USD Magazine Summer 2006

AROUND THE PARK

The night before commencement, students bring in their families and publicly thank them for sending them to USD.

MUCHAS GRACIAS Y VIVA TOREROS! [ a p p r e c i a t i o n ]

ALISA BURKE

by Kelly Knufken ratitude. That’s what it’s all about at the annual celebration for USD grad-

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I never had to. It’s really like my family’s accomplishment.” She and the other graduating seniors will get a chance to express those feelings to their immediate and extended families during the 11th Annual Chicana/o Latina/o Graduation Ceremony. “I know that I don’t thank them enough, and I definitely

don’t ever thank them publicly,” she says. “I’m really grateful for this rare opportunity to do that.” This celebration of family and USD will be on May 27, the even- ing before graduates participate in the main commencement. “It’s meant to add to, not take away from, traditional graduation festivities,” says Guadalupe

Corona, director of the United Front Multicultural Center, an organizer along with MeChA and AChA. “They are being validated by the institution for their success as a first-generation community of USD. For them, most are the first to not only graduate college, but the first to attend college.” Because that makes gradua-

uates of Latino descent and their families. “It’s not just my degree,” says Andrea Fuentez who’s earn- ing her bachelor’s in psychology. “I couldn’t have done it alone under any circumstances. And because of the family I have,

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USD MAGAZINE