>> Good evening and welcome.
My name is Jennifer Summit.
And my capacity is
Interim Provost
and Vice President
for Academic Affairs.
I have the distinct
pleasure of welcoming you
to San Francisco State
University's Honors Convocation.
Those of you in academic
regalia may remove your caps
if you choose.
As we begin tonight's
celebration,
I want to take a moment to
thank our San Francisco State
University Student Musicians
for that beautiful performance.
Thank you.
[ Applause ]
Please be seated.
Welcome to our 2017 All
University Undergraduate
Honors Convocation.
Tonight, we celebrate
the scholarly success
and special achievements of
over 100 talented, determined,
and accomplished San
Francisco State students.
Our President, Leslie Wong,
could not be with us, tonight.
But he shares the joy and
the pride that we all take
in honoring these students.
They have met the highest
standards during their years,
here, rising to the
challenges given them
by our exceptional faculty.
They have enriched our lives,
for education is a
distinctly two-way process,
as we trust the we have theirs.
We want to recognize our Honor
Students and their achievements,
and so we gather at the
end of the academic year
to applaud their exemplary work,
and wish them well
for the next step.
We trust that they are
leaving with an education
that has prepared them to
enquire freely, to think
and analyze independently,
and as they've often
heard President Wong say,
to own their own mind.
And we trust that
they are leaving
with that distinct feature
of a San Francisco State
University education
that we cherish dearly; the
ability to apply their knowledge
in ways that will better
the world around them.
Representatives of our
university community are here
to join with us in
this convocation.
You will meet many of them
as the evening proceeds,
but I want to start by
introducing some of them, now.
Will the following
individuals please stand,
as I introduce you?
And please, hold your
applause until the end.
Luoluo Hong, Vice President
for Student Affairs.
Lori Beth Way, Interim Dean
of Undergraduate Education
and Academic Planning.
Deborah Masters,
University Librarian.
Lily Gee, President
of the University
Women's Board Association,
whose members are this evening's
official convocation greeters
and the hosts of our reception
at the Student Center,
later this evening.
Our two stage marshals,
Jeff Cookston,
Professor of Psychology
and William Christmas,
Professor of English
Language and Literature.
[ Applause ]
I also want to acknowledge
our two Faculty Marshals,
Dorothy Tsuruta, Professor
of Africana Studies,
and Connie Ulasewicz, Professor
of Apparel Design
and Merchandising.
[ Applause ]
We teach some of the most
talented students in the world.
When they first arrive on
campus, we introduce them to one
of the world's finest
teaching faculties.
Who've come to San Francisco
State out of a desire
to make a difference in
the lives of students,
while also shaping knowledge
in their disciplines.
That intersection between
student and faculty is a recipe
for outstanding academic
innovation and achievement.
To acknowledge that
relationship,
each year we ask a chief
representative of the faculty,
the Chair of the Academic Senate
to address our Honorees
and our guests.
Doctor Troi Carleton
joined San Francisco State
as a faculty member in 1996, and
is a Professor of Linguistics
in the English department.
She's led the faculty of San
Francisco State, this past year,
as Chair of the Academic Senate.
For two decades, Doctor Carleton
has served San Francisco State
as a highly respected teacher
and accomplished scholar.
In addition to her work
as a faculty member,
she has been committed to the
preservation and documentation
of endangered languages
around the world.
Doctor Carleton's academic
career has been centered
on the notion that community
members are stakeholders
in the documentation
and preservation
of their linguistic traditions.
In the mountains
of Oaxaca, Mexico,
her work had concentrated on
creating and building an archive
of the community's oral
history and Zapotec,
for their municipal museum and
international digital archives.
Students join her to
work on the archive
for three weeks, each summer.
Doctor Carleton is a
first-rate teacher, scholar,
and soon to be administrator,
as she prepares to move
into a new role as
Associate Dean in the College
of Creative and Liberal Arts.
In all of these roles,
she lends her talents
to making the community
around her a better place.
In short, she is a great
citizen of this university.
I'm now, pleased to present
Doctor Troi Carleton.
And her talk, tonight, is
called, ''What comes next?
Engaging your inner core.''
[ Applause ]
>> I had to print if off,
again, with bigger print.
So. First of all,
I'd like to start
by congratulating all of you.
It's such an honor to be here to
celebrate all of the hard work,
perseverance, and impressive
accomplishments represented
by our new graduates at San
Francisco State University.
Graduates, you are here
with your family and friends
because you've not only
reached a level of achievement,
that in this institution
merits special recognition.
You've also, demonstrated
a high potential
for great achievement
in the future.
Your achievements here and
then in the future, however,
go beyond your quantifiable
GPAs you've earned,
or any salaries that
may lay ahead.
Your achievements will
be tied to your character
and your vision of what a humane
and just world looks like.
It will tap into your intrinsic
qualities as human beings
and as citizens of our
global and local communities.
It will fully engage the
very core of who you are.
Now, to be sure, we're certainly
here to celebrate you, tonight.
