Graduates of the College of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences were full of excitement, apprehension, and relief at today’s ceremony. As they crossed the stage, many reflected on their time at Stan State and looked ahead to new beginnings.

Brenda Nelms, graduating with her Bachelor of Arts in Art, shared her plans to move forward after graduation.

“I’m going to a credential program down in SoCal, at San Bernardino State University, and my goal is to be an art teacher for, middle school,” she said.

She also fondly remembered her time in classes taught by Professor Deitz. “His classes always stuck with me and all his words,” she said. “That man is gonna stick with me.”

The first special guest speaker for the College of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences was Salvador Hernandez Lopez, the father of NASA scientist Jose Hernandez Moreno who spoke at yesterday’s ceremony for the Sciences.

Salvador Hernandez Lopez was bestowed an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters by President Britt Rios-Ellis for his work in raising a family as a migrant farmworker whose children all went to college and launched successful careers.

Lopez was humble in his speech, which he gave in Spanish and was translated by President Rios-Ellis.

“I’m not used to speaking to large crowds,” Rios-Ellis translated him as saying. “And I hope that you know that this message comes with a lot of heart.”
Lopez spoke with adoration for his children and his wife and what they’ve achieved together.

“Many people have asked me what I did as a father to ensure that my children all graduated from college and went on to have productive careers,” he was translated. “To tell the truth, I didn’t do much more than give a lot of good advice, and a special recipe. For my children, my wife, their mother, was the pillar of our home. My children achieved a great deal surrounded and supported by a loving and united family.”

As the crowd dispersed and families gathered for hugs and photos, day two graduates offered additional reflections and words of advice.

Nathan Hartwell, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Creative Media, expressed his excitement for what’s next and how he hopes to make an impact.

“I’m looking forward to applying what I learned at Stan State and using it to help others in the world,” Hartwell said. “I learned a lot of really interesting things about marketing and creating engaging stories through digital media tools. I feel there are stories out there that need to be told and people that need help, and I want to use what I learned at Stan to help others.”

Reflecting on his time at the university, Hartwell shared a particularly meaningful academic experience.

“A memorable moment from Stan was the freedom of speech class I took with Dr. Stevens,” he said. “I learned so much about my rights and what the First Amendment of the Constitution means. It was really cool to discuss an issue, study the court case, and then talk about our thoughts and the real-world implications of it. It was so interesting to hear everyone’s different views. We all look at it a little differently, and it’s cool to see those differences.”

Hartwell also offered advice for current and future students.

“Take every opportunity that comes your way to learn and grow in the field you’re studying and the areas around it,” he said. “Sometimes an opportunity might not be exactly what you planned, but it may open doors to areas you’re more interested in.”

Malina Duran, also graduating with a degree in Creative Media, is looking forward to new challenges and continued growth.

“I’m most excited to keep learning on my own, exploring national parks, learning to code, reading more and maybe applying to grad school,” she said.
Duran’s favorite memories weren’t in the classroom but in the dorms. “We had weekly movie nights in our pajamas, everyone took turns picking the film. I saw so many movies I wouldn’t have chosen myself.”

Her advice to future Warriors: “Get involved, talk to classmates, connect with professors, join clubs. There’s a lot of support here, and everyone has something to teach you.”

As the graduates of the College of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences step into the next chapter of their lives, their reflections reveal a deep appreciation for the experiences, relationships, and lessons gained at Stanislaus State. With creativity, compassion, and courage, these Warriors are ready to shape the world beyond campus life.