SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The Black Faculty, Staff and Students Association at Cal State San Bernardino will host its 21st annual Black Graduation recognition ceremony on Sunday, June 8, at 2 p.m. in Coussoulis Arena. Guest admission is free, as is parking in Lots G and H.
This cultural celebration recognizes the achievements of CSUSB African American students, giving them the opportunity to invite an unlimited number of guests, with festive musical productions, a keynote address and receive a commemorative Kente cloth. About 120 graduates are expected to participate.
Mark Hartley, director of Student Leadership and Development at CSUSB, will be the master of ceremonies, while Brian Haynes, CSUSB vice president of Student Affairs will give welcome remarks. The keynote address will be presented by Joshua Fredenburg, author, entrepreneur and leadership expert who will discuss effective leadership strategies for emerging young leaders.
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Student speakers include graduating seniors Alexis Singleton, majoring in sociology and Tiffany Jones, a mass communications major. Both are members of Student African American Sisterhood organization.
Whitney Mitchell, a graduating senior, will sing the Black National Anthem.
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This year, the ceremony will also pay special tribute to J. Milton Clark, CSUSB associate vice president and dean of Undergraduate Studies. Clark has been a champion of higher education at CSUSB, and will retire later this month after 35 years of dedicated service to the university.
In addition, Hardy Brown, philanthropist and Inland Empire publisher of The Black Voice newspaper will also receive special recognition for his service to the community. Brown will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters on Saturday, June 14, during the commencement ceremony of the College of Arts and Letters.
The San Bernardino Pacesetters drum line will perform during the graduates’ processional into and out of the arena. A dance performance by Dare to Dream Dance Academy of Fontana will take place during the ceremony.
A photographer will be available for photos of graduates and their families. A reception will follow at the Pfau Library and is open to all grads and their guests.
For more information about the Black Graduate Recognition, contact Misty Levingston at (909) 537-5261 or email mlevings@csusb.edu.
For more information about Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Public Affairs at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.