That said, before
getting too far into this,
I think it is a perfect
opportunity to celebrate
and acknowledge all
the friends and family
and teachers and mentors.
Who have provided you with
the support and encouragement
that has brought you
to this very moment.
Most of us would not be
where we are today in life,
if at least one person
had not believed
in us enough to give
us a chance.
So, let's take this opportunity
and now pay tribute to all
of those in this room
who have believed in you,
with a hearty, warm applause.
[ Applause ]
So, in the lyrical words of King
George the Third, as portrayed
in the musical Hamilton,
''What comes next?'' This is
probably a question you've been
asking yourselves, since
at least you turned
in your Gap forms.
And it is certainly
a question that all
of these lovely people we've
just applauded will be asking
you in about an hour and a half.
Don' panic, don't panic.
Seriously, this is
probably not the first time,
and it certainly
won't be the last time
that you will find yourself
at a crossroad in life,
contemplating what comes next.
A wise colleague, who happens
to be sitting on this stage,
tonight, said to me as
I was taking on the role
of an Academic Senate Chair
two years, ago, quote,
''There is always the
temptation you think you can
or should do it all.
You can't and you shouldn't.
Decide on what's
important to you.
A couple of things that you know
you can make a difference with.
And then, make it happen.''
The question, of course, is,
''How do you narrow down all
the things that need to be done,
into a doable list of things
that can be done?'' Now,
to be sure, the pressure
is on you
and your generation
to do heroic things.
This is no joke.
You really and truly are
the future, and we really
and truly are counting on you.
Certainly, never in my lifetime,
have I experienced such a sense
of urgency, such a sense of
uncertainty, and such a sense
of widespread anxiety.
That said, I don't want
you to get the impression
that this is all on you.
With challenges such as
the ones we face today,
it is incumbent upon all of
us to engage our core and act
from our hearts, the locus
in which our fundamental
values reside.
Fundamental or core values are
more than just simply a list
of things that we
place importance on.
Core values are those
guiding principles
that dictate our
behavior and our actions.
Core values help us know
what is right from wrong.
Core values clarify who we are
and articulate what
we stand for.
In other words, core
values hold us accountable.
When we consider the work
of those we admire most
in the world and in
history, it's not hard
to piece together what core
values were the driving force
behind their accomplishments.
I think Cesar Chavez summed
it up perfectly, when he said,
''What I do shows
people what kind
of person I am.'' I
am constantly inspired
by my colleagues at
San Francisco State
and their commitment to the
mission of this institution.
But by the same token,
and equally so,
and I think I can speak for
everyone up on this stage,
as well as our faculty
in the audience.
We are inspired by all of you.
You are the reason we
get up in the morning
and come to work, seriously.
Because there's a
lot of traffic.
And we come.
All right.
Many of you came to
San Francisco State
because of its strong commitment
to social justice and equity.
Many of you, like all
of us sitting up here,
share with us the core values
of courage and resilience,
intellectual and creative
curiosity, and community.
And it's for these reasons
and many, many more,
that we believe in
you so profoundly.
But don't see the
confidence we have in you,
or the daunting challenges
the lay ahead as a burden.
Try to view them
as opportunities.
I won't stand here
and lie to you.
We tell every graduating
class that we believe in them,
and that they are the future.
Okay. Which is true.
And we always mean it.
But as I said, earlier, this
time we really, really mean it.
You are the bright light, and
you have the power to change
and transform this world
into a better place.
And we are confident you
will bring us along with you
as you reach the highest peaks.
So, I say to you tonight, dig
deep, engage your inner core.
The more you engage
those values,
the stronger your core will be.
The stronger your core,
the better the world.
Find that one thing that
means something to you
and that you can make
a difference with.
Because what you do matters.
It really, really does.
All great actions
originate in our hearts
and are a reflection
of our core.
As Mahatma Gandhi once said,
''Your beliefs become
your thoughts,
your thoughts become your words,
your words become your actions,
your actions become your habits,
your habits become your values,
and your values become your
destiny.'' Or as Yoda put it
in ''The Empire Strikes
Back'', ''Do or do not,
there is no try.''
So, what comes next?
You do. And we're all very
excited to see how it unfolds.
So, congratulations.
[ Applause ]
I will now, return the
podium to our Provost Summit.
>> Thank you, Senator Carelton,
for your heartfelt remarks,
and for reminding
our graduates and all
of us how we can shape the
world into a more humane
and just place, through
our characters.
We're confident that the
knowledge and experience
that we've shared with our
students will guide them
to lead rich lives,
with principles
and values at their core.
Tonight, we are recognizing
students
for their outstanding
achievements
at San Francisco
State University.
First, we'll honor those
students who were inducted
as members of Phi Beta
Kappa in a prior ceremony.
Following, we will honor
117 undergraduate students
who are graduating in the
top one and a half percent
of the students from
their academic colleges.
Most of them will graduate
with magna cum laude,
or summa cum laude.
