Honors Convocation
June 4, 2012
Outstanding Graduate of the School of Arts & Humanities
Outstanding Graduate in English & Theatre
Jessica Boles
Jessica is a double major in English and Theatre, and she has been selected
by both departments as their outstanding graduate. Jessica has combined her
love of theatre and English to prepare for her future career as a
dramaturg and literary consultant, which she will begin with an
internship at the prestigious Pacific Conservatory of Performing
Arts in Santa Maria. Jessica is a four-year Hawk Honors graduate
and a member of Alpha Chi Honor Society. She has achieved
a 3.94 GPA while working half-time. Professors describe her as
“stunningly intelligent, extremely hard working, and entirely dedicated.”
Jessica has worked as a tutor in the Writing Resource Center,
published an essay in the literary magazine Insights, written
two original plays, and founded her own campus
theatrical company, while also performing in local theatre. She
has also performed or assisted in nearly every play produced at
CSUB in the last four years. All while completing her double major
in Theatre and English.
As Andy Troup has written, "I have a vivid memory of Jessica in my Medieval English Literature course in Spring 2010. The CSUB Theatre Department was performing The Merry Wives of Windsor that quarter, and several cast members, including Jessica, were in my class. For our unit on King Arthur, I planned an activity in which the students would debate whether Lancelot and Guinevere were truly guilty of adultery based on the evidence contained in Malory’s Morte d’Arthur. Jessica and her theatre buddies transformed my activity into a one-act play which they performed in class. No one in attendance will ever forget the discussion we had that day!" Photo: Dr. Michael Flachmann, Jessica Boles, Professor Mandy Rees
Departmental Outstanding Graduates
Outstanding Graduate in Art
Abby Vawter
Abby is completing her bachelor’s degree in just three years.
With the goal of graduating this Spring, she took overloads
of 20 to 25 units most quarters and attended summer session.
She is a Fine Arts Merit Award Scholar graduate –distinguished
by the gold honor cords – and a Hawk Honors Program graduate.
Abby’s main creative achievement is the work she has done
for her senior exhibition. She did an extensive installation
utilizing hundreds of folded paper modular pieces that were
assembled for the exhibition. As part of her Honors program work,
she curated a student exhibition—Perception—in the student
gallery. Abby’s concept was to exhibit expressive ways
that individuals view themselves. Abby is the first person
in her immediate family to graduate from college. After graduation,
she will join her new husband, Private First Class Jake Vawter,
at Fort Richardson, Alaska. Jake was deployed to Afghanistan
just weeks after they were married. Abby plans to attend
graduate school when she returns from Alaska and pursue
a career in advertising and design with a goal of being a creative director.
Photo: Professor Sarah Vanderlip, Abby Vawter
Outstanding Graduate in Communications
Julie Plata
Julie is one of our Antelope Valley center students, and she is raising
a family while attending college. Julie stood out in her communication
courses for the depth of research, thought and creativity apparent in
her coursework. Included in her outstanding coursework is a paper she
wrote in the introductory course in mass communications in which she
analyzed and critiqued the messages tween and teen girls receive in the
Twilight books. She used communication scholarship to support
her critique of the books that the male lead character’s actions
toward the female lead character resemble those that take place in
abusive relationships. She also critiqued the books as reinforcing
stereotypes about women’s career roles, that it is okay to have
a lack of desire for higher education and how women can be
trivialized by the dominant male figure. In her communications
theory course, she was required to apply a communication theory
to a form of mass media. She applied Goffman’s impression management
theory to the social media site LinkedIn. She insightfully
connected the theory to the ways in which LinkedIn allows people
to present themselves to manage the impressions others have of them.
Julie is a member of Lambda Pi Eta, the Communications honor society.
She completed her Bachelor’s degree in March with a GPA of 3.89
and graduated magna cum laude. She is now working
toward her Master’s degree in History at CSUB.
Photo: Dr. Donna Simmons, Julie Plata
Outstanding Graduate in History
Patrick Arvizu
Originally an English major, Patrick completed the degree
requirements in just three years. In the classes he took
for his history minor, Patrick discovered how much he enjoyed
the discipline and decided to earn a second degree in history
during his fourth year. He is especially interested in global
history, particularly the history of Africa and the Middle East.
His history professors praise his exceptional
analytical skills and carefully argued historical papers.
Patrick is a Four-Year Hawk Honors Program graduate and a
member of Phi Alpha Theta, the national honor society in history.
In a personal statement, Patrick says that education
has always been highly valued in his family. His mother
and father grew up with the idea that their prospects were
limited, but they went on to graduate from college. Patrick
says that education changed their lives and had a powerful
impact on him. He says "I only hope that, through this
honor, I can show them that I have taken their lessons to heart."
Patrick plans to attend a graduate program in history
to further study Middle Eastern and African history.
