Cal State San Bernardino will cap its year-long 50th anniversary celebration with Commencement ceremonies on June 16 and 18, when more than 2,400 students are expected to participate.

The ceremonies, which will recognize outstanding undergraduate and graduate students who excelled in their studies, will also feature the awarding of two honorary doctorates of humane letters to philanthropists Mark and Lori Edwards during the College of Natural Sciences graduation on June 18.

The first of the graduation ceremonies will be held on Thursday, June 16, for the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, where more than 170 students will be in cap and gown. The PDC ceremony will be at 6 p.m. at The Show at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage.

During the PDC graduation, special awards will be given to Magdalena Martinez of Palm Desert, who will receive her bachelor’s degree in graphic design and marketing, for outstanding undergraduate student; and Frank Uribe, also of Palm Desert, who will receive his blended bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting, for Outstanding Graduate Student.

CSUSB graduation ceremonies will then move west on Saturday, June 18, when its five colleges will celebrate at Citizens Business Bank Arena, 4000 E. Ontario Center Pkwy. in Ontario. Parking at Citizens Business Bank Arena will be $5 in lots A, B, C and D. Patrons are encouraged to bring exact change.

All of the ceremonies at Citizens Business Bank Arena will be webcast live on the Creative Media Services webcast page.

This is the second year CSUSB will hold its June graduation ceremonies at Citizens Business Bank Arena. The university moved to the Ontario arena due to the increasing number of graduates and their guests at the university’s Coussoulis Arena.

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences will kick off the day’s ceremonies at 8 a.m. with the largest number of graduates; about 865 students are expected to participate. The college will honor Jason B. Alipio of Eastvale, who will graduate with a B.A. in psychology, as the outstanding undergraduate, and Ashley M. Araiza of Indio, who will graduate with a M.A. in psychology, as the outstanding graduate student.

The College of Business and Public Administration will hold the next ceremony at noon with about 480 students expected to participate. The college will honor Jocelyn Cannon of San Bernardino, who will graduate with a B.A. in business administration, as the outstanding undergraduate; and Eric Doucette of Riverside, who will graduate with an MBA in management, as the outstanding graduate student.

At 4 p.m., the College of Natural Sciences will graduate about 475 students. The college will honor Nicole Sauls of Rancho Cucamonga, who is graduating with a B.S. in kinesiology, as the outstanding undergraduate; Alicia Davis of Ontario, who will graduate with an M.S. in biology, as the outstanding graduate student; and Eldon Heaston of Claremont, who has a B.S. in health science and human ecology, as the outstanding alumni.

The college will also bestow honorary doctorates of humane letters on philanthropists Mark and Lori Edwards, who have opened their hearts and generously supported at-risk youth, specifically through CSUSB’s Renaissance Scholars Educational Opportunity Program. The program provides emancipated foster youth with educational experiences and a nurturing environment that can afford them the opportunity to obtain a college degree.

The College of Arts and Letters and the College of Education will hold the final ceremony at 8 p.m., where more than 450 students will be participating. The College of Arts and Letters will honor April Baca of Colton, who is graduating with a B.A. in art, as the outstanding undergraduate student; and Guadalupe Rincon of Riverside, who is graduating with an M.A. in English, as the outstanding graduate student.

The College of Education will honor Lisa Green of Corona, who is graduating with an M.S. in counseling and a credential in pupil services, as the outstanding graduate student; and Courtney Doussett, of Palm Springs, who is graduating with an Ed.D. in educational leadership, as the outstanding doctoral student.

For more information about the June 2016 graduations, visit the CSUSB Commencement website at or contact the Office of Special Events and Guest Services at (909) 537-7360.

For more information about Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Strategic Communication at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.