents for helping me survive this journey, guiding my footsteps, and by paving the way even when times were tough, or even though they had challenges of their own. So before we ever feel discouraged, we must remember we are Toros who are buoyant, limitless and have overcome battles many individuals have lost.”
– Gracie Williams, Health Science
“Today we are here for the reason for showing your achievement with expressing gratitude to your parents and your family, make them smile with great feeling. I want to ask you to always perform the same thing with the same prosperity you are doing. We spent our entire lives trying to make our parents proud. Today, we made them proud.”
– Arman Izadifar, Information Technology
“Reaching your goals doesn’t have a time limit; it took me over 30 years, and with God’s grace and with the love and support of my children and family, I can stand in front of you as a graduate. So although it has taken me awhile to get here, I made it; we have made it.”
– Linda Irving, Business Administration
“All these people, my village, helped me to where I am today. I didn’t finish my degree in 4 years ,and maybe you didn’t either, and that’s ok, because all of us today get to say that we finished. The experiences here at DH made us come together and learn a new way to succeed in life.
– Adelina Torres, Biology
We have all that we need to move abundantly in all ways making our perspective and presence known, felt. Changing and contributing to shifts in thinking that are serving the greater good rather than self-serving. We are the official game changers! There is so much work to do. We need more access, we need more equity. It’s a huge undertaking. However, we are the movers and shakers of this class of 2022 and we will get the job done!”
– Andrea Thomas-Harris, Education
Photos from Commencement 2022
More photos will be available in the coming days on csudh.edu/commencement.
Graduates on Social Media
Social media was also abuzz with graduates’ reflections, photos, and shout-outs. Several snapshots from the Class of 2022 are below, but there are many more. To view more grad posts, search #csudhgrad22 on Instagram.
