SDSU-IV celebrates Class of 2019
CALEXICO — Thursday night marked the beginning of a new personal, professional and intellectual journey for more than 300 San Diego State University-Imperial Valley students as the university held its 59th annual commencement ceremony.
Family, friends and SDSU faculty and staff gathered at the campus’ Rollie Carrillo Quad to congratulate and celebrate 333 students receiving their bachelor’s degrees and 29 who received their preliminary teaching credentials.
During her presidential address at the start of the ceremony, SDSU President Dr. Adela de la Torre explained how she enjoyed the conversations she’s had with students during her visits to the Imperial Valley campus.
“I’ve observed you and listened to you closely” the president said. “I remain impressed by your insights, your creativity and your intelligence. I’ve also heard your dreams and aspirations to make a difference here in the Imperial Valley.”
De La Torre praised the Class of 2019 for helping introduce new classes and programs to the campus.
“Your advocacy for expanding resources and opportunities at the Imperial Valley campus has resulted in leadership and your faculty seeing the importance of this vision for future students in the community,” she said.
Congratulatory remarks were given by SDSU-IV Associated Students Council president Anthony Acosta.
SDSU-IV Dean Dr. Gregorio Ponce introduced the ceremony’s keynote speaker, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Bermudez-Montenegro, who serves on the U.S. District Court in El Centro.
Montenegro centered her commencement speech on the importance of using time wisely and shared an experience of her own to illustrate her point.
In high school, she was pondering becoming an attorney after being told by teachers she would be in school “forever” (seven years, in actuality) and would finish school at the age of 25.
It wasn’t until Bermudez-Montenegro had a discussion with her father that she was able to make a decision.
“He told me that in seven years, I would be 25 years old, or, in seven years, I’ll be a 25-year-old law school graduate,” she said. “I chose the latter.”
Montenegro encouraged the Class of 2019 to not work against time, but work with the precious gift of time in realizing their goals.
During the ceremony, three students in the graduating class were honored for special achievements.
Daniela Garcia received the Award for Academic Excellence; Chelsea Lee Castañeda was named Outstanding Graduate for her academic work and service to the campus and community; and David Herndon was recognized as the Public Administration program’s Outstanding Graduate for both the Imperial Valley and San Diego campuses.
Garcia, who is graduating with a degree in liberal studies with an emphasis in mathematics, held the highest grades in the graduating class.
She also won the Quest for the Best Award, which was given to only 10 students throughout the university.
The award recognizes academic excellence, student service and activities, community service and leadership development. She completed her degree in just three years.
A Calexico resident, Garcia plans to enroll in the teaching credential program at SDSU-IV in the fall.
Castañeda, a Holtville resident, is an English major who aspires to be an English teacher.
As a writer, filmmaker and comic book creator, she was described by faculty members as extremely bright and talented.
Her three children and husband were cast in some of the films she created for her class assignments.
She named Professor Jeanette Shumaker as her most influential professor.
Herndon, a native of Detroit, served an enlistment in the Marines prior moving to the Imperial Valley and starting his college career.
While he started at Imperial Valley College with the idea of studying business administration, he had changed his major to public administration by the time he enrolled in SDSU-IV.
The Heber resident said his goal “is to help change people’s lives for the better.”
Herndon earned the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and summa cum laude recognitions, a competitive USDA internship and the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts Outstanding Student of the Year Award, which includes all SDSU campuses.
He named Assistant Professor David Kanaan as the person who most influenced him during his college career.