More than 1,200 graduating seniors and master's degree candidates have been invited to participate in the event, scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. at the University Club at the southeast corner of the campus at Zelzah Avenue and Nordhoff Street.

Yvonne Chan, a CSUN alumna and principal at Vaughn Next Century Learning Center in Pacoima, will give the keynote address. Chan is considered a leader in the national charter school movement. Vaughn Next Century was one of the first charter schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Seven students will receive special recognition at the convocation for outstanding academic performance and contributions to the community.

Precious Grace Singson, 25, of North Hills, is this year's Wolfson Scholar, an honor given each year to the university's top graduating senior. Singson is a double major, getting bachelor's degrees in history and Asian American studies. She will begin her doctoral studies in history this fall at UCLA.

Tracy Bachman, 38, of Valencia, who is getting her master's in English, has been selected as this year's recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the President's Associates.

The Association of Retired Faculty Memorial Award for Outstanding Graduate Student is Terrence Thorpe, 30, of Sylmar. He is getting his master's in political science.

Four graduates have been singled out for Outstanding Graduating Senior Awards:

• Renee Festa, 32, of Reseda, is getting her bachelor's degree in child and adolescent development. In addition to her duties as a single mother and going to school full time, Festa spent more than 200 hours of community service working with high risk preschool children. She has also been asked to present a paper at the International Child and Youth Care Conference in Victoria, Canada, a rare opportunity for an undergraduate student.

• Nancy Landa, 23, of South Los Angeles, is getting her bachelor's degree in information systems. An immigrant from Mexico and the first in her family to graduate from college, Landa commuted to CSUN using public transportation. She also served as the first Latina president of Associated Students this past year.

• Keith Onstad, 38, of Van Nuys, is a double major getting his bachelor's degrees in English and religious studies. He will be returning to CSUN this fall as a graduate teaching assistant in English composition while pursuing his master's degree in creative writing.

• Jeany Prasithpramote, 22, of Northridge, also is a double major, getting her bachelor's degrees in accounting and finance. Prasithpramote currently runs CSUN's acclaimed Volunteer Income Tax Assistance tax preparation program that serves the low-income community. For the past several years she has spent her Saturday mornings delivering food to people on Los Angeles' Skid Row.

California State University, Northridge has 33,000 full- and part-time students and offers 61 bachelor's and 42 master's degrees as well as 28 education credential programs. Founded in 1958, it is the only four-year university in the San Fernando Valley and the fourth largest in the 23-campus CSU system. The university serves as the intellectual, economic and cultural heart of the Valley and beyond.