Congrats Class of 2020!

Flavia Fleischer

Congratulations to the Class of 2020 from the Deaf Studies Department at California State University Northridge! We're thrilled at this commencement time to celebrate your graduation, though I do know it may be feeling rather odd that we are not gathering in person for appropriate celebrations. I want to share with you that we as the faculty and staff of the department we feel very much the same; we are disappointed at this is an unusual and strange time. We also recognize and understand the circumstances we’re in - that life is never predictable nor takes a straight path. This serves as a reminder that as you’ve had many turns in your path to arrive to this day, there will be twists and turns in the path in the future to come. We will continue to face challenges. Commencement is a time for ending one venture; it is also a time of new beginnings! This means you can look to the challenges to come and face them with the ability to navigate them successfully. We anticipate wonderful things in your journey ahead. We are thrilled for you and the wonderful plans that lie ahead! In this video, the Deaf Studies faculty and staff would like to share with you words of congratulations and good wishes.

Judi Daleke

Hi! it’s possible you won’t recognize me with my hair in this particular do, but I'm Judi from front office. Hello! Regardless of my appearance today, I want to say today's glory is all about you and your graduation day. And truly, I feel awful that we cannot be there in person to celebrate! Though I would say that it doesn't matter because we are together with you in spirit. And that's not just for today, we are with you in spirit from here on! We are here to support you along your journey that started with us in the Deaf Studies Department and with what you plan to do in the future, whether you seek employment, go back to school or take some time off. Whatever you decide to do is fine because remember that you me in all of us - we are family! We are here for you, to support you at any time. So go, go and celebrate! Enjoy life and be proud of yourselves. Be well and be safe. Congratulations! All the best to you!

Carla Garcia-Fernandez

As I was taking a look at all of our graduating seniors, all who are celebrating their commencement, I realized that when I arrived at Cal State Northridge three years ago, many of you were in that first class of students that I had the opportunity to teach. It was such an honor to see you begin your journey of growth, progress in identity development and self-reflection. Learning through your journey of discovery, with joy and even tears. You’ve proven you can overcome! As you continue to reach out and accomplish your dreams, please make the CSUN Deaf Studies department proud by going into the world and spreading your knowledge and support for myriad diverse communities. We wish you good luck!

Christine Mitchell

Hello Senior Class! You’ve had quite a journey over the past several years and now you’ve arrived at your time of commencement!
Please know that we love you, we care deeply for you and we look forward to seeing you thrive. We are here to support you for the long term. All the best and congratulations!

Tom Mitchell

Congratulations to the class of 2020! Yay!!

Christine Firkins

You did it! You should be proud of yourselves! Congratulations to the Class of 2020. Good luck with your future journey! I look forward to seeing where each of you go, let us know. Congratulations!

Rachel Riley

HI!! Congratulations to the graduating class of 2020!

Matt Daigle

Yay and Congratulations to the class of 2020! Congratulations, you've made it along your long journey to your day of graduation. I want to share with you heartfelt wishes of good luck. Because you're starting on a whole new journey out into the world, where your mind will be opened fully and you will seek out new adventures!

Desiree Duong

To the graduating class of 2020. Guess what? You've made it! And congratulations. We at the Deaf Studies Department are very proud of you! This is a culmination of a lot of hard work and, in your journey ahead, we wish you the best of luck.

Maria Vasquez-Low

Hello! You’ve made it – Yay!

Melissa Yingst

My heartfelt congratulations to the graduating class of 2020!
We look forward to seeing you in the community in the days ahead, and in all the ways that you will grow and develop. Sincere congratulations!

Catherine Firkins

Congratulations! Hooray, you’ve made it! This is an amazing part of your life! Enjoy your new journey ahead and best of luck!

Jeff Pollock

To the class of 2020, congratulations! Now you're graduating, you've made it. Imagine over the last four or five years of journeying to your commencement time. You’ve made it! Now you may feel at loose ends that things don’t feel right; however, I would encourage you to take a positive outlook, to look up look to the days ahead. Things may feel off now, but there are great developments to come! I wish you the best of luck and keep in touch.

