2019 CSUF Veterans Appreciation Night Event Program

Hosted by California State University, Fullerton’s Veterans Resource Center & Student Veterans Association

Celebrating Our Military-Connected Students

SATURDAY, APRIL 27TH, 2019 | 6:00 - 9:00 PM

#CSUFVAN2019

Welcome.

Dear Titan Family and Friends, Welcome to the 12th Annual Veterans Appreciation Night, celebrating our veteran and military-connected students! On behalf of California State University, Fullerton’s Student Veterans Association and the Veterans Resource Center, I would like to offer you a warm welcome on this very special occasion.

Tonight, we will name our recognize some of our amazing community partners, award scholarships for continuing students, commemorate our graduating students, and celebrate their personal, academic, and professional success.

Thank you for your contribution ensuring to our veteran and military-connected students’ current achievements and future success!

Here’s to a wonderful evening together.

Cameron Cook

Director Veterans Resource Center California State University, Fullerton

SOCIAL MEDIA Tag pictures on Instagram

# C S U F VA N 2 0 1 9 These pictures will be presented on tonight’s on-going slide show.

We also have a Snapchat filter, enjoy!

FIND US ON

@C S U F V R C I N STAG R A M S E L F I E C O N T E ST Tag all of your Instagram photos #CSUFVAN2019 We will announce “Selfie Royalty” winners at the end of the night.

Posts will be judged on creativity and fun!

PHOTO BOOTH Please enjoy our fun photo booth outside in the foyer! Leave your email address on the sign up sheet to receive a link to the photos.

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Agenda Student Veterans Association (SVA) Welcome - Amy Thronson, SVA President, Spring 2019 Welcome - Cameron Cook, Director, Veterans Resource Center Presentation of Colors - CSUF ROTC Color Guard National Anthem - Tiffany Hummel, CSUF Student MIA/POW Table - Christian Velez, SVA Vice President, Spring 2019 Moment of Silence KIA Message TAPS Message from the California State University, Fullerton President - Fram Virjee, J.D. Director’s Message - Cameron Cook, Director, Veterans Resource Center Student Veterans Association Address - Amy Thronson, SVA President, Spring 2019 Dinner, Photo booth & Photo Wall Graduating Student Address - Dennis Bulter, Spring 2019 Graduate Graduate Recognition Alumni Address - Claudia Acosta, M.S., CSUF Alumn 2017 Recognition of CSUF Faculty/Staff & Community Members Community & Family Member Recognition - Christian Velez, SVA Vice President, Spring 2019 SVA Special Recognition 2019 Scholarship Awards Selfie Contest Commemorative Message Closing Remarks - Amy Thronson, SVA President & Christian Velez, SVA Vice President

Graduating Student Address

DENNIS BUTLER Dennis Butler was born on August 31st, 1988 in Biloxi, Mississippi to two wonderful parents. He spent most of his life living in Atlanta, Georgia before moving to California in the year 2000. After graduating high school in 2006 he decided to join the United States Air Force. He was assigned to the AFSOC 16th AMU home of the C-130AH Spectre Gunships at Hurlburt field, FL as an aircraft avionics mechanic. Thought out his 6-year active duty military carrier he would deploy to twice to Afghanistan and work on multiple aircraft such as the C-130AU Spooky gunship, MC-130 Talon II’s, and MC-130P. After leaving active duty in 2012, he decided to work and go to school part time pursuing an electrical engineering degree. In July 2013, he decided he missed the military and joined the USAF reserve unit at March ARB Moreno Valley, California as an avionics mechanic working on the C-17 aircraft. In 2016, he was accepted into Cal State Fullerton and left his job to become a full-time student. He met his lovely wife December 2012 and they were married July 21st, 2018 in Gulfport, Mississippi. He will graduate this spring with a bachelors degree in electrical engineering.

Alumni Address

C L AU D I A A C O S T A , M . S .

Claudia Acosta, served in the United States Marine Corps from 2010 to 2013 as Administrative Support at the Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School in Twentynine Palms, CA. Claudia transitioned from the military to civilian life and attended Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton where she achieved her Bachelor’s in Accounting and Master’s in Taxation, respectively. During her tenure as a Titan, Claudia served in multiple leadership roles including President of the Student Veteran Association. She advocated and fostered relationships throughout the campus and community to ensure our military-connected students reached their academic and professional aspirations.

In 2018, Claudia was recruited by Ernst & Young, LLP, a global professional service firm providing tax compliance services for public and private companies, and joined as a Tax Accountant. Currently, Claudia is a member of EY’s Veteran Professional Network and campus lead for veteran recruiting at CSUF.

