91麻豆天美app

• May 14, 2019

Commencement is upon us, and in a few short days, thousands of students will walk across the stage, filled with pride and accomplishment. Each one has persevered at our university putting in countless hours studying, balancing work, family and social life alongside research projects, exams, and clubs or sports.

The months and years preparing students for this moment is a tremendous undertaking. So with that, I would first like to thank all of you. From the faculty helping them understand how to make a difference in the world to the staff who have guided our students during their journeys at Cal State East Bay, I appreciate the efforts made by all.

While you will be hearing more stories this weekend about our extraordinary students, I wanted to highlight three of our incredible graduates who have overcome obstacles with grace, determination and grit.

At the age of 15, Chunli Cao’s family could no longer afford to send her to school in rural China, so she began working at a battery factory. The days were long and the work grueling. But after meeting several of the engineers at the factory, Chunli decided despite the odds stacked against her, she would someday earn her degree and become an engineer. Chunli is and plans to pursue a master’s. Her perseverance and bold courage in the face of adversity are commendable and exemplary of many of our students.

Another undergraduate, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program student who grew up outside Mexico City and moved to the Bay Area in second grade, is graduating after 11 years. During that time, she balanced working full time and attending school, which has allowed her to graduate debt free. As a young person, this student often stayed in the shadow of her brother, putting off her own dreams to work and support her family and his college tuition. But now, she is pursuing hers, armed with a kinesiology degree and a passion for biomechanics.

Also graduating this year, Oscar Murillo, a young man on the Autism spectrum, has excelled here at Cal State East Bay, both socially and academically. During his time at the university, Oscar studied abroad in South Korea, a feat many thought not possible due to perceived limitations of his diagnosis. Oscar has plans to return to South Korea after graduation to pursue a career in media production.

I am proud of these students and all of our remarkable graduates, as they each exemplify the Pioneer spirit and demonstrate the willpower and tenacity required to pursue a college degree. I encourage each of us to take a moment this next week to acknowledge the graduates around us for their determination and successes, and I look forward to celebrating with many of you at the university’s ceremonies May 17-19.