CSUN 2012 Commencement: College of Business and Economics

[Music]
[Music]
[Music: CSUN Jazz "A" Band]
[Applause]
>> Good morning, everyone.
give an applause to all
yourselves here. this is great. Yea!
[Applause]
>> I'm Bill Jennings dean of the
College of Business and Economics.
and I'm pleased to introduce our soloist for the national anthem
Pablo Cora, a business honors and accountancy major and a
member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
>> He's also graduating today. Please rise for the singing of
the national anthem.
[Singing of National Anthem]
[Applause]
Please be seated.
Thank you for that beautiful performance.
Vice president Watkins, vice
provost Rawitch, vice presidents Baker, Peterson and Mccarron,
alumni Barabba and Jennings, councilman Englander,
foundation board member DeYoung, retired founder and owner of
JD Powers and Associates and
adjunct faculty member Dave Powers, department chairs,
faculty, alumni, emeriti and faculty, I welcome you to the
2012 College of Business and Economics graduation ceremony.
[Applause]
While we're here today in joyous celebration of your
graduation, I would like, however, to take a moment to
honor two professors whose recent loss we mourn.
Dr. Mingfang Li of management and strategy was a dedicated
colleague, teacher, prolific researcher and scholar and
active in the China Institute. Dr. Li passed away last month
from complications following a stroke he suffered last fall.
We are still reeling from the shock and sudden and unexpected
loss of Dr. Donald Bleish only last week.
Dr. Bleish published extensively in academic and professional
journals. He was truly devoted to his
students. He mentored and advised countless
students and helped many throughout their careers.
They will both be missed. Please join me in a moment of
silence.
Thank you.
Each year the College of Business and Economics has the
privilege of recognizing outstanding graduating seniors
for their contributions and achievements in the college and
the university. In 1979, Judge Juilian Beck made
a substantial donation in the name of Warner K. Masters to
establish an endowment recognizing outstanding student
achievement. Masters served the university
for 30 years as the director of campus planning and financial
vice president and in the mid-1950s was an early and
active advocate for the construction of another state
college in the Los Angeles region which later became
California State University Northridge.
Additionally, he helped secure for the university the acreage
now known as north campus. Masters passed away in April of
2008 in Rifle, Colorado, due to complications from a long
illness at the age of 87. We remember and honor him today
by recognizing Jose Mario Franco.
Will the award recipient please stand and be recognized.
[Applause]
Thank you. Please be seated.
I would also like to take a moment to recognize the
graduating members of the business honors program.
This is our 11th graduating class and these are students who
have done an exceptional job in their studies.
Will the students please rise and remain standing.
Please join me in a round of applause for our business honors
students.
[Applause]
>> I would also like to make
special mention this morning of those students who have
demonstrated outstanding scholarship while at the
university. Undergraduate students with a
cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and graduate students with a
cumulative GPA of 3.885 or higher will graduate with
honors. Honor students may be identified
by the medallions they are wearing.
Will all those who are graduating with academic honors
Please stand and be recognized.
[Applause]
Congratulations and thank you. Please be seated.
The College of Business and Economics owes much of its
success to its extraordinarily talented and dedicated faculty.
I now invite our teaching faculty and faculty emeriti who
have joined us to rise and be recognized by your students,
colleagues and friends.
[Applause]
Thank you. Please be seated.
The trustees of the California
State University have the privilege to award honorary
doctorates to persons deemed to have made extraordinary
contributions to society. This year the trustees have
identified a person worthy of this honor.
it is an honor for us today to present this degree at the
College of Business and Economics commencement ceremony.
Mr. Vincent Barabba, will you please stand and be recognized
for your many achievements.
[Applause]
>> Good morning, graduates. Well, come on, make some noise!
[Cheering]
We congratulate you and we
greet you on behalf of our interim president Dr. Harry
Hellenbrand. It is my great privilege to now
present our honoree. Vincent P. Barabba has been a
preeminent civic leader, business executive, and loyal alumnus
since graduating from our university in 1962 with
a bachelor's degree in marketing.
