CSULB films to air on PBS, a Moot Court win and more Beach achievements
Making Waves is a monthly column that celebrates accomplishments of the CSULB community.
Student, alumna’s films to premiere on PBS next month
A CSULB student and a recent alumna are finalists in “PBS Final Cut,” an annual showcase for exceptional films from colleges and universities across Southern California. “The Rat Race,” directed by third-year animation major Sarah Jackson, is a finalist in the animation category. “From Farmersville,” directed by Cinematic Arts graduate Savannah Gasca ‘26, is a finalist in the documentary category.
“The Rat Race” will screen at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 on PBS (KOCE and KCET in the Los Angeles/Orange County region). “From Farmersville” will screen at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15. The episodes will also be available for streaming at pbssocal.org/finecut. Winners in each of the three categories – documentary, animation and narrative – will be honored at a public awards ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Moot Court wins Falcon Classic
Cal State Long Beach’s Moot Court team recently won the 2026 Falcon Classic, which took place this month at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. CSULB fourth-year students Lucy Sanzobrin and Shakhzoda Khodjakhonova won the Falcon Classic title with a 2-1 decision. Sanzobrin, Lunden Maeda and Khodjakhonova won top speaker awards, finishing first, second and sixth place, respectively.
This was the third year in a row that CSULB’s Moot Court team won the Falcon Classic, which is an early season appellate advocacy competition where undergraduate moot court teams simulate Supreme Court-style oral arguments in front of judges.
New Peace Corps fellowship at The Beach
Luis Quintero '21, following service with the Peace Corps, has returned to The Beach as the inaugural Coverdell Fellow for the Global Studies Department. The Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program delivers financial awards to Peace Corps volunteers who resume their educations following their service abroad.
Quintero earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and subsequently worked as a substitute teacher and taught refugee students. He was in the Peace Corps from 2023-25, serving in the Mexican state of Tlaxcala, helping to provide environmental education to middle and high school age youth. Through his fellowship, Quintero will assist The Beach’s on-campus Peace Corps recruiter and serve as a graduate assistant for the Global Studies Institute. He is pursuing a Master of Arts in International Affairs, with an interest in advocacy for immigrants.
Long Beach Trauma Recovery Center awarded $2.2 million grant
CSULB’s Long Beach Trauma Recovery Center (LBTRC) has received a $2.2 million renewal grant from the California Victim Compensation Board, ensuring the continuation and expansion of trauma recovery services for the next two years. The LBTRC provides no-cost, evidence-based therapies for individuals experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic stress. The LBTRC also serves as a training site for eight to 10 graduate students enrolled in the counseling psychology or social work programs at CSULB.
This new award will allow the center to hire additional staff while expanding services and training opportunities for the CSULB community and mental health professionals throughout Southern California.
Alumnus selected as IAEM student of the year
Ethan Scenters-Zapico ’18, ‘26 has been selected as Student of the Year from the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), which also named CSULB as the IAEM Chapter of the Year (Scenters-Zapico served as the chapter president). Both awards will be presented during the IAEM National Conference on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in Long Beach.
Scenters-Zapico obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science from The Beach, as well as a master’s degree in emergency services administration, a partnership of the College of Professional and Continuing Education and the College of Health and Human Services.
Professor’s book sheds light on exiles from Turkey
Sophia Pandya, a professor and department chair of Religious Studies, has published a new book titled “The Hizmet Movement in Exile: Refugees of Turkey's Purge” (I.B. Taurus/Bloomsbury Publishing). The ethnographic work captures stories of those exiled because of Turkey’s purge against followers of the Hizmet (Gulet) movement – a purge that began after the failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in July 2016. Pandya conducted 71 interviews with exiles, collected during fieldwork in Greece between 2018 and 2021. By integrating fieldwork, personal narratives and academic theoretical grounding, the book offers a multifaceted view of the refugee experience.
August Employee of the Month: Stephen Gray
Stephen Gray, a field sergeant with University Police, has been named CSULB’s Employee of the Month for August 2026. For over 18 years, Sgt. Gray has served the CSULB community with a deep commitment to public service, campus safety and the people around him. He has helped advance initiatives such as the department’s new drone program, improvements to campus security video infrastructure and identifying opportunities to generate revenue by coordinating the sale of surplus equipment to other agencies.
Gray is “a standout leader whose dedication to both his fellow officers and the community makes him an exceptional candidate for Best of The Beach,” wrote CSULB officer Erik Hendricks in his nomination. He “consistently demonstrates genuine care for his coworkers, fostering a supportive and professional environment where teamwork and morale thrive.” Gray was honored Aug. 18 at Friendship Walk, joined by President Loren J. Blanchard, Police Chief Carol Amaguer, Lieutenants Johnny Leyva and Miguel Sotelo and Scott Apel, vice president of administration and finance.
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