Christopher Carson once found himself on a dangerous trajectory. He was born and raised on 107th Street and South Vermont Avenue, an area long acquainted with gang culture and the violence that accompanies it. “It’s what you’re used to when you live with it,” says Carson. “It’s what you know.” In 2016, a court convicted Carson of attempted murder and sentenced him to 12 years in prison. But for the steadfast love of family and friends, and the timely intervention of unexpected mentors, Carson might have succumbed to the hopelessness of the prison industrial complex and come to believe that he would only ever be defined by his mistakes. Instead, he joined some 4,400 other students on ... Read More
Students
Daily Breeze: 2024 Graduation – CSUDH Kicks Off Commencement Season for South Bay, Long Beach Areas
Source: Daily Breeze (Photo Gallery) The late-night cram sessions and anxiety-inducing exams are over — so it’s time to celebrate. Cal State Dominguez Hills kicked off two days of commencement ceremonies, which will see thousands of students graduate, on Friday morning, May 17, with the colleges of Education, and Arts and Humanities. The first of two commencement ceremonies for the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences took place Friday afternoon. An evening graduation honored those from that college, and the College of Health, Human Services and Nursing. All those ceremonies, as well as three more set for Saturday, took place at Dignity Sports Health Park’s Tennis Stadium, in ... Read More
La Opinión: Spectacular Latin Graduation Celebration
Source: La Opinión (Spanish) Rostros llenos de alegría y alguna que otra lágrima de emoción fueron parte de penúltima de seis ceremonias de graduación en la Universidad Estatal de California Domínguez Hills. En las gradas del Dignity Sports Health Park Tennis Stadium de Carson, miles de familias y amigos acudieron para aplaudir, festejar y abrazar a sus hijos, hermanos, tíos o amigos, quienes vencieron barreras y lograron la meta anhelada de graduarse. Fueron 4,400 los estudiantes graduados, y de ellos, el 68.9% son hispanos/latinos. Tras desfilar a través de un túnel del estadio, Michael Spagna, rector de la universidad y vicepresidente de asuntos académicos dio la bienvenida a los ... Read More
Benefactors Give Big to College of Ed in Annual Scholarships for Aspiring Educators
The distribution of scholarships each year by the College of Education (COE) demonstrates the generosity of CSUDH’s many benefactors, but it also reinforces the university’s commitment to education and to the training of our next generation of educators. “We’re awarding more than 40 scholarships today, totaling more than $100,000,” said Jessica Pandya, dean of the COE, during opening remarks at an awards ceremony on April 27. “In the current context, with the state budget as it is and with rising tuition costs, these dollars are so critical to our students’ success.” Thomas A. Parham, President of CSUDH, gave a warm welcome to student recipients and their parents, as well as the many ... Read More
Kennedy Center Honors Toro Student Playwright
Whenever CSUDH student and aspiring playwright Wayne Sam needs inspiration or motivation, he glances over at an old typewriter that was given to him by his late grandfather. “He was a writer as well,” says Sam. “He really wanted me to write and pushed me forward. He promised me his old typewriter when he passed. It doesn’t work, but that’s not the point. It’s always there to remind me that there have always been people who believed in me.” All that motivation, inspiration, and belief has led to Sam being awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award at the inaugural Nathan Louis Jackson Playwriting Awards, part of the Kennedy Center’s American College Theater Festival. He won for his ... Read More