Homecoming Week | Mar. 4, 2013 | Spotlight

Homecoming Week ignites Golden Eagle spirit, pride

3 CSULA students awarded the annual Raul Henderson Spirit Scholarships

Snapshots from
Homecoming Week
(click photos for hi-res images)

  • CSULA cheer team.
  • pep rally and tailgate party.
  • basketball player
  • basketball team

Pictured: ???.
L-r: Cindy So and Wilson E. Thomas Jr.

Recognized for their Golden Eagle spirit and campus pride, Cal State L.A. students Yessica Garcia, Cindy So, and Wilson E. Thomas Jr. were awarded the annual Raul Henderson Spirit Scholarships, as part of the University’s 2013 Homecoming Week.

Three awards of $500 each are given annually based on outstanding scholarship, campus involvement, community service, and effective communication skills.

The scholarship is named after Raul Henderson, who was a student organization adviser, Associated Students, Inc. (A.S.I.) elections counselor, and Homecoming adviser during his tenure at CSULA. He also mentored and motivated students to maximize their potential.

To commemorate the many years Henderson devoted to the CSULA community, the scholarships are awarded to one graduate and two undergraduate students who best exemplify Henderson’s vision, spirit, and devotion to educationally meaningful activities.

Graduate scholarship recipient

Pictured: Yessica Garcia.
“I am proud to be a Golden Eagle… and enjoy the diversity on campus,” said Yessica Garcia (pictured left), a Chicano studies major. “I chose to pursue my degree at CSULA because the faculty members in my department are very supportive.” Despite working three-part time jobs to further her college education, she recently completed and presented a research paper at the 2013 CSULA Symposium of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. She is also involved with Mujeras Activas en Letras y Cambio Social (MALCS), and plans to organize a workshop in the spring to bring awareness about domestic violence and other women’s issues.

Undergraduate scholarship recipients
“I love Cal State L.A. because everyone is so friendly, and all the staff and professors are always willing to help you succeed,” said Cindy So, a nursing major who is also pursuing a Certificate in Gerontology. “There are so many services and programs around campus that can further your education and help you reach your goal.” So is also a member of the CSULA Student Nurses Association and the CSULA chapter of Alpha Tau Delta.

“It’s great that there are opportunities on campus to get involved in supporting the community,” said Wilson Thomas, Jr., a computer science major. “I am glad to be here at Cal State L.A.!” With a goal of pursuing a career in computer science, Thomas is also involved with the Society for Hispanic Engineering and Science and the Association for Computing Machinery at CSULA.

During the 2013 Homecoming Week, A.S.I. also organized a fun-filled week of events and activities, celebrating the theme, “Wear Black, Bleed Gold.”

Homecoming Ignites! kicked off the celebration with AMP RADIO, food and dessert trucks, games and drawings. A highlight of the afternoon was performances by the Golden Eagle Cheer Squad and dance teams. Also, CSULA students wearing “black and gold” were treated to free giveaways.

This year, the Center for Student Involvement was selected as the winner of the Homecoming Office Decorating Contest, while Lambda Theta Alpha, Latin Sorority, Inc., was selected as the winner of the Homecoming Banner Contest.

Other events throughout the week included the Bleed Gold Dodgeball Tournament, I (heart) CSULA Valentine’s Day Slam, the 13th Annual Homecoming Bowl Out, and the Homecoming Tailgate and Pep Rally Alumni Appreciation Night.

The festivities culminated with the Golden Eagles men’s and women’s basketball victory against San Francisco State.

“This year was one of the most successful Homecoming celebrations to date, and was the result of the ongoing partnerships on campus,” said Marcus Rodriguez, director of A.S.I. Programs and Leadership. “We were able to secure new sponsorships with giveaways and were proud to offer students new experiences like the Dodgeball Tournament, traditional events such as the Bowl Out, and the reimagination of what our basketball tailgates could be at full throttle. The 2013 Homecoming boasted a student-led planning committee with over 30 volunteers and A.S.I. members. We are pleased with this year’s turnout and are anxious to continue planning for the spring.”

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