Finally, we will honor 57
undergraduates who've been
selected by their academic
departments and programs,
to receive special
recognition for excellence
in their particular field.
This final group includes six
students who have been singled
out to represent all of
the graduating seniors
in their respective colleges.
Each of the six colleges
is invited
to select one outstanding
student
to represent all the
others in their area,
in the Honors Convocation
here, tonight,
and also, at Commencement.
They are selected because of
their outstanding academic
achievements and their other
significant accomplishments
that you'll hear
about this evening.
These six students, seated
here in the front row,
will receive the symbolic
investiture of the hood
at our Commencement
ceremonies, tomorrow.
This year marks the
41st anniversary
of the first installation of our
Phi Beta Kappa Chapter Members
at San Francisco
State University.
The President of the University
Chapter is Doctor Masahiko
Minami, who is in the
audience, tonight.
Doctor Minami, would
you please stand?
[ Applause ]
Ours is a university that
stresses the liberal arts
as a basis for all instruction.
Phi Beta Kappa, the
oldest honorary society
in the United States,
recognizes students
who have successfully
demonstrated breadth and depth
of study in the Sciences,
the Humanities,
and the Behavioral
and Social Sciences.
The National Society of Phi Beta
Kappa established the Omicron
of California, at San Francisco
State University 41 years,
ago, in 1976.
Since then, only 934 San
Francisco State University
students have met the
requirements to be elected
to Phi Beta Kappa
out of a pool of more
than 187,800 graduating
students.
As you could expect, the
selection process is rigorous.
I'm proud to introduce
the Phi Beta Kappa members
who are able to join
us, tonight.
And who've been initiated into
the Omicron California Chapter.
I ask that each student please
stand as I call your name,
and remain standing until
all members are named.
They are; Devon Maureen
Mitchell.
[ Applause ]
Dominic Joseph Rubino.
[ Applause ]
And Paloch Suchato.
[ Applause ]
Please, join me in
congratulating these students
for their outstanding
academic achievements.
[ Applause ]
You may be seated.
I would now, like to introduce
the Dean of the College
of Business, Linda Oubre,
who will present the
faculty representatives
and students according
high academic honors
from the College of Business.
>> Thank you, Provost Summit.
And good evening to everyone.
I would like to introduce
the Chairs
and faculty members representing
the academic departments
in the College of Business,
and ask them to remain standing
until all faculty members
have been introduced.
They are; Theresa
Hammond, Accounting.
Susan Cholette, Decision
Sciences.
Michael Potepan, Economics.
Xi Han, Finance.
Andrew Walls, Hospitality
and Tourism Management.
Sameer Verma, Information
Systems.
Roblyn Simeon, International
Business.
Jason Harris-Boundy, Management.
And Judi Strebel,
Chair of Marketing.
Please, join me in
applause for these faculty.
[ Applause ]
You may be seated.
As I introduce the Honor
Students from the College
of Business, I would ask that
each student please stand
and remain standing
until all of the students
from the category
have been presented.
Please hold your applause until
all students have been called.
These are the students
graduating
in the top one point five
percent for the College
of Business, along
with our special major.
In Accounting; Sydnie Chan,
Candice Leung, Anita Chong Liao,
Quanxin Li, Frida
Segev, Yuzhen Zhong.
In Economics; Paloch Suchato.
In Finance; Nadia
Lukito, Andrei Padraru.
In General Business; Callie
Anne Calva, Lena Zaatri.
In Hospitality and Tourism
Management; Shuqing Li.
In Information Systems;
Valerie Badua, William Stoeckel.
In International
Business; Niki Shizuko Wong.
In Management; Amanda
Lupone and Sudhar Siman.
In Marketing; Emily Elizabeth
Holtz, Rachael Medina,
Lian Ramon Ortega, Cynthia Tu.
In Special Major,
Socio-Cognitive Marketing
for Pro-Social Business;
Christopher Docco.
Please join me in
congratulating our honorees.
[ Applause ]
You may now, be seated.
[ Applause ]
I would now, like to
present those students
who have been selected
by their departments
for special recognition.
Odgerel Batbold, Accounting.
Xuewen Zhu, Decision Sciences.
Paloch Suchato, Economics.
Trieu Nyugen, Finance.
Shuqing Li, Hospitality
and Tourism Management.
Valerie Badua, Information
Systems, Niki Shizuko Wong,
International Business.
And Emily Elizabeth
Holtz, Marketing.
Congratulations.
[ Applause ]
You may now, be seated.
As Provost Summit mentioned,
each of the colleges selects
one student to receive the hood,
tonight, on behalf of
all of its graduates.
I'm very pleased to introduce
this year's hood recipient
from the College of
Business, Valerie Badua.
[ Applause ]
Valerie, graduating with a
BS in Information Systems,
has overcome a number
of obstacles.
One of them being distance.
Throughout her two years at San
Francisco State, she commuted
from Murrieta, in
southern California,
where she lives with
her husband.
During the week, she would stay
in San Francisco with family.
