CSLA Commencement 1997

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 05/30/97

Contact: Carol Selkin
Director, Public Information
(323) 343-3050
or Margie Yu,
Public Affairs Assistant
(323) 343-3047

CAL STATE L.A. KICKS OFF A YEAR OF CELEBRATION AT COMMENCEMENT OF 50TH GRADUATING CLASS, SAT., JUNE 14

Los Angeles, CA -- May 30, 1997 -- The 50th Commencement exercises at California State University, Los Angeles will take place on Saturday, June 14, 1997, in the University Athletic Stadium, located at the southeast corner of the campus. The academic procession will start at 8:15 a.m. and the formal exercises are scheduled to end at approximately 10 a.m. Department and program receptions in various campus locations will follow the ceremony.

This year's speaker will be University President James M. Rosser who will award CSU/Cal State L.A. Honorary Doctorates to two individuals who are distinguished in their fields and have made significant contributions to the University. The Commencement of the University's 50th graduating class will be the official kick-off of Cal State L.A.'s 50th Anniversary Celebration, marking a year of anniversary programs and celebrations.

More than 20,000 people are expected at this year's graduation to witness the conferral of more than 1,000 master's degrees and 3,800 bachelor's degrees.

Among the outstanding students receiving degrees this year are a mechanical engineering major Kathleen Hansen, who is captain of the Cal State L.A. Team Solar Eagle III, and Early Entrance Program students Kim Engie, Ajay Goud, Paul Gowder, Jennifer Jung, Stephen Khovavanth, Nandan Lad, Jacob Lister, Ryan Montgomery, Irene Oh, Christopher Persaud, Julia Rodriguez, Mahmoud Traina, and Nipa Ved.

For photos, interviews or more information on the campus anniversary celebration, call the Cal State L.A. Public Affairs Office at (323) 343-3050.

When Cal State L.A.'s futuristic solar car, Solar Eagle III, makes its bid for first place in the national Sunrayce 97 this June, Kathleen Hansen will be leading the efforts. Only a project of this magnitude--one that she has been heading for a year and a half--could keep her from her own graduation on June 14. This year, Kathleen will be graduating with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and with a great deal of hands-on experience in her field.

A decision to change career paths led her to Cal State L.A. in the fall of 1992. Kathleen says she chose to attend Cal State L.A. because it was near home and affordable, but most importantly, because of the University's reputation in the area of mechanical engineering.

Kathleen notes that her decision has been the right one. She remarks, "I really enjoyed my experience at Cal State L.A., especially being part of the Mini-Baja Team and Team Solar Eagle III. The opportunity to work toward a common goal with a group of students of varied talents and skills is very exciting for me." She is particularly grateful to the Mechanical Engineering faculty: "The professors in my department are always there to support me academically."

In 1994, Kathleen was the recipient of the ASME Outstanding Member Award and Society of Automotive Engineers Outstanding Officer Award. Last year, she received the 1995-96 Outstanding Student Leadership Award from the Institute for the Advancement of Engineering (IAE) at its awards banquet. The IAE recognized her for her demonstrated leadership in the School of Engineering and Technology, especially her exceptional organizational and management skills in her role as president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Student Chapter and as the captain of the Mini-Baja Team in 1994-95. Kathleen, who was an integral part of the revitalization of the off-road vehicle project after a ten-year hiatus, led the team to a sixth place finish at the Mini-Baja National Competition in June, 1995.

In December of 1995, Kathleen was selected to head Cal State L.A.'s nationally recognized solar-powered electric-vehicle project. As head of Team Solar Eagle III, she is managing the 10-student team from the beginning design and fabrication to the final testing and actual racing phases of the project. She'll be in charge when, from June 19 to June 28, Solar Eagle III will cover the 1,200 mile cross-country Sunrayce 97 route from Indianapolis, Indiana, to Colorado Springs, Colorado

Kathleen admits that working on the Solar Eagle III is not her only pastime; she also likes reading non-fiction books on different cultures and novels by author Dean Koontz, and enjoys attending community and college theatre performances. A part-time job at the Byron Jackson Pump Division of BW/IP International, in the research and development department also keeps her busy. She maintains the company's database for hydraulic design information--a job that she secured through Cal State L.A.'s annual Engineering and Technology Week Career Fair.

Resonating with determination, Kathleen concludes that her future goal is to work for a company that is on the leading edge of technology, so that she can apply the knowledge and experience she has gained from working with the Team Solar Eagle III.

