'An opportunity waiting for them' at CSUB

Kern County students set eyes on college

By California State University, Bakersfield

August 7^th, 2019

President Zelezny and a busload of CSUB students, faculty, staff and alumni headed out from the Icardo Center the morning of Aug. 3 to celebrate the communities we serve, meet with families and supporters and create excitement for a college education among the youngest residents of the Valley.

“It’s important for students to know that they have an opportunity waiting for them,” President Zelezny said.

The first stop of the day was in Arvin at Grimmway Academy, a K-8 public charter school that follows a blended learning model, tailored to the needs individual students.

Grimmway Academy founder Barbara Grimm-Marshall and school teachers, staff, parents and children welcomed the CSUB visitors with warmth and hospitality, leading us through the famous Edible Schoolyard, sharing the delicious food straight from the school’s kitchen and leading tours of the classrooms. Joy and anticipation was in the air, just two days before the start of the school year.

President Zelezny met with several future runners, including Natalie, eager to start kindergarten. When asked her favorite crop at the Edible Schoolyard, Natalie responded, “Carrots!”

'An opportunity waiting for them' at CSUB

Natalie and the other children the CSUB delegation met all hope to make their mark at CSUB someday and give back to their communities just as Mrs. Grimm-Marshall has done.

"We know that 70 percent of graduates from CSUB remain in our region to serve as professionals and to serve as civic leaders,” President Zelezny said.

The Caravan then headed north for east Bakersfield, stopping at the Boys & Girls Club of Kern County, which serves thousands of local children every year with a variety of activities, including sports, visual art and the performing arts. The organization’s award-winning singers provided the highlight of the Caravan’s visit with a stirring performance (watch for these young talents at future CSUB games!)

Thank you, Mayor Goh, City Councilman Andrae Gonzales, Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Zane Smith and other supporters for cheering on CSUB Athletics in the coming year?

From Bakersfield, the bus headed northwest to Delano, where Tony Martinez of Tony’s Pizza hosted the CSUB Caravan for the third year. ’Runner Athletics supporters turned out in force to cheer on coaches, players and reflect with pride on what we’ve accomplished and where we are headed. Special thanks to longtime supporter Johnny Zaninovich and his family, in addition to a number of Delano city leaders, including Councilwoman Grace Vallejo and Delano Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Janet Rabanal.

“The CSUB Caravan is such a highlight for me because there is nothing like going out into the community to visit the next generation of ’Runners, hardworking teachers, community leaders and supporters,” President Zelezny said. “We feel such a deep connection to our community at CSUB, and this is a way for us to show it.”

'An opportunity waiting for them' at CSUB

Kern County students set eyes on college

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