She made the sacrifice
and transferred
from Irvine Valley College,
because at the time,
SF State was one of the
few schools with a focus
on Information Systems.
She's also, the first
in her family
to earn a Bachelor's degree.
But perhaps, the biggest
challenge for Badua,
has been becoming a new mom.
She gave birth to her
son, Gabriel, in January,
and says it's been hard
to balance a pregnancy
and motherhood with school.
''It's been a long journey,
because my husband and I found
out I was expecting when I was
still in school,'' she said.
She found out she was having a
baby last spring, and enrolled
in four classes over the summer,
so she could finish faster.
''When I finally had my baby,
it was a big adjustment,''
she said.
But challenge is not something
Badua shies away from.
In fact, it defines
many years of her life.
At ten, she and her family
immigrated to the United States
from Russia and lived
in Sacramento.
''There was a big adjustment
trying to learn a new language
and adjust to new
culture,'' she said.
At 18, she enlisted
in the Marines,
because she was compelled by
its core values; honor, courage,
and commitment, and the
emphasis on teamwork.
In 2005, she deployed
in Iraq for 11 months.
''It opened up my eyes to people
and how we generally
want the same things.
We want safety, we want
family, we want the chance
to pursue happiness.''
After sustaining an injury
during a training exercise,
she was medically
discharged from the Marines.
Despite her injury,
she was grateful
for the experiences she gained,
which included meeting her
husband, a fellow Marine.
She credits her success
to her supportive husband
and professors, who
accommodated her
through her pregnancy
and motherhood.
Badua says she hopes to
get a Master's degree
and pursue a career
in the tech industry,
working with information
systems.
But right now, her
focus is her baby.
It's a challenge being a new
parent, but it's very rewarding.
Congratulations, Valerie,
in all you've achieved,
both academically
and personally.
We wish you much success in
your future goals and dreams.
[ Applause ]
It is now, my pleasure
to introduce Interim
Dean Nancy Robinson,
who will present the faculty
representatives and the students
from the Graduate
School of Education.
>> Good evening.
The Graduate College of
Education is the only college
in San Francisco
State University
that is primarily
a graduate school.
We prepare students who
already have their baccalaureate
degrees, to be professional
educators and service providers.
The Graduate College
of Education offers only
one undergraduate degree,
the Bachelor of Arts in
Communitive Disorders,
within the department
of Special Education
and Communicative Disorders.
Representing the faculty
from the Graduate College
of Education's undergraduate
program, tonight,
is Doctor Laura Epstein.
[ Applause ]
>> The following students in the
Department of Special Education
and Communicative Disorders,
majoring in Communicative
Disorders are among those
who are graduating with
high academic honors.
Pia Etchegoin, Jensen David.
Congratulations.
[ Applause ]
Now, I'd like to present
the student who was selected
as our department honoree,
Monika Zacharewicz,
in Special Education, in
Communicative Disorders.
[ Applause ]
I am proud to present
Pia Etchegoin,
the undergraduate hood recipient
for the Graduate
College of Education.
I'll tell you a little
bit about her.
Pia Etchegoin grew up
in Argentina and came
to San Francisco State
University after several years
of travel and work in
Europe, Asia, and Australia,
where she met her husband.
When the couple moved
to the Bay Area
after he received
a job offer here,
she quickly made attended
SF State her goal.
''I love the campus.
Even when I was at community
college, I would drive by and go
for walks around
here,'' she said.
''It was very different
from what I was used to.
In Argentina, we don't have
these kinds of campuses.
Lots of green and people,
everywhere.'' Etchegoin is
graduating with a Bachelor
of Arts in Communicative
Disorders.
At first, though, she
found her classes difficult
and was worried that her
English wasn't good enough.
She says, ''There were
lots of questions.
It would take a really
long time to grasp things.
I always had a dictionary
with me,'' she said.
''But now, my dictionary
has graduated.
I don't need it as
much, anymore.
This was a huge accomplishment
for me.'' Eventually,
Etchegoin began tutoring
other students.
She's been a lab manager for
the Gray Matter Laboratory
at SF State under the mentorship
of Doctor Teresa Gray,
where she contributed to
research projects working
with adults with aphasia.
Additionally, she volunteers
at a speech and language clinic
in the Mission District.
Etchegoin is due to give birth
to a baby boy, this summer.
And she hopes to pursue her
graduate degree in speech
and language pathology,
very soon,
and plans to become a
speech language pathologist
to help those who struggle
to find their voice.
She credits the open
cultural mindset
and the friendly students
and professors at SF State
for giving her the encouragement
to pursue her studies.
She says, ''I'm not embarrassed
here, to speak another language
or have an accent
or make a mistake.
At first, I wouldn't
talk to people,
because I had a thick accent.
But people here,
wouldn't mind, at all.
I'm very interested in
bilingualism and I'm able
to work with people here, on
that.'' Pia, we honor you,
tonight, for not
allowing language
to hinder your academics.