This year, at the event of our half-century mark, the University's 50th Commencement features another milestone--the largest graduating class of students from Cal State L.A.'s Early Entrance Program (EEP). By the end of June, more than a dozen "EEPsters" will have graduated this academic year, out of a record 40 students in the current program.

The program--the only one of its kind in the nation--has grown steadily since its introduction on campus in 1983. Modeled after the program at the University of Washington, Seattle, the Cal State L.A. EEP admits extraordinarily gifted youngsters--some as young as 11--directly into college, providing the early entrants with monitored evaluation, regular counseling sessions, and the opportunity to study with like-minded peers.

"Nearly all our students go on to do graduate work--many at this country's most prestigious schools," says program director Richard Maddox (Psychology).

The students all say that they relish the challenge that comes with coursework appropriate to their abilities, and feel comfortable with older college students, with whom they can discuss mutual interests. And they definitely enjoy each other's company. We introduce you to the Early Entrance graduating class of '97.

1. Kim Engie
Age at entry: 13 (1991)
Current age: 19
Date of Birth: September 17, 1977
Major: Biology
Interests: Environmental science, ecology, reading
City of residence: Los Angeles
Graduating June 14, 1997
Immediate plans: Peace Corps

Kim was 13, and a student at John Muir Jr. High School in Burbank, when she applied to the Early Entrance Program (EEP) at Cal State L.A. "I was sure I wanted to be a doctor," says Kim, "and I thought it would be really cool to spend less time getting to that point. There are a lot of other things I want to do with my life--like travel!" Half way through her courses, though, Kim changed her mind about medicine. "I just decided I didn't like it enough, . . . it's a big investment of time to go to medical school if it's not what you love."

A course she took with professor Carlos Robles, whose specialty is marine biology, and other related classes clinched her new direction, which remains in the field of science: "I'm really interested in ecology and the environmental sciences now," says Kim.

Recently, Kim's parents--an aeronautical engineer and a computer programmer--moved to Malaysia and, like her parents, Kim seems to welcome new experiences and new places. "I've always been independent," she says of the ease in which she transitioned from home to the Cal State L.A. residence dorms two years ago. Accepted into the Peace Corps, Kim will be traveling to a remote part of the world ("possibly Africa") after Commencement, "doing something in the area of science" for two years. After that? "Graduate school," she says definitely.

2. Ajay Goud
Age at entry: 15 (1993)
Current age: 19
Date of Birth: May 25, 1977
Major: Biology
Interests: Science, writing, music, public service--1997 Cal State L.A. Homecoming Award
City of residence: Huntington Beach
Graduating June 14, 1997
Immediate plans: To prepare for medical school.

Calling himself a latecomer to the program, Ajay notes that he was a 15-year-old student at Edison High School in Huntington Beach when he decided to join Cal State L.A.'s EEP. He had heard about the program from friend and participant, Nipa Ved, (also graduating from Cal State L.A. this year). "I felt I was intellectually ready for college," says Ajay. "I was always striving to go a little farther. This seemed like a way to get ahead." He arranged to meet some of the "EEPsters"--"I was a little worried that I'd be losing the most memorable time of my life," he recalls. He came away reassured. "I saw that the people there weren't giving up their 'childhood'--they still went to the movies and did other things kids do."

Although he took a tough pre-med path, Ajay did in fact find time for the things he liked. A guitar player, he and other students (not all EEPsters) meet regularly to jam ("nothing professional," he insists). More serious is his involvement with the University Times, the student newspaper, where he began as a reporter and graduated to editor of Arts and Entertainment. "I've always had an interest in English, and creative writing especially. This was a good opportunity for me to combine my talent in writing and my love of music," he says.

Ajay's involvement with campus life has been nearly total. He participated in campus governance as 1995-96 Natural and Social Sciences representative to Associated Students, Inc. and was president of the campus' Circle K (the college equivalent of Kiwanis) whose members participate in weekly community service projects. He recently moved to the dorms on campus.

In February of this year, Ajay was selected as the male recipient of the University's prestigious Eagle's Pride Homecoming Award. The new tradition that replaces the Homecoming king and queen awards is based on demonstrated academic excellence and community service, and carries a $1,000 prize. The selection process involves an essay and interviews; the award was presented by President Rosser at a special Homecoming ceremony.

This fall, Ajay hopes to go to medical school or enter a post-baccalaureate or master's program geared to medical students, and either coast will do. "Location doesn't matter," he says, "as long as I can reach my goal."

