Six Cal State San Bernardino students and alumni were among those honored for their work and accomplishments at the fourth annual 30 Under 30 Awards Ceremony held by Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes, (D-San Bernardino) on Oct. 3.

The 30 Under 30 program was established by former Assemblymember Wilmer Amina Carter, a CSUSB alumna and retired CSUSB staff member. The event honors 30 individuals under the age of 30 who exemplify dedication, innovation and service in the community, and live, volunteer or work in in the 47th Assembly District, which includes all or portions of Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Rialto and San Bernardino, as well as the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy.

This year’s event was held as a drive-through at San Bernardino Valley College due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The six CSUSB students and alumni are:

Cassie Lynn Hanafi  ’19

Cassie Lynn Hanafi ’19 is attending CSUSB working toward a master’s in counseling after graduating from CSUSB with a B.A. in sociology-social service track with a 3.0 GPA. Hanafi was born and raised in the city of San Bernardino and moved from foster home to foster home until she was adopted. Furthermore, through her few years from a young child to the age of 19, she was abused in all ways possible. During her senior year as an undergraduate, she began an internship with Option House Inc., the premier domestic violence agency in San Bernardino. After volunteering her service, Hanafi landed a job with the agency, where she was hired as the administrative assistant. She was then soon promoted to office manager full time. She was selected because of her work ethic and excellent leadership skills. Hanafi has earned her domestic violence, human trafficking, nonprofit essentials certificate and recently became an anger management specialist. Her main goal is to be a great advocate for the people who walk into her office and to ensure that what has happened to her does not happen to anyone else.

Graciela Moran

Graciela Moran is a first-generation college student who is the student body president and CEO of the Associated Students Inc. at CSUSB. She is the daughter of Alicia and Antonio Moran immigrants from Colima, Mexico, and resides in Fontana. She is pursuing a B.A. in global studies with a minor in political science. Moran advocates for students on a local, state and federal level making sure the community is heard. She is a governing member at the California State Student Association and the Southern Regions Civic Engagement Officer. She is also a recipient of the Minerva Scholarship established by WICL, members of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus.

Moran is an international and national award-winning member of CSUSB’s Model United Nations program. She also is a researcher for CSUSB’s Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, CSUSB’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, and independently works on research regarding women in politics in the CSU system. Although these are a few of her accomplishments, she began her work advocating for women’s rights and survivors of sexual assault because she believes that the work is not done yet. As Moran has survived cancer in her undergraduate career and is a sexual assault survivor, she plans to pursue graduate school for peace and security or public administration to continue the work for equitable rights in San Bernardino County.

Jewel Patterson

Jewel Patterson is attending CSUSB working toward a master’s degree in counseling. She is the Youth Organizer for Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (C.O.P.E.). She joined C.O.P.E. in 2016 where she designed and launched grassroots organizing and leadership development program for Black youth. Since then she has played a pivotal role in numerous “wins” for the Inland Empire, including working in ReThinkPublicSafety to push San Bernardino County to adopt the resolution declaring racism a public health crisis.

As an Inland Empire native, Patterson’s passion for community organizing was sparked as she witnessed the stark contrast in access to equitable programs and resources from city to city. She dedicated her college career to researching Black people’s experiences with and responses to inequity. During that time she volunteered with community-based organizations to provide various resources, services and civic support to underserved communities. While organizing on campus she became a founding member of a multicultural sorority, was co-president of the Black Student Organization and a member of a student-run activist group that led to the university’s biggest forum on race relations. She graduated from the University of Redlands, Johnston Center for Integrative Studies with a bachelor of arts in Black personhood: activism, arts & Africana studies.

As a Black, queer feminist community organizer, her work continues to focus on serving traditionally marginalized communities in the Inland Empire by using therapy and artivism.

Juan Zavala

Juan Zavala is an engineering student at CSUSB. His hobbies include reading, sports and building robots and circuitry. He runs a MakerSpace, which is like an inventor shop with high grade equipment. Zavala teaches elementary school students how to 3D model and use tools. He also teaches high school students how to code. He has been told he has a creative mind, and when it comes to solving problems and offering a helping hand, his answer has always been, “How many more solutions do you want?” In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zavala used 19 industrial grade 3D printers in the MakerSpace lab at the San Bernardino Community College District to print medical quality face shields to help deal with the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). The equipment was donated to area hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and local police department.

Kyle Jamal Wachuku ’19

Kyle Jamal Wachuku ’19 currently serves as a realtor for his family-owned business, WRC Realty, in San Bernardino. Wachuku specializes in educating his clients and friends on the real estate market and investing opportunities in Southern California. Born and raised in San Bernardino, Wachuku graduated from CSUSB in 2019 with a degree in economics. While attending CSUSB, he served as the ASI housing representative and residential assistant for CSU housing from 2017-18. He also served as the CSUSB Black Student Union president from 2018-19. During his candidacy, he worked with other student leaders to orchestrate events and projects such as “A conversation with Cornell West” and “The Movement Awards.” Wachuku looks forward to continuing to serve his community in the real estate industry as well as growing his family business. One of his greatest joys is to work with first-generation homeowners.

Yera Nanan ’20

Yera Nanan ’20 graduated from CSUSB with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. As a CSUSB student, he had constantly been consumed with bettering his professional development, interpersonal communication, networking skills and marketing abilities. With the vigorous efforts in focusing on college studies and being involved in campus-wide initiatives, projects and activities, he believes his career goals are attainable. He has served as the vice president for ASI, which led him to play a role as an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion within the campus. Nanan also fulfilled the role of being an Amazon Prime Student Campus Manager in his last year as an undergrad. He was able to share information about the benefits of Amazon Prime and engage the student body through various events that occurred on campus. He has also served the community in multiple facets through advocacy and helping within the city. Nanan participated in the California Higher Education Student Summit, where he and other students advocated for the fixing of financial aid within the CSU system. For the city of Rancho Cucamonga, Nanan has been a part of improving city events and experience by providing guidance and service to those who live in the city.