We wish you much success in
all of your future studies
and helping others
find their voice.
Felicitaciones [foreign
language].
[ Applause ]
Now, I'm pleased to introduce
my colleague, Kenneth Monteiro,
Dean of the College
of Ethnic Studies,
who will now present the
faculty representatives
and honor students from the
College of Ethnic Studies.
[ Applause ]
>> Thank you, Dean Robinson.
The faculty from the College of
Ethnic Studies in attendance,
tonight, are; Professor Dorothy
Tsuruta, Africana Studies,
Professor Grace Yoo,
Asian American Studies,
and Professor Belinda Reyes,
Latina/Latino Studies.
Thank you.
[ Applause ]
Be seated.
The high academic honor
student for the College
of Ethnic Studies is
Erika Jasmine Jauregui.
I may have not done that well.
I'm got the last name right.
Jauregui. And I'm not sure she's
be able to attend this evening.
The following students
are department honorees.
Eboni Nicole Maxwell,
Africana Studies.
[ Applause ]
Shannon Deloso, Asian
American Studies.
[ Applause ]
Thank you.
You may now, be seated.
It's now, my honor to introduce
this year's hood recipient
for the College of Ethnic
Studies, Shannon Deloso,
who is graduating with
a Bachelor's degree
in Asian American Studies.
For Shannon, moving from
Sacramento to San Francisco,
leaving her family back
at home, was daunting.
But she found her way
to San Francisco State
and by merging herself
in Ethnic studies
and joining a half dozen
clubs or so, she settled in.
Deloso, the daughter
of Filipino immigrants
and a first-generation college
student was the president
and the CEO of the Associated
Students Incorporated
for the 2016-2017 school year.
[ Applause ]
She found her purpose teaching
the high school Ethnic Studies
class in the San Francisco
Unified School District
and campaigning for the
Ethnic Studies program
at San Francisco State.
She says, ''I'm a shy person.
But ethnic studies
was a turning point.
I started to feel this
urge to advocate more,
to push myself.'' Deloso
is graduating with a degree
in Asian American Studies
and a double minor in race
and resistance studies
and also in education.
Her advice to current and future
San Francisco State students;
''Take an ethnics
studies course.
That's even more important
in today's political
climate,'' she said.
People have the idea that
ethnics studies is just
for people of color, when in
reality, it's a space where all
of us can learn about
one another.
Deloso was a member of the
League of Filipino Students
and Kappa Si Epsilon, where she
helped develop Mula Sa Ugat,
the first Filipino American
student organization coalition.
She worked with Project Connect
and the Pacific Islanders Club.
And has also served as the
Associated Students College
of Ethnic Studies
representative for 2015-2016.
She has been accepted to
the University of California
at Los Angeles, and this fall,
she will pursue a Master's
degree in education.
She plans to continue
teaching ethnic studies,
and would like to be a
school principal, someday.
''Working with youth is
something I'm passionate about,
' she said.
''Because of my experience
here, I want to provide a space
where they can feel empowered to
learn, learn about themselves,
and to understand about
self-determination
and agency.'' Shannon,
you are sent forth as one
of our ambassadors
for ethnic studies.
We wish you success in
this promising future
that awaits you, and also those
young minds you'll empower
to succeed.
Congratulations.
[ Applause ]
I now, have the pleasure of
introducing my colleague,
Dean Alvin Alvarez, who
will present the faculty
representatives and honor
students for the College
of Health and Social Sciences.
Alvin.
>> Thank you, Dean Montiero.
The department Chairs
and faculty representatives
here tonight, from the College
of Health and Social
Sciences are; Linda Platas,
Child and Adolescent
Development.
Gretchen George, Consumer
and Family Studies/Dietetics.
Rick Harvey, Health Education.
Anthony Mayo, Kinesiology.
Sheri Sassarini,
School of Nursing.
George Barganier, Public
Affairs and Civic Engagement.
Erik Rosegard, Chair
Recreation, Parks and Tourism.
Susanna Jones, Director,
School of Social Work.
Marla Ramirez, Sociology
and Sexuality Studies.
Connie Ulasewicz, Chair,
Consumer Family Studies
and Dietetics.
Thank you, for joining
us, tonight.
[ Applause ]
The following students
from the College of Health
and Social Sciences are
among those graduating
with the highest academic
honors in our college.
Please stand as I
call your name.
In Child and Adolescent
Development,
Monica Sonia Dell'Aglio.
In Consumer and Family Studies
and Dietetics, Patrick Newton.
In Criminal Justice,
Jennifer Cruz-Rios,
Jenny Salgado, and Kyle McKoy.
In Health Education, Amy Lozano.
In Kinesiology, Gabrille
Brianne Roa.
In Nursing, Charlotte Canda
and Jennifer Dawn Price.
And in Sociology,
Erika Jasmine Jauregui.
Please, join me in
congratulating our [inaudible].
[ Applause ]
Our students here, tonight, who
are given special recognition
by their individual departments.
And please, stand
as I call your name.