3. Paul Gowder
Age at entry: 14 (1993)
Current age: 17
Date of Birth: June 29, 1979
Major: Political Science
City of residence: San Pedro
Interests: law, politics
Graduating June 14, 1997
Immediate plans: Harvard Law School

"I knew way back that I was interested in politics and law," says Paul, one of the more outgoing EEPsters. On campus at 14, Paul began working his way toward law school with a packed schedule of classes during every one of the University's four quarters--with no summer breaks. "Paul's one of those rare students in this day and age who has made it through college in less than four years," enthuses Richard Maddox, Early Entrance Program director, who adds, "He's a real achiever--he scored 175 out of 180 on his LSATs!"

Still commuting from his home in San Pedro, Paul laughs when asked what he does in his leisure time--"I have free time?" he asks, rhetorically. This fall he will be attending Harvard law school at an age when most of his contemporaries are starting their college careers. Is he worried about making the adjustment to living so far from home, in another--and much colder--climate? "Quite the opposite!," says Paul with a tinge of British around the edges of his speech picked up from his mother, a native of England. "I've lived in lots of places," says the Arizona-born teen.

This summer, Paul will take some time to visit relatives in England. Then, after three grueling years at Harvard, does he intend to enter the law profession? "I'm hoping for a clerkship somewhere," he says. "And I intend to be a lawyer and a politician," he good-naturedly reminds the interviewer.

4. Jennifer Jung
Age at entry: 13 (1990)
Current age: 19
Date of Birth: September 20, 1977
Major: Biology
Interests: science, creative writing, poetry, singing
City of residence: Rosemead
Graduating June 14, 1997
Immediate plans: Traveling

Jenny is making the EEP program at Cal State L.A. a family tradition. Her older brother, Tim--an EEPster who graduated in 1994--was one of the University's rare triple majors (physics-math-computer science). Like her brother, Jenny's interests aren't narrow, but unlike his, they extend from the sciences into the arts.

A biology major with an original focus on medical school, Jenny is a member of the Cal State L.A. Concert Choir and a dedicated writer of poetry (she has been president of the Cal State L.A. Creative Writing Club for three years). She has been on the editorial board of the English Department's annual literary magazine, Statement, and her work has been published in that venerable journal as well as in national poetry magazines (two that published her work this year were the East Coast's Yet Another Small Magazine and The Harrisburg Review).

"Science was always pretty important to me, but lately I've been rethinking med school," says Jenny, who is still set on a career in the sciences, "possibly something in the area of physio-psychology," she says. She's taking some time out to think about it, though. This summer she hopes to travel in the western U.S. "I think it will help me focus on what I really want to do," she explains.

5. Stephen Khovavanth
Age at entry: 14 (1990)
Current age: 21
Date of Birth: October 5, 1975
Major: Civil Engineering
Interests: engineering, leadership
City of residence: Los Angeles
Graduated Winter quarter, 1997
Immediate plans: Currently attending Annapolis

For two years, Stephen was a Pre-Accelerated College Entrance (PACE) program student, at Cal State L.A., attending part-time after school. When he enrolled full-time through the Early Entrance Program, Stephen decided on an engineering career. At 17, in his junior year, Stephen arranged for and completed an internship with the City of Los Angeles Engineering Corps. Active on campus, he was a member of the Cal State L.A. chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and during the 1995-96 academic year served as president of the Engineering and Technology student council--the organization that oversees all engineering-based campus groups. Stephen graduated last quarter and has entered the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.

6. Nandan "Dan" Lad
Age at entry: 13 (1993)
Current age: 17
Date of Birth: August 26, 1979
Major: Biology
Interests: science, sports
City of residence: San Gabriel
Graduating June 14, 1997
Immediate plans: medical school

Dan was in 10th grade at San Marino High when he heard about the Early Entrance Program. Was it difficult to switch from high school to college? "Coming to Cal State L.A. was the best decision I ever made!" says Dan firmly. It's clear that Dan had no trouble getting involved in campus life--he joined the Circle K community service club in his freshman year, was that organization's vice president, and has also served as vice president of the University's General Education Honors Program.

Interested in research, Dan was able to study closely with and complete projects under biology professors Howard Rosen (genetic studies of chlamydomonas, an algae) and Margaret Jefferson (plant protein analysis). In his spare time, he plays tennis, basketball and continues to practice the flute--something he's been doing for the past seven years. Last August, Dan took the MCAT exam, has applied to a number of schools and already interviewed at USC and Dartmouth.

