More than 10,000 Cal State Fullerton graduates from the Class of 2021 and 2020 will walk across the commencement stage in four days of in-person ceremonies that began with a virtual event today.
When the pandemic cancelled in-person commencement ceremonies last year, university President Fram Virjee promised graduates they would take that walk “when it was safe to do so.” More than 3,000 Class of 2020 graduates will cross the commencement stage on Saturday, June 12. A virtual commencement for all graduates was offered today. More than 7,000 graduates in the Class of 2021 are expected to participate in the university’s three ceremonies daily Sunday through Tuesday. Two guests will remain with their graduate for the duration of their time on campus and the guests will gain the front-row photo placement as their Titan takes that memory-making walk.
Visit the Commencement site to learn more about the ceremonies of CSUF’s eight colleges.
Meet dozens of the more than 12,000 Titans eligible to graduate in 2021 and read their stories of resilience on the Titans of Tassel website. CSUF graduates also are sharing their stories on Wakelet.
“Our Class of 2021 is among the most perseverant, academically excellent and social justice-minded Titans in history. We are not only proud of their achievements, but we are also grateful for the integral role they played in leading our community through this challenging time,” Virjee said. “They truly epitomize what we mean when we say…It Takes a Titan!”
Mary Angelica Hernandez tagged along, as a child, with her brother’s Cub Scout field trip to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena and space exploration piqued her imagination. Months before graduation, the College of Communications graduate secured her summer internship at NASA, and she’ll end the summer by beginning her new career in corporate communications at IBM in New York City.
Brandon D. Harris said finishing his doctorate in education amid the COVID-19 pandemic proved a herculean effort because he feared unemployment as a part-time community college instructor. But staying true to his passion for higher education and his dream of becoming a community college president, Harris doubled down on his efforts by completing additional online trainings and volunteering for various campus programs to strengthen his resume. He was named the Alumni Association’s Outstanding Graduate Student.
Teresita Ramirez Aguilar struggled with math when she was younger, but that didn’t deter her from earning a bachelor’s degree in physics. She is the first in her family to graduate from college. She starts the doctoral program in physics at Northwestern University in the fall.
About Cal State Fullerton: The largest university in the CSU and the only campus in Orange County, Cal State Fullerton offers 110 degree programs, and Division 1 athletics. Recognized as a national model for supporting student success, CSUF excels with innovative, high-impact educational practices, including faculty-student collaborative research, study abroad and competitive internships. Our vibrant and diverse campus is a primary driver of workforce and economic development in the region. CSUF is a top public university known for its success in supporting first-generation and underrepresented students, and preparing all students to become leaders in the global marketplace. Our It Takes a Titan campaign, a five-year $200 million comprehensive fundraising initiative, prioritizes investments in academic innovation, student empowerment, campus transformation and community enrichment. Visit fullerton.edu.
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