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The primary source of news and information about California State University, Dominguez Hills, its students, faculty, and staff.

You are here: Home / Archive / Features / Commencement 2022 Strikes a Joyful Chord

Commencement 2022 Strikes a Joyful Chord

May 26, 2022

Graduates celebrate with streamers

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

Katrina Felipe

“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

Gracie Williams

“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

Arman Izadifar

“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

Linda Irving

“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

Adelina Torres

“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

Andrea Thomas-Harris

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

A graduate amidst the streamers
Graduates celebrating
President Parham onstage at Commencement
Commencement audience
Graduates and commencement audience
Graduates smiling and posing
Commencement guests in audience
A graduate walking the stage
Graduating friends posing
A graduate walking amidst streamers
A graduate with a Galaxy soccer player
Graduates walking under a sign which says "once a Toro, always a Toro."
A graduate turning her tassel
Streamers being released over the crowd
Graduates and Teddy the Toro
A dog in a graduate's backpack
A graduate hugging a faculty member
A graduate filming his walk across the stage
Confetti being released
Teddy the Toro and CSUDH administrator
President Parham amidst graduates
A graduate waving in the crowd
A graduate making Toro hand sign
Graduates in the audience
A graduate celebrating
A graduate
Graduates celebrating with streamers
A graduate celebrating

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.

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A post shared by • S A M • (@samdarling___)

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A post shared by SHANE HARDY (@theehardy)

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A post shared by 〽️ (@erick_nlmb)

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A post shared by Gabrielle (@jaadaakuyaas)

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A post shared by Ciarra Asuncion (@ciarrazard_)

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