7. Jacob Lister
Age at entry: 14 (1991)
Current age: 19
Date of Birth: August 7, 1977
Major: Geography
Interests: urban planning, statistics, playing accoustic guitar
City of residence: Long Beach
Graduating June 14, 1997
Immediate plans: time off, travel.

"College was right choice for 13-year-old," reads a headline in Jacob Lister's local paper, the Long Beach Press Telegram. "I missed [my high school] prom...." Jacob told the reporter, "But, going off to college, I gained four years." Although he participated in Hughes Middle School's gifted program--taking accelerated math, science, English and history classes--Jacob still felt he didn't fit in--"I wasn't happy," he says. When he began CSLA's Early Entrance Program, "there were only a dozen kids," he recalls, noting that there are more than 40 today.

In 1991, with a group of rooms specially designated for EEP study, socializing and counseling, the young students were a close-knit group: "We all even took practically the same GE [General Education] honors classes, says Jacob. His new classmates were more respectful and more mature than his former schoolmates, remembers Jacob, who says he felt perfectly comfortable in his college surroundings.

At Cal State L.A., Jacob took his time discovering his academic direction. Changing majors from math to computer science to geography--the field that interests him most now--cost him a few years. At this point, he sees urban planning or statistics as definite career possibilities, but, after six years in college, he has decided to take a year off to regroup. "I'll probably get a job," he says, thinking about the electric guitar he'd like to own.

8. Ryan Montgomery
Age at entry: 14 (1992)
Current age: 19
Date of Birth: May 7, 1978
Major: English
Interests: Creative writing, public relations, tennis
City of residence: Acton
Graduating June 14, 1997
Immediate plans: writing; interning in a public relations company

At High Desert Junior High School in Acton, Ryan was an excellent student, and captain of the math team. "We really didn't have a budget for honors classes. There was math honors--I was in that--but no English honors." Ryan's father saw an article about the Washington Pre-College Exam (the test that qualifies students for the EEP) and encouraged his son to look into it. From there, it was a quick step to Cal State L.A. Ryan's major problem was a long commute; his solution was to live part of the week with his grandparents in Sierra Madre.

Given his talent for math, Ryan had originally thought of studying engineering but discovered the humanities more to his liking after taking his general education classes. He'll be graduating as an English major, with an interest in writing. After graduating, Ryan plans to "take a year off to write a novel." Recently introduced to the possibilities of a career in public relations, he is also considering an offer to intern in the company of a friend of the family, in order to get hands-on experience in that field.

9. Irene Oh
Age at entry: 15 (1992)
Current age: 19
Date of Birth: May 26, 1977
Major: Art
Interests: art, jewelrymaking
City of residence: Duarte
Graduated Fall quarter, 1996
Immediate plans: Employed as a graphic artist with the MacPhee Group, Pasadena

A student in the Gifted and Talented program at Duarte High, Irene was excelling in a range of subjects. During the summers of 1990 and 1991, she took classes at Cal State L.A. through the Pre-Accelerated College Entrance (PACE) program, and, by the Fall of 1991 was ready to enter the EEP. At first, says Irene, "I went all around--I took biology, psychology, business classes, chemistry," she says. "I always liked art--I'd been doing it since junior high," she notes. She enjoyed learning the art of jewelry-making, but a computer graphics class with assistant professor of art Michael Henderson finally helped her decide on a career path. Graduated in the Winter quarter, Irene is now doing computer graphics for the MacPhee Group, an advertising design company in Pasadena. She also volunteers in the community--putting in some time during the week at Pasadena's Pacific Asia Museum. Her long-range plans still involve school, however. Says Irene, "I'd like to go on to business school to specialize in marketing."

10. Christopher Persaud
Age at entry: 12 (1991)
Current age: 18
Date of Birth: February 11, 1979
Major: Biology
Interests: ecology, genetics, campus leadership
City of residence: Panorama City
Graduating June 14, 1997
Immediate plans: Medical school

Christopher was used to skipping grades--he had already skipped the 4th and was attending 7th grade at Zion Lutheran School in Glendale when he read a newspaper article about EEP student Leland Davis. Even at 12, Christopher knew he wanted to go to medical school, and saw the Cal State L.A. program as a perfect fast track. While he still kept in contact with his old school friends, he set about making new friends at the University ("Leland's a good friend of mine now!" he notes) and getting involved in campus life. He is currently one of three undergraduate senators serving on the University's Academic Senate.

