More than 2,000 CSUSB students were expected to participate in the Alumni Relations’ Grad Days, the one-stop shop for all their graduation ceremony needs in preparation for the university’s June Commencements.

Alumni Relations held Grad Days on April 23 and 24 in San Bernardino and then moved to the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus on April 25, said Crystal Wymer-Lucero, Alumni Relations director.

Lines of students registered outside the Coyote Bookstore. Inside the bookstore they could order graduation announcements, shop for class rings, purchase their caps and gowns, have photos taken while wearing cap and gowns and purchase Alumni Association Grad Packs, a portion of the proceeds would go toward scholarships, Wymer-Lucero said.

“We are seeing everybody, first generation students, their proud parents, lots of grads with their children or their parents here to celebrate,” Wymer-Lucero said.
Gabriela Ponce de Leon, who will be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sociology was excited.

“I thought it was never going to happen,” Ponce de Leon said. “My whole family is excited. I’m the first in my family to graduate from college.”
Liberal Studies major Jiros Vickson said, “It feels good to be finally done.”

Vickson said he went through a period several years ago where he was thinking about quitting, but “stuck it out” and is glad he did. After graduation, he plans on opening up his own business in fashion.
Vickson’s mother, Kim Vickson, who accompanied her son, said she was very happy to see him reach this point.

“It makes me smile. My husband and I kept pushing Jiros to get it done,” Kim Vickson said beaming.

The CSUSB Spring Commencements will begin at the Palm Desert Campus, 6 p.m., Thursday, June 13 at THE SHOW at Agua Caliente.

The San Bernardino campus ceremonies will be Saturday, June 15 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario.  The ceremonies are: the College of Social & Behavioral Science, 8 a.m.; the Jack H. Brown College of Business & Public Administration, 12 p.m.; the College of Natural Sciences, 4 p.m.; and the College of Arts & Letters and the College of Education, 8 p.m.

For more information on Grad Days, visit the Grad Days website.

For more information on the CSUSB Commencements, visit the Commencement website.