William Trevilla always knew he wanted to be a historian. But his love for history took on a new meaning in 2009 when a near monthlong coma erased most of his memories. During his recovery, the Cal State Fullerton alum relied on photos, letters, journals and social media accounts to piece together his past.
“I learned first hand the importance of primary sources,” said Trevilla ’24 (B.A. history). “That’s why I decided to pursue history — I needed to go back in time to relearn what happened, so I could understand the future and the present.”
When he decided to return to college, he knew that it wasn’t going to be an easy road. Although he was able to regain most of his memories, his neurologist said that Trevilla might struggle to retain new information.
“I had three heart failures when I was in a coma and I almost didn’t make it,” said Trevilla. “But when I woke up, I wanted to make the best of the situation and find a way to positively impact the world around me.”
With the help of CSUF’s Disability Support Services and the community he found in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Trevilla achieved a 3.5 GPA overall and graduated cum laude with the Class of 2024.
For his unique connection to history and his dedication to academic excellence, Trevilla was recognized with the Dr. Jeffrey Griffith ’13 Award in U.S. History and a $1,000 scholarship.
“This award helped me build my confidence toward my next goal, which is to return to CSUF to earn my master’s degree in history and teaching credentials,” said Trevilla.
The Griffith Award provided him crucial financial support as he purchased new books and primary documents to further his undergraduate senior capstone research on the involvement of U.S. companies in WWII, which he presented at the annual College of Humanities and Social Sciences Research Symposium.
Outside of the classroom, Trevilla joined the CSUF History Student Association, American Historical Association and the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society, which helped him bolster his research skills and provided him networking and professional development opportunities.
“I’ve been introduced to important scholars and historians, had the chance to present my research and implement everything I learned into making a better future for myself,” said Trevilla. “I want to teach high school students about history, so they can make a difference too.”
An Alum’s Mission to Support Students
Jeffrey Griffith, who graduated in 2013 with a master’s degree in history, saw firsthand the value of a Cal State Fullerton education.
“My classes were engaging and they taught me how to approach subjects from different angles. They prepared me for the next steps in my career,” said Griffith.
Working alongside faculty experts as a student, Griffith conducted research on two of his favorite subjects: history and the National Hockey League.
A longtime fan of the Anaheim Ducks, Griffith studied the Hockey Hall of Fame through a lens of nationalism and changing social standards. His master’s thesis was added to the Hockey Hall of Fame archives, and the organization recruited him to write the third book in their “National Treasure Series” trilogy.
The book helped him gain access to several high-profile historical societies, including The Colonial Society of Massachusetts, where he was recently appointed the editor for a multi-volume series on The Papers of John Hancock.
“It was all because of the research legacy I started at Cal State Fullerton,” said Griffith.
He saw how one opportunity could lead to the next — that “ripple effect” inspired him to create the Dr. Jeffrey Griffith ’13 Award in U.S. History Endowment.
“CSUF was a launching pad for me, and I’m thankful that I can help make it that for someone else,” said Griffith. “I’m passionate about creating opportunities for students, so that they can move toward their future, whether that means conducting research, becoming a teacher, pursuing graduate studies or giving back to their community.”