With cheers echoing through the Coussoulis Arena, Cal State San Bernardino celebrated the achievements of 1,570 graduates during the fall commencement ceremonies, held Dec. 12-13. Family members and friends filled the stands, proudly honoring the dedication, resilience and triumph of the Class of 2025.

Across multiple ceremonies, graduates crossed the stage to mark a milestone defined by hard work, sacrifice and deep personal meaning.

A graduate celebrates earning his degree at the College of Natural Sciences’ commencement ceremony.
A graduate celebrates earning his degree at the College of Natural Sciences’ commencement ceremony.

Diego Rendon, Associated Students Inc. president, delivered heartfelt remarks, reminding graduates of the significance of their journeys. “Each of you carries a story — a path full of challenges no one else saw,” he said. “You learned strengths you didn’t know you had and lessons that shaped who you are today. And that deserves to be recognized, so give yourselves a round of applause please.”

Rendon also honored the powerful role of family. “Some of you standing here today are the living proof of your parents’ biggest dreams. You carry their hopes, their sacrifices and their expectations. And today you honor them by crossing this stage.”

CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales welcomed graduates with enthusiastic applause, noting the rich cultural and community-based experiences that shape a CSUSB education. “What I hope you have gained as part of your academic studies and your co-curricular and extracurricular experiences is an awareness of the cultural wealth we all inherit from the many people and traditions and histories which have formed and shaped each of you and your classmates,” said Morales.

He also emphasized CSUSB’s longstanding commitment to service. “I hope that the community engagement you practiced as a student, which is part of CSUSB’s DNA, will also accompany the diploma you will be leaving with today.”

Family and friends were full of Coyote pride as they celebrated the Class of 2025.
Family and friends were full of Coyote pride as they celebrated the Class of 2025.

Throughout the ceremonies, Morales celebrated the university’s alumni community, which continues to grow and make an impact across the region and beyond. “Before today, there were 130,000 CSUSB alumni worldwide. You just made that number go up!” he said, highlighting that more than 90,000 alumni live in the Inland Empire, helping define the future of the region and contributing to California’s strength.

In his closing remarks, Morales encouraged graduates to carry forward the values gained at CSUSB. “Congratulations, graduates. You now join the ranks of this country’s best and brightest,” he said. “For the next phase of your lives, as you continue to innovate and participate, I urge you to remain engaged with your community, practice empathy and respect for others, and recognize that you are who and where you are today because of those who have come before you.”

The celebrations began on Friday, Dec. 12, with the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences leading the way with the first ceremony held at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Dec. 13, the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration held their ceremony at 9 a.m. At 1:30 p.m., the College of Natural Sciences hosted their ceremony, followed by the College of Arts and Letters and the James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education’s commencement at 6 p.m.

A graduate beams with pride at the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration ceremony.
A graduate beams with pride at the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration ceremony.