CSUB celebrates admitted students with first Future `Runner Day

Event encouraged students to commit to university this fall

By California State University, Bakersfield

March 21^st, 2023

Gracie Curiel may not be a California State University, Bakersfield student yet, but that hasn’t stopped her from showing some early school pride.

The Highland High School senior wore a CSUB sweatshirt on Saturday to the university’s first Future `Runner Day event, an open house that encouraged admitted students to enroll at CSUB this fall.

“I have submitted my intent to enroll!” Curiel said. “I’m so excited to come to CSUB.”

More than 1,000 students and 1,800 friends and family came out for Future `Runner Day, which featured campus tours, information booths, an expo at the Student Recreation Center as well as workshops on the next steps students need to take to become a `Runner and how to manage financial aid and scholarships.

“It’s really nice and very informative. It’s providing all the answers I need,” said Curiel, who plans to major in computer science. “I think they should have this every year that way the incoming freshmen won’t feel as anxious about going to a school they’ve never been to. It’s also a nice opportunity for the students who already go to CSUB to interact with incoming students.”

While CSUB has historically held orientations for new students, Future `Runner Day was the first event focused on students who have not yet decided if they want to come to the university.

“We didn’t have a specific event that celebrates our admitted students and their families,” said Dr. Dwayne Cantrell, associate vice president for enrollment management. “A lot of our sister campuses do have that, so we thought it would be a good idea to see if it would work here. This is an opportunity to celebrate these students, for them to get excited about the campus and about being a future `Runner.”

One of the elements of Future `Runner Day that excited Dr. Cantrell was that CSUB was the first university in the CSU system to hold a welcome event for admitted students this year.

“We’re the first out of the gate out of the CSUs. All of the programs follow us,” he said. “That elevates the visibility of our campus. It’s important for us to be first as students are trying to make their decisions.”

One of those students is Foothill High senior Daniel Elizalde, wants to become a math teacher and was excited to learn about what options are available to him at CSUB.

“I heard they have a good teaching program here, and I really want to be a part of that,” he said.

Elizalde hasn’t committed to the university yet and is exploring other schools. However, he said his first visit to the campus for Future `Runner Day has moved CSUB up his list.

“It clarified things for me and helps me a lot with knowing what I need,” he said.

CSUB celebrates admitted students with first Future `Runner Day

'A first-choice campus'

Future `Runner Day drew students not only from the region but beyond as well. Seventeen-year-old Los Angeles resident Ingrid Santiago — who wants to major in psychology — came to the event with her older sister Jessica to see what CSUB is all about.

“It’s been very informational and really helpful. It really opened up my mind about this school more,” she said.

Santiago, who attends the STEM Academy of Hollywood, said she’s looking for a school that is outside the LA area but isn’t too far from her friends and family.

“I still haven’t decided. I’m looking at other schools, but coming here helped me become more interested in this school and give it more attention,” she said.

Jessica Santiago, 24, said she appreciates that CSUB is providing an opportunity for prospective students to really explore everything the university has to offer before her sister makes a decision on where to attend college.

“I think it’s very good to have students come and learn about the campus so they know what they’re getting into,” she said. “I want to know that she’s going to be in a good place where she can expand her network, her learning.”

While Future `Runner Day was open to students regardless of where they came from, Dr. Cantrell said it was important that CSUB take care of its “home base” — the students who live here in Kern County.

“We want to make sure they feel supported and have everything they need,” he said. “We want CSUB to be a first-choice campus, especially for those in our own area. We want them to be excited about coming here.”

East High senior Daisy Sanchez has committed to CSUB and is excited to pursue a degree in nursing. Future `Runner Day was her first time exploring the campus.

“It’s really pretty here. I like how it’s surrounded by trees,” she said.

Sanchez enjoyed visiting the various booths around campus and learning more about the different programs and services offered at CSUB.

“I think it’s a really good that way students come in and they can see if this is what they really want and see the different opportunities they have here,” she said of the event.

Dr. Cantrell said Future `Runner Day far exceeded his expectations and that the intention is to make it an annual event moving forward.

“It was a wonderful showcase of our campus, faculty, staff and students that make CSUB such a great place,” he said. “Students and their guests were excited and engaged, and I was especially thrilled to see the amount of pride, dedication and effort from everyone on campus.”