Latest news with #CalStateBakersfield
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
More than 300 earn advanced degrees at early morning ceremony at CSUB
Bakersfield, it seems, became a whole lot smarter early Friday morning when Cal State Bakersfield conferred 296 master's degrees and six doctoral degrees to graduate students at its Spring 2025 Graduate and Hooding Ceremony. The mood was jubilant, the atmosphere, dynamic, even at 7:30 a.m. when many across the city were just getting their coffee. Students dressed in the traditional cap and gown chatted and snapped photos of each other. A short fence divided the audience from the grads, but many family members met in the middle to encourage, to share admiration, love and gratitude before the event began. "I was a full-time student at night while I was working as a social worker," said Eunice Hernandez, 29, who received her master's degree in social work at Friday's ceremony. Hernandez would work 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., then go to class until 9:45 p.m. Then she would get back up the next day and do it all over again. And again. Her cousin Roslyn Hernandez, who had already earned a master's, was there to cheer her on at the fence. "She was my example," Eunice Hernandez said of her cousin, her eyes gleaming with family pride. Katherine Beauregard also was at Friday's commencement to collect a master's in special education, a field in which she's already working. "I worked really hard to get here," she said. "It's my second greatest accomplishment — second to my son, Jonah." CSUB Student Body President Erin Pruitt was there as well. Dressed in decorated cap and flowing gown, Pruitt took home an MBA, a master's degree in business administration. As a speaker Friday, she thanked CSUB staff and faculty members, as well as friends and family, who showed up at commencement. "The life of a student can be lonely," she told the gathering, "but your presence speaks louder than words and provides strength by showing us we are not alone." She told her fellow graduate students that they have been an inspiration to her during her time at the university. "Utilize the new skills you have learned and create change within your communities," Pruitt said. "Your stories continue to guide and influence the leadership of our university, and your successes create a lasting legacy beyond the walls of CSUB." University President Vernon B. Harper Jr. also shared his thoughts about Friday's celebration. He spoke about why it matters, but also about why even a master's degree or doctorate is not enough. "If a piece of paper is all that you take with you, your education at CSUB is incomplete," he told the graduates. "In order to succeed in your careers — and in life — you need more than a plan or a goal or even a dream. You must have purpose. "Purpose is the voice that tells us to keep going when we are weary and discouraged," Harper said. "Purpose is the motivation to make good on the sacrifices that our parents and loved ones have made for us. "Purpose got you to CSUB," he said, "and purpose will take you to your next destination. "When I close my eyes at night, I see the faces of my wife and children, and I am reminded of my purpose," Harper told the graduates. "What is your purpose?"
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Our View: Kern facing both challenges and opportunities
Facing a projected $25 million deficit from declining tax revenues, increasing costs and loss of federal and state funding, Kern County department leaders are being told to plan for a potential 3% budget cut. Kern's foundational and major industries — oil and agriculture— are struggling to survive as they battle the headwinds of climate change, increased regulations and whipsaw federal foreign and domestic policies, including the imposition of global tariffs. Hard-to-predict federal policies are clouding the near-term outlook for small businesses in Kern, retired Cal State Bakersfield economist Mark Evans said during a recent business conference. He noted national surveys and indices suggest optimism is down and uncertainty is up, especially about trade policy, but also in the areas of interest rates, taxes and spending. 'This is definitely a difficult time to figure out what's going on,' said Evans, warning of local disruption stemming from potential conflicts between state and federal views on clean energy, water, trade and labor supply. Local economists noted at the conference that the Trump administration's shifting approach to tariffs on imports could lead to a damaging trade war with U.S. trade partners, including Canada and Mexico. Kern's ag and transportation industries, in particular, could face hardship from trade disruptions, CSUB economist Richard Gearhart said. Kern is seeing farm consolidation, as small farmers are being forced out by regulations and increasing costs. Industry leaders point to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures that show the number of farms in California fell 10% between 2017 and 2022, while the average size of those farms increased by about the same proportion. California Farm Bureau Federation President Shannon Douglass said she is not