[Cheering]
In 1969, Mr. Barabba founded A Los Angeles based
market research company to provide electoral information to
political campaigns from city hall to the presidency.
In 1973, President Richard Nixon appointed him director of the
U.S. Bureau Of The Census. After a brief hiatus, President
Jimmy Carter reappointed him to this very same role in 1979,
making him the only person receiving this appointment from
presidents of different political parties.
In addition to the many years of distinguished service at the
national level, in 2010, Mr. Barabba, became chair of the
California Citizens Redistricting Commission, a very
important role. As a business leader Mr. Barabba
has guided the marketing strategies of many of America's
most recognizable brands including Xerox, Eastman Kodak
and General Motors where he introduced the lifesaving OnStar
service. He has led or helped to lead
numerous nationally distinguished professional and
academic organizations including the American Statistical
Association, the American Institutes for Research and the
American Marketing Association. Mr. Barabba's commitment to our
university actually goes back to when he arrived here as a
student when we were then called San Fernando Valley State
College. While an undergraduate he
served as our student body president and was also the
editor of the school yearbook called The Sunburst.
since graduating he has remained a friend and supporter of our
university. Indeed, among the many awards
that he has received, is recently the recognition in 2003
of being named distinguished alumnus of California State
University Northridge. He's currently on the board of
directors of the CSUN Foundation and he cochaired the 2010 campus
Founders Day celebration. And now, therefore, it is in
recognition of his professional and civic accomplishments and
his long-standing leadership for his alma mater that the board of
trustees of the California State University and California State
University Northridge are proud to confer upon Vincent Barabba
the honorary degree of doctor of laws with all the rights, honors
and responsibilities pertaining thereto.
Vince, our warmest congratulations. Thank you.
[Applause]
>> Thank you very much.
As wonderful as receiving this degree is, and the appreciation
for receiving it, my deepest appreciation goes to the
university -- excuse me...
[Applause]
that provided the beginning
not only in the classroom but in the many activities which were
so deep in my learning, that helped so much in future years
and for both this degree and that opportunity, i thank you
very much.
[Applause]
>> Congratulations, Dr. Barabba.
[Applause]
And thank you William Watkins, our vice president, for
that wonderful confirmation of the degree.
Vice provost Rawitch will now present the candidates for the
master's degree.
[Cheering and applause]
>> Will all candidates for the
master's degree please rise.
[Applause]
Dr. Watkins, I present the
candidates for the master of business administration, master
of knowledge management, master of science in accountancy,
master of science in taxation and master of arts in
interdisciplinary studies. These candidates have completed
the requirements of the master's degree as prescribed by the
state of California and the trustees of the California State
University, and they have been recommended by the faculty of
California State University Northridge.
Please remain standing.
>> Upon the recommendation of
the faculty of the California State University Northridge and
by the authority vested in me by the board of trustees, I confer
upon you the degree of master of business administration, master
of knowledge management, master of science in accountancy,
master of science in taxation, and master of arts in
interdisciplinary studies with all the rights, honors and
responsibilities pertaining thereto.
Congratulations! Please be seated.
[Cheering, applause]
The completion of the degree program is a significant
accomplishment, which the university is proud to recognize
and share with you. Please come forward as directed
by the marshals to receive our personal congratulations and our
commemorative certificate. Thank you.
[Announcing of Master's Degree candidates]
>> The graduates we honor today
Represent a variety of academic disciplines.
In order that we may -- in order that we may properly recognize
their achievements, in having completed their programs
required in these areas, I ask that the candidates for
baccalaureate degrees in business administration,
accountancy, finance, economics, information systems, management,
marketing, and special majors now rise and remain standing.
[Applause]
Vice president Watkins, I have the honor of presenting to
you the undergraduate class of 2012 from the college of
business and economics.
[Cheering and applause]
These candidates have
completed their requirements for the baccalaureate degree as
prescribed by the state of California, and the trustees of
the California State University system.
And they have been recommended for their degrees by the faculty
of California State University Northridge.