V E T E R A N G R A D U AT E S O F 2 0 1 9 Christina Aleman, B.A. in Psychology Danielle Barbaro, B.A. in General Management Robert Bohon, B.S. in Human Services Hector Buenrostro, B.A. in Sociology and BA in American Studies Dennis Butler, B.S. in Electrical Engineering Alberto Camacho, B.A. in Psychology David Carpenter, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Dylan Dang, B.A. in History and Minor in Military Science Allen Dehnke, B.A.in Information Systems Nicholas Deitz, B.A. in General Management Alicia Estrada, B.A. in Human Resources Management Alyssa Gurdon, B.A. in Political Science Michelle Holloway, B.S. in Human Services Kelsey Hyde, B.A. in Economics Jesse Jeffries, B.A. in Criminal Justice Seung Kang, B.A. in General Management Marshall Kang, B.A. in Criminal Justice and Minor in Anthropology Quang Lam, M.S. in Computer Science Jason Lamb, B.S. in Human Services Ariana Magana, B.S. in Biological Science with concentration in Cell and Developmental Biology Sean Moran, B.A. in Psychology Tom Nguyen, B.S. in Business Adminstration with a concentration in Business Analytics Caleb Perez, B.A. in Public Administration and Minor in Military Science Tatiana Sevilla, B.A. in Sociology and Minor in Military Science Jacqueline Smith, B.S. in Kinesiology with concentration in Clinical Movement Science Amy Thronson, B.A. in Communications with concentration in Entertainment and Tourism Communications Christian Velez, B.S. in Kinesiology with concentration in Clinical Movement Science

FA M I L Y G R A D U AT E S O F 2 0 1 9 Kaela Aguilar, B.S. in Kinesiology Dala Encinas, B.A. in Communications with concentration in Advertising Tiffany Hummel, B.S. Biology

S VA S P E C I A L R E C O G N I T I O N Brianna Dunlap, B.A. in Human Resources Management

Congratulations Class of 2019!

Veterans Resource Center

The Veterans Resource Center at California State University, Fullerton provides comprehensive services to military-connected students that support personal, academic, and professional success.

OUR CORE VALUES Strengths-Based | Student-Centered | Inclusion | Engagement | Innovation | Accountability UNITY STATEMENT The Veterans Resource Center at Cal State Fullerton supports military-connected students academically, personally, and professionally. We continuously engage with our students to meet them wherever they are and to guide them along their path toward success. We believe that only through unity can we hope to meet the varied needs of our students, which is why our center is and will continue to be an inclusive space for all.

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Evolution of the VRC

Student Veterans Association The Student Veterans Association (SVA) assists students at California State University, Fullerton in getting involved in student life through camaraderie, advocacy, service to community and networking. SVA is committed to aiding student veterans, family members, and supporters in their successful transition from military life and through academia and by improving the quality of their university experience.

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Special Thanks C A L S T AT E F U L L E R T O N

SPEAKERS

MUSIC

EVENT VENDORS

- Division of Student Affairs - Army ROTC - Community Service Inter Club Council

Mina Choi Trio - Mina Choi, piano - Brandon Miller, drums - Michael Selfridge, bass Bugler - Ray Clouse National Anthem - Tiffany Hummel

- Dennis Butler - Claudia Acosta - Marissa Garza

- Great Wolf Lodge - Public Identity - 1024 Events

F O R A L L T H E D O N O R S T H AT SUPPORTED THESE SCHOLARSHIPS Veteran Scholarship for Success Donors This scholarship was established by the CSUF SVA to support the academic success of their peers. Individual donors provide funding for continual support.

OCRE Veterans Initiative Scholarship This scholarship funded by the Donahue Schriber and the Orange County Real Estate Veterans Initiative supports students who exhaust or are near exhaustion of educational benefits to assist their academic persistence and degree completion.

Maribel Ramos Memorial Scholarship The Maribel Ramos Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the life of Maribel Ramos, a Cal State Fullerton student veteran, an active SVA member, and who was a strong supporter of military families.

MUFG Union Bank Scholarship MUFG Union Bank is a proud sponsor of the California State University Fullerton Veterans Resources Center and their Scholarship fund. All scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to receive mentorship from MUFG Union Bank’s network of veteran employees.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Tag us on social media using our hashtag

# C S U F VA N 2 0 1 9

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@C S U F V R C

VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER California State University, Fullerton 800 N. State College Blvd.

Fullerton, CA Gordon Hall 244 (657) 278 - 8660

This is event is sponsored by the Student Success Initiative