With his sights still set on a medical career--right now he's particularly interested in ecology and genetics--Christopher has taken the MCAT exam and applied to a number of med schools. Meanwhile, this summer he plans to enjoy a trip to Trinidad to visit family before embarking on his chosen career.

11. Julia Rodriguez
Age at entry: 14 (1992)
Current age: 18
Date of Birth: August 24, 1978
Major: English
Interests: linguistics, reading, photography
City of residence: El Monte
Graduating June 14, 1997
Immediate plans: teaching

Around the time Julia was set to graduate as class valedictorian at Epiphany Catholic Junior High School in South El Monte, she heard about Cal State L.A.'s Early Entrance Program. She received a scholarship to San Gabriel Mission High, and chose to start there in the fall while enrolling concurrently, part-time, at Cal State L.A. through EEP. After three months in high school she switched permanently to CSLA. "I never really did fit in [in high school]--even in junior high, I was always a bit too smart--a bit too grown up."

Always a lover of books, Julia chose to major in English. A linguistics class with professor Rosemary Hake sparked her interest in that area. She still talks about studying linguistics, although she's decided to put off graduate school "for a while." A photography class with associate professor Jack Butler led to an abiding interest in photography and a student assistantship in the Art department's photography lab.

The youngest of three sisters, Julia is very proud of her own, and her siblings', achievements. "My oldest sister was the first person in my father's family to graduate college," says Julia. "My parents were born in Mexico and have the equivalent of a sixth-grade education, but they've always stressed the importance of education for my sisters and myself." Fully bilingual, Julia was interviewed by the Fontana School District at Cal State L.A.'s Education Expo this past April. "I'll need to take the CBEST [statewide test for prospective teachers] and get an emergency credential to start with," says the mature 18-year-old. Missing her own graduation to take the CBEST on June 14, she expects to be one of Southern California's youngest teachers when school starts in the Fall.

12. Mahmoud Traina
Age at entry: 13 (1993)
Current age: 17
Date of Birth: November 1, 1979
Major: Biology
Interests: science, community service, athletics
City of residence: Hawthorne
Graduating June 14, 1997
Immediate plans: Medical school

A dedicated sports enthusiast, Mahmoud not only follows all the teams, but is an active player of many sports himself, chief among them basketball and soccer which he manages to play "about three to four times a week." With some of his EEP friends, he has been involved in much community service through Circle K service club on campus. But most important to Mahmoud is medicine, and he's followed a demanding pre-med path at Cal State L.A.

Mahmoud graduated from Mulholland Junior High in Van Nuys, finished 9th grade as an honor student at Birmingham High School, then switched to the EEP at Cal State L.A. "I thought it was a good opportunity, and I liked the challenge," he says. Mahmoud has already been accepted to medical schools at UC Davis, USC and UCLA.

13. Nipa Ved
Age at entry: 15 (1992)
Current age: 20
Date of Birth: April 19, 1977
Major: Biology
Interests: medicine, campus and community service
City of residence: Rowland Heights
Graduated Summer quarter, 1996
Immediate plans: Attending Cal State L.A. Masters' program in biology

Nipa finished her coursework for a B.S. in biology at the end of last summer, and is currently working with biology professor Roger Bowers toward her master's degree. Identified gifted in elementary school and among the top 10 per cent of academic achievers in junior high, Nipa sought a program that was "more challenging." She had just transferred to Troy High School in Fullerton for its International Baccalaureate Program--"it's like the Bravo Medical Magnet, only with a concentration on engineering and technology," she says--and was taking extra classes at Fullerton College, when she learned she had been accepted into Cal State L.A.'s Early Entrance Program. "It was like transferring again," says Nipa, speaking of the strain of a new beginning.

Although she knew no one in the program, Nipa plunged into campus life; as president and cofounder of the campus' Circle K service club, she eventually got other EEPsters active in community projects. Later, with fellow student Ajay Goud, she took on a campus leadership role, representing the School of Natural and Social Sciences on the Associated Students board. "I wanted to do everything," she laughs. "That's what I love about being [in college]," says Nipa, who now lives in the dorms. "There are all these things you can do--you can take all these classes, and you don't have to pay extra!" She did enroll in classes outside of her field--piano, karate, volleyball, swimming--and enjoyed them tremendously: "I'd still be playing the piano, if I had access to one," she says.

This summer, Nipa may go to India with her family to visit relatives. In the fall, her sister, a 16 1/2-year-old EEPster herself, will return to her studies as a computer science major. Nipa will embark on her research project with professor Bowers. As for the future, Nipa says: "I really would like to go to medical school."