Ethnic grads color campus

By Carrie Porche Jones, On-line Forty-Niner

May 27-29,1998

The Pyramid resounded with the music of Mariachi performance groups, and the stepping of Peruvian dancers at the ninth annual Chicano-Latino celebration Sunday.

 

Approximately 4,000 people, including 160 to 200 graduates, participated.

 

"We are recognizing parents for contributions and the students for their accomplishments," said Robert Lara, assistant director of the USU, and advisor for the graduation celebration.

 

A reception with salsa music and dancing was held after speeches by President Robert Maxson and Raul Vargas, director of Mexican-American Alumni Association at The University of Southern California.

 

Ethnic graduations are not ceremonies, but celebrations to thank spouses, significant others, parents, children, relatives and friends of Cal State Long Beach 1998 graduates.

 

Four other ethnic celebrations honored Black, Native American, Pacific Islander and Filipino graduates.

"It's more of a celebration than a ceremony because it's a more intimate environment," said Coordinator of Student Life and Development, Brett Waterfield. "It is a smaller program and students can say 'thank you.' "

 

Waterfield coordinated the African-American graduation celebration Saturday in the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. Approximately 140 graduates participated and 1,700 attended.

 

The keynote speaker was Walter Kimbrough, director of student activities and leadership at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. The program also ended with music and a reception.

 

The annual Pacific-Islander celebration was the first of its kind in an institution of higher learning and has become an example for other universities in the nation, said Coordinator of Campus Events Val Lihang.

 

The fourth annual celebration took place Friday, in the Multipurpose Rooms of the University Student Union.

 

This year's celebration was dedicated to the memory of advisor-mentor Dr. Henry Sioux Johnson-Koo, who died this January.

 

"We are honoring his contributions and success with the students," Lihang said.

 

The program included cultural presentations, music, dances and acknowledgments of sponsors. Two awards for leadership were presented to students and an outstanding faculty member received The Embrace Award.

 

Eni Hunken, a representative of American Samoans Saleomavaega, was the keynote speaker at the celebration.

 

Cultural entertainment and a reception honored parents and students of Filipino descent. Nap Harris, director of student life and development coordinated the Filipino graduation celebration Friday on the South Plaza of the USU.

 

Funds for the graduation ceremonies are raised by student fund raisers, Associated Students Inc., student organizations and donations.