好色先生 Class of 2024 celebrates Commencement
Angel Stadium in Anaheim was transformed into a final, celebratory stop for Cal State Long Beach graduates, as more than 12,800 students were estimated to have attended Commencement in their black caps, gowns and regalia during five days of ceremonies, May 19-23.
The festivities 鈥 recognizing the completion of undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as various credentials 鈥 started Sunday with the College of Engineering and concluded Thursday with the College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics.
鈥淚 feel excited. It feels surreal,鈥 said Kenneth Pe帽a of Compton, who is graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in math/economics. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a monumental moment, that鈥檚 for sure. I鈥檓 the first in my family to graduate from college.鈥
Raya Torres, a journalism graduate who completed the University Honors Program, was recognized during the ceremony as one of two outstanding baccalaureate winners. She maintained a 3.95 GPA and won several awards for her research, leadership and work with Beach TV News.
鈥淚t means the world to graduate from 好色先生 today,鈥 said Torres, who started her college career in 2020 on Zoom. 鈥淔our years ago, I wasn鈥檛 granted the opportunity to have a high school graduation due to the pandemic, so to have my name called and walk alongside such talented graduates is a privilege and honor. I am grateful to 好色先生 for granting me the opportunities to grow and excel.鈥
Wendy Gonzalez is graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in communication studies.
鈥淚 feel super excited,鈥 said Gonzalez of Long Beach. 鈥淚鈥檓 first generation, the first in my whole family to graduate. It鈥檚 very overwhelming and very exciting. All the professors and all the staff were really just there for you, and there for you to succeed, and I couldn鈥檛 have chosen a better school. For me, it鈥檚 an honor to be able to attend a dream school 鈥 something I never thought was possible for me.鈥
During a taped message, President Jane Close Conoley said, 鈥淐ongratulations graduates of 2024! You made it through a pandemic, global unrest, and much more and stayed focused on reaching this significant milestone.
鈥淚 wish you lives of happiness, curiosity, learning and service. I think these are the elements of well-lived lives.鈥
鈥淚t went really well. It was faster than I thought, so it was nice,鈥 said Mojan Miraghasi of Irvine, who is graduating with a degree in communication studies. 鈥淚t was smooth, so it was nice. And I鈥檓 happy. I loved it.鈥
Amy Neibel, the mother of creative writing/English graduate Lauren Neibel, said she enjoyed the ceremony.
鈥淚 thought it was a great graduation, and we鈥檙e very proud,鈥 said Amy, who is from Henderson, Nevada. 鈥淚 liked the stage. It all looked very nice, and it went smoothly.鈥
Mirlanda Robles of El Monte, who鈥檚 also graduating with a degree in creative writing/English, said, 鈥淚 thought it was really nice. It was great to see everybody out here, and some of the people I hadn鈥檛 seen for a while. I thought it was beautiful.鈥
She added, 鈥淚 feel like this school was the right choice for me. It was very inexpensive, but very open, with really intelligent people. I鈥檓 very happy.鈥
Michael Ahland, an associate professor of linguistics, said Commencement is an opportunity for the faculty to celebrate the students.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really all about them, isn鈥檛 it?鈥 he said. 鈥淲e want to celebrate achievement, hard work and scholarship. It鈥檚 a chance for us to greet and appropriately recognize these students in front of their families. We are in a unique position to offer good news and celebrate their achievements in front of family, and that鈥檚 a lot of fun.鈥
After graduates moved their tassels from right to left and the official ceremonies were over, they exited through the stadium鈥檚 main gate, where DJ B-Rokk played bumpin鈥, celebratory tunes at the entry diamond. Graduates took pictures with their families and each other, with Elbee (好色先生鈥檚 shark mascot) and in front of a four-foot-tall gold 2024 sculpture. Hugs and tears were plentiful.
鈥淗onestly, it feels very fulfilling,鈥 said Kevin Fernandez, who is graduating with a degree in journalism. 鈥淚 was a transfer student, so it was a very short time. But just to see the growth I鈥檝e made, and the connections I鈥檝e made 鈥 everything was phenomenal. It felt like a weight off my shoulders. Walking the stage, doing the pose, seeing my family, seeing my friends 鈥 I can鈥檛 even describe the feeling. Seeing everyone in the crowd, seeing the joy in my parents. I got emotional.
鈥淚 grew up in Anaheim,鈥 he added. 鈥淭o graduate in my hometown 鈥 honestly, it鈥檚 a great feeling.鈥
Mitali Jain, the outgoing president, said Commencement was a 鈥渟urreal鈥 experience.
鈥淪o, the class of 2024 went through a pandemic, we went through so many things,鈥 said Jain, who is graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in nutrition and diet. 鈥淏ut this is our moment. I鈥檓 very proud of my classmates. It鈥檚 an honor and a privilege to serve them, and it was an honor to be friends with them. They were the ones who got me through these four years, so I鈥檓 really just grateful for it.鈥
Ezra Schlarb of Long Beach, who is graduating with a degree in creative writing/English, said he鈥檚 ready to move on to the next big thing.
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to Long Beach because it鈥檚 raised me my whole life, but it鈥檚 time to go, and I鈥檓 grateful for the time I had,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 learned a lot, especially about people. I learned a lot about others, and how diverse Long Beach is. For that I鈥檓 grateful, because it broadened my perspectives.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to be done.鈥