surprised by the numbers, noting that it's hard to do business in the state, as compared to other farming regions around the world. She is particularly concerned about water availability and how costs disproportionately hit small farmers. Local ag giant The Wonderful Co. recently said it is cutting several hundred jobs from its nursery operation in Wasco because of hard times in California's wine and table grape industries. Wonderful shutting down its grapevine operation will reduce its Wasco workforce to as few as 15 workers from what is now a payroll of more than 500. The company produces wine, but also sells table grape rootstock. Cutbacks in local grapevine production reflect a global wine glut, sluggish conditions in table grapes, and retaliatory trade tariffs. In 2023, grapevine production was Kern's top-grossing crop. Measures of the oil industry's footprint — its employment and overall economic output figures — have declined sharply since barrel prices plummeted in 2014 and drilling permits slowed to a trickle under the Newsom administration. Kern is California's top oil producing county. American consumers and businesses, including those in Kern, are ratcheting back spending in light of rising prices and economic uncertainties. No doubt America is buckling up for a rocky road ahead. But Kern is uniquely capable of surviving the ride. Kern can be seen as the energy capital of the world, with its diversity of sources, in addition to the oil industry. Alternative energy sources, including solar, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal, are abundant. Kern also is on the cutting edge of emerging new innovative sources, including those related to promising proposals for carbon capture and sequestration. Eastern Kern County's aerospace and defense cluster is sprouting startup businesses and fueling local economic optimism. Referring to eastern Kern's 'Right Stuff' reputation and abundance of aircraft testing capabilities, Anna Tombazzi, head of strategic projects at Cambium, an El Segundo-based aerospace materials company, noted during a recent business conference, 'You can almost do anything here.' Hosted by B3K Prosperity, the conference highlighted the countywide economic development organization's recent achievements, including new business partnerships and the establishment of a military lab and an investment fund, all of which involve enhancing local industry's work with Edwards Air Force Base and China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station. Kern's future and the ability to weather looming economic uncertainties depend on looking forward — honoring and supporting its critical oil and agricultural foundational industries, while embracing new opportunities.
Associated Press
02-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Jessup scores 21 as Cal Poly takes down Cal State Bakersfield 98-72
The AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here. SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) — Isaac Jessup's 21 points helped Cal Poly defeat Cal State Bakersfield 98-72 on Saturday. Jessup shot 7 for 10 from beyond the arc for the Mustangs (12-18, 6-12 Big West Conference). Jarred Hyder scored 14 points while shooting 6 for 12, including 2 for 7 from beyond the arc and added five rebounds. Owen Koonce shot 5 for 8, including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc to finish with 14 points. The Roadrunners (13-18, 7-12) were led in scoring by Marvin McGhee, who finished with 18 points. Jaden Alexander added 14 points and seven rebounds for Cal State Bakersfield. Jemel Jones also recorded 14 points. NEXT UP ___
Associated Press
09-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
UC Riverside takes down Cal State Bakersfield 69-64
The AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here. RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — Barrington Hargress' 19 points helped UC Riverside defeat Cal State Bakersfield 69-64 on Saturday night. Hargress also had three steals for the Highlanders (16-9, 9-4 Big West Conference). Niyi Olabode scored 13 points and added five rebounds and three steals. Isaiah Moses shot 1 of 5 from the field and 8 for 8 from the free-throw line to finish with 10 points. The Roadrunners (10-15, 4-9) were led by CJ Hardy, who posted 20 points and seven rebounds. Jemel Jones added 14 points and five assists for Cal State Bakersfield. Corey Stephenson finished with 11 points. NEXT UP ___
Associated Press
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
UCSB wins 81-75 over Cal State Bakersfield
The AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) — Stephan D. Swenson had 22 points in UC Santa Barbara's 81-75 win against Cal State Bakersfield on Thursday night. Swenson added six rebounds and seven assists for the Gauchos (15-8, 7-5 Big West Conference). Kenny Pohto scored 14 points and added five rebounds. Max Murrell shot 5 for 5, including 3 for 3 from beyond the arc to finish with 13 points. CJ Hardy led the Roadrunners (10-14, 4-8) in scoring, finishing with 19 points and two steals. Jemel Jones added 16 points for Cal State Bakersfield. Corey Stephenson had 12 points, seven assists and two steals. NEXT UP ___