>> Upon the recommendation of the faculty of California State
University Northridge and by the authority vested in me by the
board of trustees, i hereby confer upon you the degree of
bachelor of science in business administration, bachelor of
science in accountancy, bachelor of science in finance, bachelor
of science in information systems, bachelor of science in
management, bachelor of science in marketing, bachelor of arts
in economics with all the rights, honors, and
responsibilities pertaining thereto.
Will you please be seated.
>> The completion of a degree
program is a significant achievement which the university
wishes to recognize and share with you.
Will you please come forward as directed by the ushers and
marshals to receive our personal congratulations and
commemorative certificate. After you've received your personal
congratulations and returned to your seats, we request that you
remain and congratulate the rest of your class.
[Announcing of Baccalaureate degree candidates]
[Cheering and applause]
>> Will all the recipients of the baccalaureate degree please
rise.
[Cheering and applause]
[Students chanting something]
>> In academic tradition -- in
academic tradition the student who has not yet earned a degree
wears the tassel on the right side of the mortarboard.
when the degree is conferred, the scholar moves the tassel to
the left and joins a select company of educated men and
women. In recognition of your new
status, will all recipients of the baccalaureate degree move
the tassel to the left.
[Cheering and applause]
I welcome you into the alumni
family of the College of Business and Economics.
[Cheering and applause]
Mr. Paul Jennings will now officially welcome you into the
California State University Northridge alumni association.
>> Hi, I am Paul Jennings. I graduated in the class of
1986.
I could not have imagined at
that time the positive impact that the education i received
here at Northridge instilled upon me.
Each of you stand strong, stand confident because you've
given yourself a gift, the gift of feeding the curious mind and
may that curious mind lead you to your passions and may the
passion make the difference in your life that every morning
when you wake up, you wake up to make things happen versus
waiting for things to happen. welcome to the alumni.
[Cheering and applause]
On the behalf of the over 200,000 alumni and under the
authorization of the board of directors of Cal State
Northridge alumni association, i am pleased to formally welcome
you to the alumni of our great university.
[Cheering and applause]
This is your day. You have worked hard to reach
this moment. We are honored to join with you
your family, your friends, to celebrate the joy of your
achievements. The word commencement is defined
as a time of a beginning. In that context, this ceremony
marks the beginning of a new and enduring relationship between
you and Cal -- State Northridge.
[Laughter]
english was not my strong suit. Marketing major.
[Cheering]
And now -- it is my pleasure to inform you may add the title of
alumnus, alumna and your name is now eligible for the
membership of the Cal State Northridge alumni association.
Congratulations.
[Applause]
>> All of us owe a debt to the
parents, spouses and other significant family member and
friends who have encouraged and in many cases sacrificed
to make it possible for these graduates to earn a
university degree. We now salute you and ask you
to stand for a well deserved round of applause.
[Applause]
Thank you. please be seated.
We're almost done. Bear with me here.
I would also like you to join me
in recognizing and thanking all the members of the CSUN
community including the commencement and honors
convocation committee, departments, faculty, staff
and students who have worked for the last year to
make today's ceremony a success. Thank you.
[Applause]
Before we officially close this ceremony,
I ask all the students rise for the university
alma mater, "Hail to the Matadors" under the musical direction of
Matt Harris and the Jazz "A" Band and performed by
Ameena Khawhaja. After the alma mater has
been concluded, please remain by your seats
until the platform committee and faculty have recessed.
We ask that all parents and guests please remain seated
until the end of the recessional.
[Music]
[Singing of Hail to the Matadors]
[Applause]
The audience is requested to remain seated for the faculty
and student recessional. At the conclusion of the
recessional, our 52nd annual commencement ceremony
is formally adjourned. Immediately following the recessional,
please join us for refreshments in the courtyard of the business
building, Juniper Hall. All graduates and their families
are invited to attend. The Jazz "A" band will now
perform -- will now perform to begin the faculty recessional.
Will the audience please remain seated.
At the conclusion of the recessional, the College of
Business and Economics portion of the California State
University commencement is formally concluded.
Congratulations and best wishes to the class of 2012!
[Applause]
[Music: CSUN Jazz "A" band]