First Star Academy

Kurt Manio, director of CSUSB’s First Star Academy and associate director of Cal-SOAP, was recognized with the First Star Brilliance Award for his exceptional leadership, commitment and impact at the First Star 25th Anniversary Celebration — an inspiring evening of storytelling, recognition and reflection on a legacy of service to youth in foster care.

In the last 10 years, CSUSB has grown from having two pre-college programs serving 100 students per year, across six high schools, to now housing programs serving more than 10,000 students per year, across 16 school districts in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.

The conference for area high school students, “Calling All Leaders: Speak UP, Speak OUT,” is set for Saturday, Feb.23.