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CSUB celebrates 2025 Outstanding Graduates

Jonathan Juarez and Christine Sipin receive President’s Medal

By California State University, Bakersfield

May 21^st, 2025

As first-generation college students, Christine Sipin and Jonathan Juarez had encouraging parents but no compass when they set out to navigate the long and winding path to a university degree.

Yet not only did they find their way, they went so far above and beyond that President Vernon B. Harper Jr. named them the top undergraduate and graduate students, respectively, at California State University, Bakersfield for 2025.

“I got the call, and I almost didn’t know how to take the news,” Juarez said. “But after I got off the phone, I Googled it and said, ‘Oh this is a big deal.’”

Dr. Harper honored Sipin and Juarez before their families and faculty mentors at a ceremony May 15 at the Bakersfield campus.

“Christine and Jonathan are among the top students not just at CSUB, but in the entire nation,” Dr. Harper said. “It is a misconception that this region’s best and brightest students go somewhere else for college, and these two brilliant scholars are proof of that. They have chosen to stay right here in their communities, devoting their time and talent to the concerns, opportunities and needs of their friends and neighbors. And they excelled in the face of incredible challenges.”

Sipin, 23, received a bachelor’s degree in sociology, with a minor in criminology, at the university’s commencement ceremony on Saturday.

A tragedy had threatened to derail her journey at CSUB even before it started. One month before she was to transfer from Antelope Valley College to CSUB’s Antelope Valley campus, she lost her 5-month-old son to sudden infant death syndrome.

“I was beating myself up about whether to continue on through school,” she said. “I let my professors know right off the bat that I needed some time, and they were very accommodating. I think that shows their values at CSUB-AV, which is that they are attentive to students and get to know us.”

Juarez, 33, graduated Friday with his master’s degree in biology, having begun his studies at CSUB after years of unfulfilling jobs. He decided to return to Bakersfield College and then transferred to CSUB, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, also in biology. With momentum on his side, he decided to go straight into the master’s program, where he relied on faculty mentors to help show him the way.

“My parents were nothing but supportive of me going to school, but ultimately they couldn’t help me with any advice on being in school or graduating or knowing the path,” he said. “I kind of felt like I’m flying blind here, but the faculty was supportive with my questions and giving responses that felt meaningful and well-thought out. I would have had no idea how to do this without their support.”

CSUB celebrates 2025 Outstanding Graduates

Christine Sipin: Fighting the ‘stigma’ prisoners face

Dr. Katt Bongar Hoban nominated Sipin as the top undergraduate of the year after having entrusted her student with a number of sensitive research assignments, including tracking corporate social media activity in response to social movements and a community needs assessment that identified system inequities and proposed viable policy solutions.

“With her resilience, intellect and dedication to justice, she is poised to make a profound impact in both medicine and society,” Dr. Bongar Hoban said in her nomination.

Sipin served her fellow Roadrunners as a tutor and completed an internship with the Alternatives to Violence Project, where she dedicated more than 80 hours to facilitating conflict resolution and violence prevention efforts.

Sipin’s achievements were recognized with her selection to several highly competitive conferences, including the American Psychiatric Association’s Future Leaders in Psychiatry Program and the University of California, Los Angeles’ Pre-Med Enrichment Program.

She also was chosen to represent CSUB at a national consortium for students from Hispanic-Serving Institutions, where she engaged with scholars and professionals committed to advancing educational equity and opportunities for underrepresented students.

Sipin has used all that she has learned in her work as a volunteer at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. Ultimately, she’d like to become a correctional psychiatrist.

“There’s such a stigma,” she said. “Personally, the men I work with in the prison have been some of the most respectful and hardworking individuals I’ve ever met, proactively working toward bettering themselves. It takes a lot in a person to identify they need to change something, so I fell in love with my work there.”

As for her next steps, Sipin and her family are planning a party at their newly renovated home, which was damaged in a fire that added the obstacle of housing insecurity to her CSUB journey. And then a little break. Sipin said she needs it after suffering so much loss over the past couple of years.

“I couldn’t have done any of this without Dr. Bongar Hoban,” she said. “When I lost my baby, she was six months pregnant, and she could really empathize with me. She was the perfect person to come into my life at that time.”

Jonathan Juarez: ‘A passion for science’

After putting off college for several years, Juarez did not want to waste any time once he got to CSUB, entering the master’s program as soon as he received his bachelor’s degree.

But no one told Mother Nature of his plans. A torrential flood washed away the research he was conducting on leaf behavioral patterns at the Tejon Ranch Conservancy, setting his timeline back a year.

“I think it’s safe to say I was pretty bummed out when that happened,” he said. “But there was comfort from the faculty that this is the nature of field research.”

His most influential faculty mentor, Dr. Rae McNeish, nominated Juarez for the top graduate student award.

“Jonathan’s collective accomplishments highlight his determination to overcome challenges, dedication to his education, impeccable judgment and character and passion for science while completing acts of service and fostering community engagement,” McNeish said in her nomination letter.

A Ridgeview High grad, Juarez enrolled at BC after high school but his priorities “weren’t in the right place,” so he dropped out and went to work, eventually becoming a pharmacy technician at the Kern County jail. It was a rough experience, he said, but provided the motivation he needed to go back to school. He looked into becoming a physician’s assistant, but an ecology class reminded him that he loved to be outside.

Despite his passion for science, Juarez did not pursue the chance to do research as an undergraduate because he didn’t have the time, he said. But when he started his graduate studies, he inquired about the opportunity.

