California State University, NorthridgeCalifornia State University, Northridge
May 21, 1997
Contact: Carmen Ramos Chandler,
(818) 677-2130
cchandler@exec.csun.edu
About 100 students, many of them in their native costumes, will take part in a special ceremony that begins at 9 a.m. at the University Club near the corner of Zelzah Avenue and Nordhoff Street. A banquet will be held later that evening at 6 p.m. at the Burbank Hilton and Convention Center at 1250 Hollywood Way.
The morning's guest speaker will be newly appointed Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Ruben Zacarias.
This is the 28th year that the graduation and banquet have been held. Both events are sponsored by the Chicano and Latino Graduation Committee as a way of honoring the achievements of Latino students at Cal State Northridge.
Latinos make up approximately 21 percent of the student body at California State University, Northridge.
"Friends and family come from throughout California, Mexico and Central America to celebrate the accomplishments of these students, some of whom are the first in their families to graduate from a university," said Raul Ruiz, a Chicano Studies professor and one of the day's organizers. "Everyone is proud of them, including us."