Photo: Patrick Arvizu, Dr. Mustafah Dhada
Outstanding Graduate in Music
Elizabeth Provencio
Elizabeth is completing her bachelor of arts degree in music
education with a focus on choral studies. She performs in
quarterly studio recitals and opera scenes and sings with
the First Presbyterian Church Choir and CSUB’s Chamber
and University Choirs. Elizabeth’s professors have
high praise for her talent. She is a "stunning presence
on stage. Regardless of the venue or how many others share
the stage with her, one’s ears and eyes are drawn to
her exquisite voice and expressive face. She is a powerful
singer, a charismatic actress, and a masterful musician."
Elizabeth is a Four Year Hawk Honors graduate and a
member of Alpha Chi Academic Honor Society. She has
always stepped in to help her fellow students and has
served as an official tutor for several courses. Zoltan Kodaly
once said that only the best musicians and best
teachers should be allowed in the classroom. Elizabeth is both.
Elizabeth will begin work on her teaching credential
at CSUB this coming September. She plans to teach in
the public schools and later pursue a master’s degree
and eventually a doctoral degree. Photo: Elizabeth Provencio, Professor Peggy Sears
Outstanding Graduate in Philosophy
Marya Rafiq
One of Marya’s professors said "she is one of the most
promising philosophy majors who have completed their BA at CSUB."
Her writing assignments show a high level of engagement
with the material, both intellectually and personally. In 2010
Marya was accepted to the annual Philosophy in an Inclusive
Key summer institute at the Pennsylvania State University.
This highly competitive, seven-day institute is designed
to encourage undergraduate students to consider future study
in the field of philosophy. In 2011, Marya was accepted
to the CSU International Program to study in Aix-en-Provence, France.
She spent one semester attending the Service Commun
d’Enseignement du Francais aux ‘Etudiants Etrangers,
the part of the Universite de Povence organized for foreign
students. Marya served as a teaching assistant for an
upper-division philosophy course, an unusual opportunity
for an undergraduate student. The professor praised Marya’s ability
to balance the need to give feedback to students that
is both critical and encouraging. Marya plans to continue her
education in a graduate program in philosophy or law school.
Photo: Dr. Debra Jackson, Marya Rafiq
Outstanding Graduate in Religious Studies
Kathleen Hanson
In addition to her analytical and critical thinking skills, Katy
is lauded for her writing. Professor Tim Vivian writes,
"I still remember that my reaction to the first paper
I received from Katy was something like, Wow. This girl can write."
In 2011, Katy presented a documentary film at the Third
Annual Gender Matters Conference. The film was her final
project in the course Women, Religion, and Sexuality and
it presents interviews with a mother and daughter who attend
a conservative church in Kern County and examines how they
navigate gender role expectations. Katy and a fellow religious
studies student taught three units on Hinduism in an
advanced placement social studies class at Bakersfield
High School. They did an excellent job. Katy said
"My first religious studies class and its
professor restored my confidence in my ability as a student,
and when I achieved an “A” in the class, I never looked back."
During the course of her studies, she discovered an
immutable desire to make religious studies a permanent
part of her life and intends to continue her education
at the graduate level so that she can become a professor
of religious studies. Katy said "I do this all with
the love and support of my husband and fellow student, Nick Harl,
who was been by my side from the beginning of my
academic career and will be until the end."
Photo: Dr. Tim Vivian, Katy Hanson, Dr. Stephen Campagna-Pinto
Outstanding Graduate in Spanish
Azusena Ortiz
After earning an associate of arts degree in accounting at Bakersfield
College, Azusena transferred to CSUB in Fall 2010. She decided
to major in Spanish to pursue her childhood dream of becoming
a teacher. Becoming a teacher has special meaning for Azusena.
Originally from Mexico, English is her second language, but
with the help of her teachers, she completed high school in
two years and graduated with honors. She wants to teach so
she can make a difference in the lives of her students just
as her teachers impacted her life. Azusena has done research
related to Medieval Spanish literature and Hispanic American
Literature, and she collaborated with other undergraduate
students in research projects in the field of linguistics.
She participated in literary and cultural activities of the
Modern Languages and Literatures department and those of the
literature club Hermes. In her two years at CSUB, she
has been on the Dean’s List every quarter and will graduate
magna cum laude. Azusena will enter the credential program
at CSUB and later earn a master’s in Education. Her long
range goal is to work as an educational administrator.
Photo: Dr. Anthony Nuno, Azusena Ortiz
Dean's Awards
Outstanding Humanities Paper
Kathleen Hanson
In her paper "The Doctor and the Doctor: Steven Moffat’s Doctor
Who and the Freudian Hermeneutic of Suspicion"
Katy examined the influence of television on religious
belief by studying episodes of the British television
series Doctor Who. She argues for the development of a
criticism of contemporary Christian thought that
illustrates a response to doctrinal faith that reflects
atheist, agnostic, and rational critiques of institutional
religion. Using the hermeneutic of suspicion conceived
by Paul Ricoeur in his study Freud and Philosophy, Katy
demonstrates that Dr. Who has developed in such
a way as to reveal the deception of organized
religion and its destabilization of modern notions of
rationality. Rather than banishing religion, Katy
argues that Dr. Who encouraged a rational critique
of religion that liberates believer, agnostic,
and atheist alike to reevaluate contemporary religiousness.
