Cal State San Bernardino culminated its June commencement this past weekend with more than 2,000 capped and gowned students participating in six separate graduation ceremonies. The first ceremony was held on Thursday, June 17, in Rancho Mirage for Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus. The university’s Coussoulis Arena hosted the remaining five graduation exercises on Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20.

CSUSB also had a featured guest speaker for two of the commencements. Juan Sepulveda, director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, spoke at 9 a.m. at the university’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences commencement and later at the 6 p.m. College of Education credential ceremony, both on June 19.

Sepulveda is the director of the White House Initiative in engaging Hispanic students, parents, families, organizations and anyone working within the education system in communities nationwide to improve the academic achievement of Hispanic Americans.

Cal State San Bernardino also presented two honorary Doctors of Humane Letters during the graduation.

The first honorary doctorate was presented during CSUSB’s Palm Desert Campus graduation ceremony to philanthropist Betty M. Barker, a longtime university supporter who was instrumental in raising the funds to develop the satellite campus.

The second honorary doctorate was presented during the College of Education’s graduation ceremony to developer James R. Watson, who has been a strong financial contributor to the university, headed the fundraising campaign to support the new College of Education building and helped establish the Watson and Associates Literacy Center on campus.

The university also honored 11 graduates as the outstanding graduates and undergraduates. The recipients were:

• College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Heather Fikas, outstanding graduate student; Mark Ocegueda, outstanding undergraduate student;

• College of Natural Sciences, Erin Strong, outstanding graduate student; Matthew Strader, outstanding undergraduate student;

• College of Business and Public Administration, Susan Powell, outstanding graduate student; Rachel Wolfinbarger, outstanding undergraduate student;

• College of Arts and Letters, Kimberly Aguilar, outstanding graduate student; Nadine Hanhan and Aaron Brock, outstanding undergraduate students; and for

• CSUSB’s Palm Desert Campus, Lynda Kerney, outstanding graduate student; Antonio Salcedo, outstanding undergraduate student.

See the CSUSB Office of Academic Computing and Media online slide show at CSUSB 2010 Commencements. Also, you may view videos of main campus commencement ceremonies.

For more information about the June 2010 graduations, visit the CSUSB commencement website.