CSUB to graduate 1,199 students at 2021 fall commencement ceremonies

President Zelezny: ‘The pride we feel brings a smile to every Roadrunner face’

By California State University, Bakersfield

November 23^rd, 2021

Nearly 1,200 California State University, Bakersfield students will seize their future on Dec. 16 when they cross the stage at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield to accept their college degrees at the 2021 Fall Commencement Ceremony.

The university will award baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees at the ceremony, which will observe safety protocols designed to protect the community against the spread of COVID-19.

CSUB also will award its first two master’s of science degrees in kinesiology, a program implemented in the fall of 2020 to address the growing need for health and wellness professionals to serve families in our region.

“The pride we feel for our graduates brings a smile to every face in the Roadrunner family,” said CSUB President Dr. Lynnette Zelezny. “This is a milestone, the moment when years of hard work and sacrifice culminate in a college diploma. From here, our graduates know they are prepared to take on any challenge, any opportunity, any dream they have. Bravo, ’Runners!”

CSUB will confer 1,040 bachelor’s degrees and 159 master’s degrees from among the university’s four schools: Arts and Humanities, Natural Science, Mathematics and Engineering, Business and Public Administration, and Social Sciences and Education.

The School of SSE also will award five doctoral degrees in educational leadership.

“CSUB is excited to return to Mechanics Bank Arena for our fall commencement ceremony, which was put on hold last year during virtual instruction,” said Dr. Vernon Harper, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “The fact that the university has added a commencement ceremony in the fall reflects the growth of our enrollment and the success of our students. And more graduates mean more opportunity and progress for our community.”

CSUB is proud to announce that 104 students will be graduating in under four years, a testament to their hard work and the attention of faculty and staff.

“Early graduates at CSUB are increasing significantly due to our partnership with the Kern Pledge and dual enrollment with Kern High School District,” President Zelezny noted. “It is a priority of the California State University to help students graduate in four years because the longer it takes to earn a degree, the greater the risk that students could be diverted from their path.”

New master's degree

For the first time ever, CSUB will confer two master of science degrees in kinesiology, a health discipline that prepares professionals for fields like physical therapy, personal training, community wellness, coaching, nutrition and so much more. Halle Meadows and Jesenia Nieves, who enrolled in the fall of 2020, will be the first of the 19 students currently enrolled in the 18-month online program to earn their master’s.

“I developed such a close connection with my professors,” said Meadows, who earned her bachelor’s degree in applied exercise science from CSUB in 2018. “They’re doing their own research, so learning under people who are still striving to achieve makes you want to strive more as well.”

Nieves, who earned her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from CSU East Bay in 2020, said she had never had the opportunity to do research before enrolling in CSUB’s master’s program.

“The whole process was new to me, so I learned a lot. I think that research, in general, opened up my mind to look at things from a different perspective.”

Kinesiology lecturer Kris Grappendorf, who arrived at CSUB in 1998, said the program has exploded in popularity in recent years, a reflection of the region’s shortage of health and wellness professionals and the university’s commitment to align its course offerings to meet community needs.

“Our region has among the poorest health outcomes in the state, and we are an aging population,” Grappendorf said. “CSUB sees it as our mission to provide a workforce to address those issues.”

Dr. Zachary Zenko, kinesiology graduate program director, noted that the graduation of Nieves and Meadows is evidence that the program is maturing.

“Now we have a steady stream of incoming students and students making steady progress toward a degree in the program. Personally, this is my first graduating master’s student that I’m mentoring. I’m always going to remember this moment.”

Added Grappendorf:

“I get goosebumps when I think about it. We couldn’t have done this without our community partners. They told us, ‘Let’s get these graduates out in the field.’ It’s exciting and rewarding to see that it’s going to happen.”

Safety guidelines

Masks will be required for all guests ages 3 years and older, graduates, faculty and staff.
All attendees must present:

o a vaccination card with the last dosage administered 14 days prior the ceremony date; or

o a negative COVID test taken 72 hours prior to the ceremony.

Guests 18 years and older must present a government-issued photo identification with the name matching their vaccination card or their COVID test.
No purses/backpacks of any kind may be brought into the venue.
No outside food may be brought into the venue unless for medical needs.
No vendors will be inside the venue.
For additional prohibited items, please review the Frequently Asked Questions page.

For more information, please visit CSUB’s commencement webpage.

2021 Fall Commencement

When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16

Where: Mechanics Bank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave.

Admission: By ticket only. Each graduate will receive 10 tickets.

Check-in: Guests are encouraged to arrive early to navigate the check-in process, which requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

For media inquiries or interviews: Please contact CSUB Public Information Officer Jennifer Self, jself@csub.edu or 661-319-8778.

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