Photo: Dr. Liora Gubkin, Katy Hanson, Dr. Stephen Campagna-Pinto
Outstanding Graduate Paper
Megan Finch
Southern Literature is defined by the literature
it excludes as much as it is by the literature it includes.
The Civil War created not only a split between north and south,
but between whites and blacks. A consequence of this split
led to the exclusion of African-American voices from
Southern literature because of the incompatibility of their view
of the Civil War. In her paper "In History’s Shadow: A Re-definition of
Southern Literature" Megan argues that all
African-Americans, not just those born to the South,
are historically and sociologically bound to the
history of the Civil War and slavery in the South.
This enduring allegiance enables African-Americans
who seek to explain their present in terms of the past the
ability to write "Southern Literature." Through a
discussion of Toni Morrison’s Jazz—juxtaposed against
readings of canonized Southern writers like William Faulkner
and Tennessee Williams—this paper explores the ways
in which Morrison, and by extension other non-southern blacks,
not merely write about the South as outsiders
but actually contribute to expand the canon of
Southern literature to explain a self that is in
many ways "southern."
Photo: Dr. Monica Ayuso, Megan Finch
Outstanding Graduate Thesis
Andrew Visokey
In his thesis titled "Sexual Slavery and the Hope for the
Future in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter," Andrew
addresses the question of sexual slavery in Hawthorne’s
greatest novel. Rooted in the practice of the psychological
analysis of character, Andrew avoids highly conjectural
psychoanalytic categories in favor of a broader and more
pragmatically useful analysis rooted in the novel itself.
He engages a thirty or more year tradition of exploring
the novel in feminist terms, and he attempts to reconcile
two positions, one identifying the novel as proto-feminist
and the other claiming that the novel reaffirms patriarchal
conceptions of gender relations. Andrew takes on the difficult
task of reconciling these two positions by exploring
the process by which scapegoating and a form of sexual
slavery occur at a deeply rooted psychological level.
Ultimately more in line with the proto-feminist position,
the thesis reaffirms and enriches that position and
represents a genuine advance in scholarship.
Photo: Dr. Steven Frye, Andrew Visokey
Outstanding Visual Arts Project
Enemerio "Emmy" Galvan
Titled Sun-Gage, Emmy constructed a functional
gate from structured steel surfaced with highly
textured ceramic tiles. The scale is 13 feet high
by 13 feet wide. The original inspiration for the
project is a Mayan calendar, which draws from Emmy’s
heritage and concurs with the 2012 Mayan prediction.
The monumental scale of the project is extremely
ambitious. His craftsmanship with both the
ceramic and steel elements is impeccable.
The metal and ceramic surfaces are beautifully
executed and well integrated.
Photo: Professor Joyce Kohl, Emmy Galvan
Outstanding Performing Arts Project
Jessica Boles
In the Spring 2011 production of Chicago, Jessica captivated
the audience with her performance as Roxie. In a role
that is familiar to many, she found a fresh, vibrant
interpretation that did not mimic other performances.
The actress playing Roxie must have a strong presence
and charisma in order for the rest of the production
to work, and Jessica does. She brought a mix of innocence
and impudence to the role which demanded advanced skills
in acting, singing, and dancing, all of which
Professor Mandy Rees said "Jessica has in spades."
Photo: Jessica Boles, Professor Mandy Rees
Awards of Excellence
Clio Award in History
John Stegall
Determined by a consensus among History department
faculty, the Clio Award is given annually to the
senior History student who has an exceptional
GPA in the major and who has impressed faculty with
his or her ability to articulate historical ideas
and to demonstrate originality or independence
of thought, both in class discussions and on
written assignments. Photo: Dr. Jane Granskog, John Stegall
Charles Kegley Award in Philosophy & Religious Studies
Simbella Singh
This award was established in honor of Charles Kegley,
Founding Chair of the Department of Philosophy and
Religious Studies, and is awarded to majors who have
exhibited intellectual commitment to the study of
philosophy or religion and commitment to quality scholarship.
Photo: Simbella Singh, Dr. Stephen Campagna-Pinto
George Ketterl Award in Art
Kenneth Taylor, Jr.
In 2011, the Art Department established "The George"
in honor of the late George Ketterl, a much-loved
founding CSUB Art Faculty and a prominent artist.
The George is a $500 award given to an art major
selected from among the students showing in the Senior
Exhibition by an impartial guest adjudicator.
Ken’s piece in the exhibition was a meter
square cube made of more than 400 switches.
Photo: Kenneth Taylor, Professor Sarah Vanderlip
Li'i Pearl Award in English
Veronica Wilson
Named in honor of Julia Keali’ikahikookalani "Li’i" Pearl,
the Li’i Pearl Outstanding Student in English Award
honors a student who has made special contributions
to the department, the school, the university, and the
community at large and serves as ":proud representative"
of the Department of English. Photo: Dr. Susan Stafinbil, Veronica Wilson