Jonathan Webb

Hello students, Hello seniors! It's so amazing to consider this anticipated day, a day of new life, new beginnings and new experiences as the world opens up to you. I have a sense that you may have never thought that things would happen this last semester as they did. Regardless, I would encourage you to stay determined, set your plans firmly in place and persevere towards success. The work and investment you have made so far are a demonstration that you have the ability to do well in the world. That is true, whether or not this semester went smoothly for you. I wish you the best of luck as you're a shining light to the world and I look forward to your daily successes in the days to come. All the best!

Helen Hayter Quiroz

Congratulations to the class, graduating this year, 2020! This is a big achievement and we are very proud of you! You've worked really, really hard. I look forward to working together with you and looking forward to our collaboration as a part of the Deaf community. Congratulations again!
All the best.

Cass del Castillo

Hello Deaf Studies graduates for this year, 2020.

We know that this year hasn’t gone as you planned. Plans are disrupted. There are many things you anticipated for your graduation day, which are now upside down. We understand that life doesn’t always go according to plan. This experience, this challenge, though unsettling, will make you stronger and connect you with what is more important. Please know that we will celebrate your graduation soon - we don't know exactly when we'll be gathering - but we will see each other in person and create great memories. Whether it's in the next two or three months or even a year from now, that date is yet to be determined, and we will celebrate. And I want to say that I've really enjoyed this graduating class. I've had several students come through my classes and are now graduating, you know who you are, I want to say I'm grateful to have been part of your journey to be there to guide and support and encourage you. I wish I encourage you to be your best self and to become a guide or an ambassador to the Deaf community and in expanding human rights. I'm very proud of you. I'm sure you're going to do great things. I wish you well and wish you a wonderful summer. I'm sure we'll see you soon. All the best.

Nanette Miele

Hello to all the graduating students. Those who are seniors this year, thank you so much for being a part of the Deaf Studies Department. Thank you for your work. Thank you for all that you've invested and the impact that you've had. Thank you for your patience. Thank you also for your self-reflection, your training and your contribution. Thank you for all that you're putting towards your future goals and ambitions. All of these are worthy contributions and aspirations that have been a part of your CSUN experience. I look forward to seeing you. I'm happy for you and so excited for you! I wholeheartedly congratulate you!

John Pak

Hooray, you've made it! Congratulations to the graduating class of 2020! I'm so thrilled for you and truly you've worked very hard and have overcome challenges from the beginning of your journey to achieve this milestone today. You've studied long hours. You've commuted to work and school as you've continued to study. You are to be applauded upon your graduation! You are now going to make the world a better place as innovators, as motivators, as leaders. Now you take the world stage and lead the next generation. You truly inspire me. Keep in mind as you go out- do great things, have amazing lives, and most importantly, have fun and enjoy the journey. Congratulations.

Jordan Eichmann

Hello class of 2019 to 2020, congratulations. I'm very proud of you and the completion of your degree and your preparation for the next steps in your journey in life! You’ve put aside COVID-19 and fear in order to persevere in your journey and not give up. We know it's been a tough semester. The world quickly changed and you've persevered, I'm very proud of you, and my sincere congratulations.

Lissa Ramirez Stapleton

Hello everyone, This is Lissa. I want to say congratulations to everyone who is graduating this year in 2020 from the Deaf Studies Department! Your commitment and investment of so much time, effort, money, sweat and tears, and we are so proud of you. You did it! You rock! I look forward to seeing all of the wonderful things that you accomplish from here on. And I hope that you'll return and come visit us. Love to all!

Kim Smith

Congratulations to everyone! Hooray to the graduating class of 2020! This is truly a huge accomplishment for each and every one of you who are graduating, especially for those who are accomplishing it in this challenging and unusual year. Yet, it doesn't mean that this is a time to pause, it means it's a time to continue and achieve more in the days ahead. We wish you the best in your new beginnings. Stay strong, and sincere congratulations and good wishes to all of you!

Will Garrow

So, it was just a couple of days or three days ago when Flavia sent me an email saying that we were making a congratulatory video for our graduating seniors that I thought to myself, “Hold on a minute! I'm not sure that these people are ready for graduation! Because they would need to answer one question first, which is to name of the ship that Lauren Clerc and Thomas Gallaudet took to come to the United States” Obviously, I'm teasing! Congratulations to everyone! And truly, this is a huge achievement. I'm very proud of you. And I look forward to seeing how you go out and change the world in the future. You will do great and amazing things. Please don't forget us because we will say that we remember you when… Again, congratulations. We're proud of you. And we hope to see you soon.