Monica Sonia Dell'Aglio, Child
and Adolescent Development.
Patrick Newton, Dietetics.
Jennifer Cruz-Rios,
Criminal Justice.
Elsie Arias, Health Education.
Dominic Joseph Rubino,
Kinesiology.
Tara Nicole Flesner,
School of Nursing.
Michael Bennett,
Recreation, Parks and Tourism.
Nathan Padilla, School
of Social Work.
Erika Jasmine Jauregui,
Sociology and Sexuality Studies.
Congratulations.
[ Applause ]
I'm not only pleased, but
very honored and moved
to introduce this year's hood
recipient for the College
of Health and Social
Sciences, Michael Bennett.
Michael, would you please stand.
[ Applause ]
Michael is receiving
his Bachelor's degree
in Recreation, Parks,
and Tourism.
And let me tell you why.
Michael Bennett was a
homeless veteran who dealt
with drug issues and
rose out of poverty
to earn a Bachelor's
degree at the age of 62.
[ Applause ]
He credits the overall
mission and spirit of SF State,
and most specifically,
Project Rebound program,
which helps formerly
incarcerated earn
college degrees.
He says, ''Social
justice means a lot to me.
I'm the product of
social justice.''
For the last 23 years, Bennett
has been a community advocate
in San Francisco, working with
homeless and low-income adults
and families, military veterans,
middle school students.
First-time offenders, at risk
youths, unemployed adults,
and adults trying to
improve their physical health
and nutritional wellness.
He has worked as the
director of Physical Activity
and Nutrition Wellness Program
at the Bayview Hunters
Point YMCA,
and is currently a Community
Engagement Specialist
at Candlestick Point State
Park Recreation Area.
Bennett continued working full
time while taking a full load
of classes.
He says, he felt pride driving
down 19th Avenue before
each class, and was excited
to be among younger
students of color.
He says, ''When I come on
campus, I feel excited.
My chest is stuck out.''
Stick it out a little bit.
There you go.
''I'm going to miss every
day going to my classes,
showing up on time,
and sitting in close
to the professors.'' He
says, his Recreation,
Parks and Tourism classes have
strengthened his commitment
to work with marginalized
residents,
to improving health disparities
with wellness opportunities.
And to providing
recreational opportunities
to an aging population.
That includes his work
in Bayview Hunters Point,
where people who
have lived there
for decades are being
forced out by rising rents.
''I think it's a great
accomplishment to graduate
as a senior, as a student
over 60 years old,
from this university.
And I appreciate that they
found the room to be open
to older students on campus,
and to be open to listening
to their experiences.''
Michael, we commend you
on all you have had to overcome
to be here, in this moment.
And for all that
you have taught us.
Celebrate it, because you,
sir, have definitely earned it.
Congratulations.
[ Applause ]
I told you I was moved.
I'm now pleased to introduce my
colleague, Dean Andrew Harris,
who will present the
faculty representatives
and honor students
from the College
of Liberal and Creative Arts.
Dean Harris.
[ Applause ]
>> Thank you, Dean Alvarez.
I would like to introduce
the department Chairs
and faculty members representing
the academic departments
and programs for the College
of Liberal and Creative Arts.
Please hold applause
until I finish.
Peter Richardson,
American Studies.
James Quesada, Anthropology.
Victor De La Rosa, Art.
Marie Drennan, Broadcast and
Electronic Communication Arts.
Celine Shimizu, Cinema.
Gillian McIntosh, Classics.
Christina Sabee,
Communication Studies.
Dane Johnson, Comparative
and World Literature.
Paul Hoover, Creative Writing.
Marty Linder, Design.
William Christmas, English
Language and Literature.
Laura Lisy-Wagner, History.
Carel Bertram, Humanities.
Mahmood Monshipouri,
International Relations.
Venise Wagner, Journalism.
Mariana Ferreira,
Liberal Studies.
Ben Sabey, Music.
Justin Tiwald, Philosophy.
James Martel, Political Science.
Laura Wayth, Theatre and Dance.
Julie Hua, Woman
and Gender Studies.
[ Applause ]
These are the students
from the College of Liberal
and Creative Arts accorded
with high academic honors.
In Anthropology;
Victor Alejandro Cortes,
Benjamin Hoeppner Holt,
Devon Maureen Mitchell.
In Art; Michelle Jones,
Alexandria Belda
Martinez, Hironori Suzuki.
In Broadcast and Electronic
Communication Arts;
Shayne White.
In Cinema; Corelise
Marie Specht.
In Creative Writing; Cai En
Chia, Shelby Anne Urbina.
In Design and Industry;
Daisy Jesse Gerstein.
In History; Gerald Morlidge,
Hailey Joy Scandrette.
In International
Relations; Genevieve Lane.
In Liberal Studies;
Juliana Jorgensen.
In Philosophy; Shayan Koeksal.
In Political Science;
Alyscia Richards.
In Women and Gender
Studies; Iris Janet Diaz.
