Three remarkable students – Veronica Morales, Trisha Rose, and Katherine Posada – have been named the 2024-25 Outstanding Students for Cal State San Bernardino’s College of Arts and Letters. They will be recognized during the college’s Spring Commencement ceremony, taking place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at Toyota Arena in Ontario.

Veronica Morales, who has earned a Master of Arts in English and writing studies, believes in the power of literature to reveal the beauty and complexity of the human experience. At CSUSB, her research has explored the role of writing workshops in prison education, and her thesis examined Chicana literature and postcolonial theory through a queer lens. Through a fellowship, she also conducted mentored research at UCLA, where she studied African American historical figures and the impact of diaspora on literary voices.

Now accepted to the University of Southern California, Morales plans to continue expanding her scholarship in ethnic American literature, social justice activism, and abolition studies. She hopes to mentor and teach at the university level, building inclusive communities wherever she goes. “My parents have always been deeply loving and supportive,” she said, adding that CSUSB faculty such as Alexandra Cavallaro and Robert Kyriakos Smith helped shape her into “a compassionate scholar — one who uplifts others and strives to reach their full potential.”

Rather than pointing to a specific award or project as her proudest accomplishment, Morales instead reflects most deeply on the connections she’s made during her academic journey. “The people I’ve met along the way are all so beautiful and amazing,” she said. “It is their stories that bring me much pride in the work I do, and I hope to continue serving and meeting others in the future with a smile and full heart.”

Morales credits her community – including her therapist, colleagues, childhood friends, and faculty mentors – for helping her navigate the challenges of being a full-time worker and student. She said her time at CSUSB helped shape her future through programs like the Inside Out Prison Exchange, Students for Quality Education, and the Undocumented Student Success Center. “Being part of these groups and spaces helped define my future and the work I would strive to do,” she said.

Katherine Posada, who is earning her Master of Fine Arts in studio art, found her voice and vision through clay. “I chose my major because ceramics allows me to express my cultural identity and personal history through a hands-on, meaningful medium,” she said. Her work reflects her Salvadoran heritage and serves as a conduit for storytelling, preserving tradition and “building community through art.”

Posada’s academic journey has been shaped by in-depth research into ceramic techniques, materials, and cultural histories, along with a study abroad experience in Italy where she immersed herself in art history and traditional ceramic practices. A particularly meaningful moment came when representatives from the General Consulate of El Salvador attended her thesis exhibition — an experience she considers one of her proudest. “Their presence was a meaningful recognition of the cultural narratives within my work and affirmed the importance of representing my Salvadoran heritage through art,” said Posada.

After graduation, she plans to teach ceramics at the university level and become a contributing voice in the field through exhibitions, research, and community-based projects. She also hopes to curate shows that center underrepresented perspectives and foster dialogue through art.

The women in her family — her grandmother, mother, and sisters — have been foundational sources of strength and inspiration. She also credits Professors Patsy Cox and CJ Jilek as instrumental mentors who nurtured both her artistry and her academic goals.

While balancing a long commute from the San Fernando Valley with the demands of her program was a challenge, Posada said CSUSB provided the ideal environment to help her thrive.

“Through the mentorship of dedicated faculty, exposure to professional opportunities, and a strong sense of community, I gained the confidence and direction to pursue a career in teaching and continue developing my artistic voice,” she said.

Trisha Rose, the first in her family to earn a college degree, is graduating with a bachelor of arts in relational and organizational communication. “Strong communication skills are essential for creating change and making improvements in every aspect of our lives,” she said. Her studies focused on gender communication and the consequences of underrepresentation in schools and in the media.

Rose plans to pursue a master’s degree in communication studies and continue her research in gendered communication, with the long-term goal of working for an organization that champions innovation, community outreach and impactful communication.

Her journey has been deeply personal. “College was something that was forbidden to me growing up,” she said. “I come from an ancestral lineage of domestic violence … anyone seeking to exert control over you does not want you to educate yourself.” Returning to school in her middle age came with its own hurdles — from self-doubt to the challenge of being the oldest person in the room.

But through determination and community support, Rose turned obstacles into purpose. As part of her experiential learning, she became a certified domestic violence advocate and interned with a local shelter. “They allowed me to assist in the rolling out of a new mentor program for the community,” she said. “Community members that have survived domestic violence and have had the empowering feeling of taking their lives back lead a group offered to the community that promotes healing through sharing our stories and offering peer support and connection.”

She credits her professors — especially Donna Gotch, professor of communication — with helping her uncover her strengths and fueling her passion for the field. “She has been instrumental in helping me discover my strengths, inspiring me through her thought-provoking assignments, and providing a space for open discussion in her classes,” said Rose. “I recently asked her to continue to be my mentor, and thankfully, she said yes.”

Rose described her educational journey as a process of self-discovery — like unlocking hidden rooms within a once-familiar home. “This has been like my education,” said Rose. “It’s been like discovering more and more doorways in my mind … doorways that completely flip my perspective upside down, but also… there are doorways that offer profound forgiveness, for not only myself, but for others. CSUSB has offered me the priceless gifts of space, expansion, and freedom within.

“I have been encircled with encouragement, support, and the needed tools to not only succeed, but truly thrive here at CSUSB,” she added.