Cal State San Bernardino’s College of Arts and Letters has named Alexander Valdez Jr., Kenia Castaneda, Annabelle Su and Filimon Fregoso as its 2025-26 Outstanding Students. The honorees will be celebrated during the college’s Commencement ceremony at 9 a.m. May 16 at Toyota Arena.
The university will host its Spring Commencement ceremonies on May 15-16 at Toyota Arena in Ontario.
In her debut memoir, “Junkyard Princess,” CSUSB alumna Robyn Saunders Wilson reflects on growing up in a High Desert junkyard and how Cal State San Bernardino opened the door to possibilities she had never imagined. Through stories marked by resilience, humor and compassion, Wilson explores family, identity and the transformative power of education.
Tony Coulson (cybersecurity) was interviewed about the cyberattack on Canvas, an article featured the “Phoenix of Gaza XR” virtual reality project that Ahlam Muhtaseb (media studies) helped develop, and Brian Levin (criminal justice, emeritus) was interviewed about the latest hate crime statistics.
Students in the program are completing two university-level courses taught by CSUSB faculty, Alexandra Cavallaro and Julie Taylor, using the Inside-Out model of prison education. It will be a significant step forward in expanding access to higher education for system-impacted youth ages 18-23.
The festival will take place on Thursday, May 7, showcasing a curated selection of films from more than 200 submissions by emerging filmmakers. Hosted by the student-led Yotie Film Club, the event highlights student creativity, hands-on learning and growing opportunities in film.
CSUSB music professor and acclaimed soprano Stacey Fraser has received a $30,263 National Endowment for the Arts grant to commission, perform and record a new song cycle marking the nation’s 250th anniversary. The project will premiere at CSUSB and include performances, educational programming and a professional recording.
The theme of the conference, hosted by the CSUSB College of Arts and Letters, is “Inclusive Pedagogies: Activism, Identity and Social Justice.” Rosa Martha Zárate Macías, a community organizer, activist and singer-songwriter, is the keynote speaker. Online registration is free.
In the student competition, Coyote Advertising’s exceptional work earned finalist recognition in print, special events, social media campaigns, website design and short video form marketing, plus finalist recognition in the professional competition in the film and video category.