Please, join me
in congratulating these
outstanding students.
[ Applause ]
You may be seated.
The following students have been
selected by their departments
and programs to receive special
recognition for excellence
in their respective fields.
Again, kindly withhold applause
until I name all the students.
Benjamin Hoeppner
Holt, Anthropology.
Alexandria Belda Martinez, Art.
Jon Alonso Ayon, Cinema.
Carolyn Arches, Classics.
Ariana Balagtas, Comparative
and World Literature.
Bradley Penner, Creative
Writing.
Nicole Maimon, Dance.
Callum Leneman, Design.
Phinora Diep, Humanities.
Genevieve Lane, International
Relations.
Oscar Gutierrez, Journalism.
Juliana Jorgensen,
Liberal Studies.
Bryndan Moondy, Music.
Shayan Koeksal, Philosophy.
Alyscia Richards,
Political Science.
Maya Louise Smoot, Theatre Arts.
Daniela Montserrat Marquez,
Women and Gender Studies.
Congratulations to you all.
[ Applause ]
You may be seated.
I am honored to introduce the
undergraduate hood recipient
for the College of Liberal and
Creative Arts, Callum Leneman.
[ Applause ]
Raised by a cabinetmaker
and ceramics teacher
in rural Topanga Canyon, Callum
had a number of creative tools
and resources at his fingertips.
Growing up, he explored various
artistic outlets like sewing,
drawing, and even
screen printing.
When he arrived at SF State,
he knew he'd pursue a path
in design or the arts,
and when he took a class
in industrial design he
realized this was the way
to coalesce his disparate
interests into one discipline.
''Industrial and product design
is basically problem solving,
' Leneman said.
And what appeals to him about
that, is creating solutions
that serve the greater good.
As a student, he created a
wide range of product designs,
including a splint for dogs
recovering from surgery,
a folding chair designed
for senior citizens
that maximizes comfort
and facilitates movement,
and a software application
that helps Alzheimer's patients
manage critical information.
Leneman's most proud
of his senior project called the
Attune, a coat that helps people
with post-concussion syndrome
safely navigate public spaces
around public transit
through haptic feedback.
Many people who suffer from
this syndrome have migraines,
anxiety, and other
cognitive disorders
in the presence of loud noises.
He said, he came up with a
project after meeting a girl
who lost her eyesight
after a concussion.
She eventually, regained her
sight, but would sometimes faint
if she heard a siren or a
loud noise, an extreme symptom
of post-concussion syndrome.
To create this jacket,
Leneman conducted surveys,
interviewed health
professionals,
and other patients.
He also, mapped sound
types, volume,
and meaning through subway
stations in San Francisco.
When worn, the garment
translates different sounds,
such as transit announcements,
into vibrations felt
over different parts
of the body.
So, the wearer can receive and
interpret transit information.
After graduation, Leneman
said he hopes to land a job
in a consulting firm working on
product and industrial design,
and specifically for a
company that's designing
for social impact.
Quote, ''My definition
of success is how I can
maximize whatever skills
or resources I have
to actually contribute
to society,'' he said.
Callum, thank you for
incorporating into your art,
the need to serve
the greater good.
Your desire to help our
society is applauded.
We wish you much success in all
that the future holds for you.
Congratulations.
[ Applause ]
Now, to present the
faculty representatives
and to honor outstanding
students from the College
of Science and Engineering,
it is my honor
to yield the podium
to Dean Keith Bowman.
>> Thank you, Dean Harris.
The Chairs and faculty
from the College of Science
and Engineering, here tonight,
are; Carmen Domingo, Biology.
Teaster Baird, Chemistry
and Biochemistry.
William Hsu, Computer Science.
Petra Dekens, Earth
and Climate Sciences.
Cheng Chen, Engineering.
Jennifer Blecha,
Geography and Environment.
Matthias Beck, Mathematics.
Ron Marzke, Physics
and Astronomy,
and Jeff Cookston, Psychology.
Thank you, faculty.
[ Applause ]
Now, I will introduce the
students from the College
of Science and Engineering
that are eligible
for high academic honors.
In Biochemistry; Eric Yip.
In Biology; Michelle Respler.
In Biology with a concentration
in Physiology; Alexandra Nguyen.
In Biology with a concentration
in Zoology; Sydnie Lau.
In Civil Engineering;
Yifeng Xu, Chaoyu Qiu.
In Computer Science;
Adolfo von Zastrow
and Mayara Brandao Dusheyko.
In Geography; Jeannie
Rose and Emily Tam.
In Geology; Beth Holmes.
In Mathematics; Ash Abbott.
And in Mechanical
Engineering; Rachel Stoerkel.
For Psychology; David
Alexander Chang.
Congratulations, students.
[ Applause ]
The following students have been
selected for special recognition
as departmental honorees;
Talia Hart, Clayton Thompson,
Paul Klein, Yifeng
Xu, Jeannie Rose,
Ash Abbott, Megan Tangonan.
Congratulations.
