Some will always be Diablos. Others are die-hard Golden Eagles. But they all share a passion for Cal State LA and the opportunities the University has provided them and countless others.
On October 7, the Cal State LA Alumni Association held its 50th and 25th reunions for the Class of 1966 and Class of 1991. Alumni from the Class of 1966 were inducted into the University’s Half-Century Club.
The event drew alumni who rekindled old friendships and reminisced about their days at Cal State LA. It was a testament to the bonds of community and the lasting impact that a university experience can provide.
“Cal State LA was a real special time in all of our lives,” said Félix Gutiérrez, who was the keynote speaker for the 50th Reunion.
Gutiérrez, who earned a Ph.D. from Stanford and is an emeritus professor of journalism and communication at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, credited Cal State LA for providing an affordable and quality education that prepared him for future success.
James Oaks and Nida Alex recalled taking engineering classes together in the late 1950s, when the University was comprised of just a few buildings scattered amid the hillside terrain. They marveled at how the University had changed.
“It’s almost breathtaking,” said Oaks, who graduated in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, as he and other alumni gathered at the Golden Eagle Ballroom.
At the 25th Reunion, alumni mingled in the Soriano Room. The keynote speaker was Capri Maddox, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and master’s degree in public administration. Maddox is a special assistant city attorney and senior advisor to Los Angeles City Attorney Michael N. Feuer.
"I'd like to thank you for building lives at Cal State LA," Maddox said. "My life was built here."
President William A. Covino said Cal State LA was proud of its alumni.
“They stepped into the real world and began to reap the benefits of their Cal State LA education. They progressed and began to reach their goals and obtain their dreams,” Covino said. “And along the way they became this University’s greatest asset. They became our ambassadors.”
Photo: Félix Gutiérrez delivers his keynote address at the 50th Reunion. (Credit: J. Emilio Flores/Cal State LA)
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Cal State LA is a university dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 27,000 students and 247,000 distinguished alumni, who are as diverse as the city we serve. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, Cal State LA has long been recognized as an engine of economic and social mobility. Led by an award-winning faculty, the University offers nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education and the humanities.
Cal State LA is home to the critically-acclaimed Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs, Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center, Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility, Billie Jean King Sports Complex, TV, Film and Media Center and the Center for Engagement, Service, and the Public Good. For more information, visit www.CalStateLA.edu.
10/07/16