“Dr. McNeish was the first freshwater researcher we had on campus and that was the area I was hoping to do research in,” he said. “When I submitted my graduate application, she told me she usually wouldn’t take a student who wasn’t in her lab as an undergraduate because she wanted a known quantity.”

But Dr. McNeish recognized Juarez’s abilities immediately on number of research projects, including with the Tejon Ranch Conservancy, a nonprofit that works to preserve, enhance and restore the native biodiversity and ecosystem of Tejon Ranch and the Tehachapi Range. Juarez studied the ecology of the rivers managed by TRC, “filling a knowledge gap with his results to support the conservancy’s freshwater management efforts,” McNeish said.

Juarez also has been pivotal in supporting students, faculty and citizens concerned about environmental issues on the lower Kern River and along the Bakersfield Environmental Studies Area. As a volunteer, he has conducted river wildlife surveys to document the effects of river water loss, has worked to educate the public about the river and freshwater wildlife and assists with trash cleanup along the river.

“I’d like to use the knowledge and skills I’ve acquired to continue to do work into environmental issues,” said Juarez, who works as a staff biologist at an environmental consulting company. “Ideally, I’d like to go into the public sector. I feel like I’m contributing all I can to ensure that our natural resources are as protected as they can be.”

Outstanding graduates

Juarez and Sipin were selected from a group of Outstanding Graduates by the deans from each of CSUB’s four colleges and the Antelope Valley campus. Here are the other outstanding graduates who will participate in this spring’s commencement ceremonies:

ANTELOPE VALLEY

Outstanding Graduate — Jennifer Erazo

Erazo graduated with her master’s degree in counseling with an emphasis in student affairs. She currently holds a bachelor’s in sociology and minor in psychology. Erazo has served as a graduate student leader for the Antelope Valley campus since starting her graduate program in fall 2023 and is the first student to hold the position at the campus. She has worked on developing student programming, outreach and orientations. Erazo is also an experienced tutor and peer advisor. She hopes to one day become an academic advisor.

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Outstanding Undergraduate — Samuel Carrasco

Carrasco has earned his bachelor’s degree in music with an emphasis in music education. He has been actively involved in the music program as a tutor for students enrolled in its introductory piano class. He is a member of the CSUB chapter of the National Association for Music Education, through which he has done fundraising and volunteered for the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. Carrasco also serves as Associated Student Inc.’s director for the College of Arts and Humanities. Outside of class, Carrasco teaches nearly 40 piano students weekly in his home studio and at California Keyboards in Bakersfield. Carrasco, who wants to become a music teacher, is already enrolled in courses to earn his teaching credential and hopes to get a master’s degree.

Outstanding Graduate — Biviana Ruiz Lopez

Lopez, who was born in Mexico and immigrated to the U.S. at age 18, graduated this spring with her master’s degree in Spanish. She currently holds a bachelor’s from CSUB in Spanish with a minor in child, adolescent and family studies. As an undergrad, Lopez spent three years helping farmworkers obtain their GEDs in Spanish through her work for the High School Equivalency Program. While pursuing her master’s degree, Lopez worked for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools’ Migrant Education program, which provides academic support to migrant children. Lopez plans to pursue a doctorate in education and would like to teach at a college or university.

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Outstanding Undergraduate — Guadalupe Hernandez Vazquez

Vasquez graduated from CSUB with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She has been part of several programs and clubs on campus, including the Helen Louise Hawk Honors Program, Beta Gamma Sigma and the University Accounting Association club. In addition to her academic pursuits, Vasquez has worked as a student assistant in the Accounting and Reporting Services office. She plans to pursue her master’s in business administration at CSUB and hopes to become a tax auditor for the state.

Outstanding Graduate — Bianka Pantoja

Pantoja has earned a master’s degree in public administration this spring. She previously obtained her bachelor’s in journalism with a concentration in public relations from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Pantoja is a member of the CSUB chapter of the International City Management Association. She also volunteers for Latina Leaders of Kern County, where she mentors high school students through its Youth Leadership Program and serves on the organization’s Education Committee. Pantoja currently works as a public information specialist for the Kern High School District. She plans to continue her education by pursuing a doctoral degree.

COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES, MATHEMATICS AND ENGINEERING

Outstanding Undergraduate — Carl Allen

Allen graduated from CSUB with his bachelor’s in nursing. He has been actively involved with the Nursing Department as a research assistant for the Global Outreach Program and as a skills lab assistant, helping nursing students safely complete clinical practices and simulations. Outside of CSUB, Allen is a member of the Community Preventive Health Collaborative, which provides care to underserved communities in Bakersfield. He also serves as the director of the California Nursing Students’ Association’s Resolutions Committee. Allen wants to work in a hospital Emergency Department setting and plans to pursue his trauma certification. He also intends to apply to a Doctor of Nursing Practice program focused on emergency care or advanced practice.

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND EDUCATION

Outstanding Graduate — Zahida Estrada

Estrada has earned her master’s in educational administration from CSUB this spring to go along with her teaching and administrative service credentials from the university. She also holds bachelor’s degrees in sociology and theater from the University of California, Los Angeles. While pursuing her credentials and master’s at CSUB, Estrada has worked as a teacher in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District. She has served in several groups at her school, including the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Team and the School Site Council. She has also participated in the district’s Administrative Trainee Program, through which she shadowed site administrators and attended leadership seminars. Estrada hopes to one day become an assistant principal.

President Harper with Christine Sipin and her family.

President Harper with Jonathan Juarez and his family.

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Footnotes

Story by Jennifer Self, senior director of strategic communications and public information officer, and Joseph Luiz, writer/marketing and communications specialist; photos by Arthur Schneider, multimedia student assistant