[ Applause ]
I am very pleased to ask
Talia Hart to stand, again,
as the undergraduate hood
recipient for the College
of Science and Engineering.
Miss Hart is receiving
her BS in Biology.
She wasn't sure she would
pursue a degree in the sciences
when she came to SF
State as a freshman.
In fact, she started out as
a major in Communications,
because she really wasn't
sure she wanted to spend all
of her time inside
of a laboratory.
She was student body President
at El Camino High School,
during her senior year.
She had thought about
pursuing science,
but felt she wasn't
meant to be in a lab.
She said, ''I am meant to
be out talking to people
and communicating.'' Not
really understanding, then,
that science can
also offer that.
She took Biology
100, Human Biology,
a class for non-science
majors in her second semester.
And that's when things
really clicked for her.
The human bio class
was very relatable.
''You're learning
about your own body
and you're learning why it
functions the way it does.
The professor made it easy to
grasp and simplified the science
without dumbing it down,
and it captivated me more
than anything else.'' That
was when she started looking
at what she could do
with a BS in Biology.
She applied to the
Maximizing Access
to Research Careers
program, known as MARC,
which helps support
underrepresented minority
undergraduates in
biomedical science
and prepares them
for Ph.D. programs.
While in the program, she
was exposed to the work
of the Society for Advancing
of Chicano and Native Americans
in Science, known as SACNAS.
She became an active
member and has worked
to get other Latinos
excited about science.
''Grade schools come into our
labs and see that you don't have
to look a certain way or come
from a certain background
to be good in science,''
she said.
During her time at SF State,
Talia examined the way
embryonic cells use signals
from neighboring tissues to
develop into muscle cells
at different times
in development.
This research is currently
being prepared for publication.
She plans to continue
studying biology,
and specifically stem cells
and developmental biology
in a Ph.D. program
at a university some
of you may have heard of.
She hopes also, to
spread her love of science
to her new community in Boston,
where Harvard University
is located,
and where she will study.
Talia, we are honored and proud
you chose to major in Biology.
We wish you endless success in
all of your future pursuits.
Congratulations.
[ Applause ]
It is now, my pleasure to
welcome Provost Summit back
to the podium for
her closing remarks.
>> Thank you, Dean Bowman.
As we prepare to close,
I would like to pause
to acknowledge our Deans.
Let's give each of our
remarkable Deans a round
of applause for their
tireless, inspiring,
and outstanding support and
service to our students, staff,
and faculty at San
Francisco State.
[ Applause ]
Those are my heroes.
Tonight, we have
seen what makes this
such an extraordinary
university.
We are a public heritage
university
where individuals establish
a higher education legacy
for their families and
generations to follow.
And where our graduates'
skills and talents in turn,
build a legacy of
success for our state,
the nation, and the world.
Our students are as talented
and as exciting a group
as you will find anywhere.
And their very backgrounds,
cultures
and experiences enhance
our excellence.
This Honors Convocation offers
us an exceptional opportunity
to make a large university
a little smaller
and a little more personal.
We heard a rich array of
individual stories tonight,
as our hood recipients
were introduced.
If we had the same opportunity
to learn about each student
on this stage, we would
be awed by the courage,
intellectual breadth, and
accomplishments and perseverance
of every last one of them.
This has been a proud evening
of celebration and admiration
for the outstanding
achievements of our students.
Let me ask you, once
again, to applaud these soon
to be graduates, who have made
this such an inspiring evening.
[ Applause ]
And now, I'd like to ask
our students to stand.
All of those we're
honoring, tonight,
please stand for a moment.
I have a reason for
asking them to stand,
and that reason is you.
We stand to applaud, to
recognize and thank you.
The parents, friends, relatives,
children, mentors, and teachers
who have supported our
students throughout this stage
in their academic career.
Thank you, for the investment
that has nurtured
these scholars.
As you've heard, many
of our honor students would
not have been successful
without your steadfast support.
Therefore, it seems only
appropriate for all of us.
Here on stage, our honor
students, our faculty,
and the audience, to salute
you, the families and friends
who have guided and encouraged
these students throughout
the years.
Will our honorees please join
me in a round of applause?
[ Applause ]
Please, be seated.
This evening's celebration does
not end with this ceremony.
Thanks to the university
Women's Association,
which sponsored our first Honors
Convocation 39 years, ago,
and has participated
every year, since.
We are all invited to a
reception in Jack Adams Hall,
at the Cesar Chavez
Student Center.
I look forward to
seeing you all, there.
I now, ask that our guest remain
seated until our honor students
and faculty have
left the theatre.
Students are reminded to
stop by Knuth Hall to pick
up their award certificates,
before going on to
the reception.
Our 2017 Honors Convocation
has come to a close.
As you, our honors graduates,
are soon to leave us,
know that you go with our
love and our confidence.
Wherever the next step
in your lives takes you,
you will forever be one of ours,
a San Francisco State alumni.
It has been our pleasure to
prepare you for what lies ahead.
