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Chico State

Excellence

Trinity Tower basks in the glow of sunset.

Worth Sharing: Chico State Music Degrees Listed Among State’s Best

A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.

Russell Shapiro poses with the found 15-million-year-old whale vertebrae fossil in Simi Valley.

No Bones About It: Fossil Find a Whale of a Mystery

Geological and environmental sciences professors Russell Shapiro and Todd Greene were called to collect mysterious 15-million-year-old fossils unearthed by an earthquake that rocked the Mojave Desert on July 4, 2019.

Neil Tung poses and smiles with a water tower standing tall behind him.

‘Killing Fields’ Survivor Finds Future in Food

After escaping the brutality of the Pol Pot regime, Neil Tung and his family immigrated to the United States—where he found a love for agriculture.

Jessica stands in front of shelves of food.

Student Leads Swipe Against Hunger

After struggling to meet her basic needs early in her life, Jessica Ramirez is fighting food insecurity on campus with Swipe Against Hunger.

A human finger touches a finger sensor on a mechanical finger.

Engineering for a Better Tomorrow

Whether focused on clean drinking water or eliminating single-use plastics, engineering students spent the last year tackling some of society’s most pressing challenges.

A college student wearing a tie poses in front of a wall.

Insatiable Curiosity Drives Computer Science Major

Driven by a tireless work ethic and boundless fascination, Konstantin Rebrov wants to learn everything there is to know about computer science.

A four-story, multi-colored building sits on a corner with young trees in front of it.

CSU, Chico Listed in Top 25 of CollegeNET’s 2019 Social Mobility Index

Chico State was ranked No. 22 on CollegeNET's 2019 Social Mobility Index.

A rendering of a small cottage.

Engineering an Icon

Students and faculty within the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Construction Management are key players in the rebuild of the Honey Run Covered Bridge and adjacent caretaker home.

A Camp Fire survivor smiles as she points to details on a large print of a home design while going over it with the student designer.

Reimagining What Home Looks Like

Interior architecture students are designing a series of floor plans to help residents rebuild affordable, fire-resistant homes in the Camp Fire footprint.

Jackson Webster dips a sampling container into Butte Creek.

Water Contamination Goes Under the Microscope

A team of faculty and student researchers is examining the magnitude of water contamination that resulted from the Camp Fire, as well as public health and environmental implications.

A row of students hold an oversized check given as a first-place prize.

Seufferlein Sales Program Wins First Place at AT&T National Competition

With entrepreneurial vision and top-notch negotiation skills, students in Chico State's Seufferlein Sales Program (SSP) added to its reputation of national success.

A black and white photo of a man holds a pony keg for beer

Brewing Culture and Community

In the growing San Diego craft beer scene, David Favela (History, '92) has connected a community with its first Latino-owned brewery.

Groundbreakers

Four faculty discuss their current research and how they aspire to change the world.

Rocky Dudum poses for a portrait in the stands of Petco Park.

5 Questions with Alumnus Rocky Dudum

As the manager of marketing and fan development for the San Diego Padres, Rocky Dudum shares how he turned his favorite pastime into a professional home run.

Brenda Sillas stands behind a chair at a conference table, looking off to one side.

Revolutionizing the Wellness World

Corporate health and wellness consultant Brenda Sillas (Health Sciences, ’06) has made it her life’s work to reverse the obesity trend.

Sam Clegg gestures as he speaks to a group of college students

Curiosity Fueled Alumnus’ Journey to Mars

Sam Clegg (Chemistry, ’92) fed an insatiable curiosity to become a laser spectroscopist and chemist at Los Alamos—and help us learn more about Mars than ever before.

Cory Tondreau smiles as she poses in front of an abstract mural

Perseverance Drives CSU Trustees’ Award Winner to Excel

Cory Tondreau's tenacity and talent have led her through a lifetime of obstacles, and she has been honored as a 2019 CSU Trustees' Award winner.

Solar panels on a rooftop.

AASHE, Sierra Club Rank CSU, Chico on Sustainability Excellence Lists

Chico State adds to its list of accolades with a pair of national recognitions for its environmental practices and commitment to sustainability.

The University seal appears in a brick pillar.

CSU, Chico Honored by US News & World Report Annual Best College Rankings

US News & World Report released its annual Best College Rankings for 2020, placing Chico State on the Best Regional Universities and Top Public Schools lists.

Molly Downtain stands on the field during the Wold Cup celebration.

US Women’s Soccer’s Star Behind the Scenes

Former Wildcat Molly Downtain (Kinesiology, '12) no longer plays competitive soccer, but her job with the US Soccer Federation puts her shoulder-to-shoulder with the world's best players.

CSU Honors IT Specialist as Emerging Technology Leader

Scott Claverie was honored as the CSU's Emerging Campus Technology Leader, recognizing his participation and collaboration with his IT colleagues across the system.

College graduates stand outside cheering and clapping.

Washington Monthly: CSU, Chico Offers One of the Best Bangs for the Buck

Washington Monthly listed Chico State on its 2019 Best Bang for the Buck Rankings: West, placing the University at No. 29 out of 203 regional institutions.

The concrete arches in front of a building bask in the early morning sunlight.

CSU, Chico Named to List of Nation’s Most Transformative Colleges

Chico State was recognized this week for its ability to transform the lives of its students and graduates.

Asa Mittman stands in front of a painting of a monster with a person's feet sticking out of its mouth as humans attempt to stab it.

Making Sense of Monsters

Asa Simon Mittman has been working to legitimize the field of monsters as a worthwhile study for much of his career. It worked.

The summer sun shines through the many trees on the Chico State campus.

CSU, Chico Moves up on Money Magazine’s ‘2019–20 Best Colleges in America’ List

Money magazine listed its “2019–20 Best Colleges in America, Ranked by Value,” and out of 744 qualifying schools, Chico State landed at No. 56.

John Aylworth seated at a table with bottles of serum and several injectors.

Business Alumnus Brings Biotech to Chico

Alum John Aylworth pivoted from orthopedics to his own blossoming biotech company—then moved it back to Chico.

Two students smile and together hold a knee brace prototype.

Rehab By Robot: Students Research ACL Solutions

Two students' CSC2 research project aims to use robot power to help rehabilitate healing knees.

San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski celebrates his team's win after the game.

Wondolowski Honored with CCAA Hall of Fame Induction

The Chico State Alumni Association helped recognize Chris Wondolowski’s induction into the CCAA Hall of Fame at Avaya Stadium.

Chico State graduate Mark Nielsen works at Pixar Animation Studios.

5 Questions With Alumnus Mark Nielsen

Mark Nielsen has transformed a childhood love of movies into a remarkable career at Pixar Animation Studios, most recently working as a producer on "Toy Story 4."

Erin O'Donnell and Steve Vargas stand in a rice field.

Alumni Secure First US Rice Export to China

Alumni Erin O'Donnell and Steve Vargas made US agricultural history in their roles at Sun Valley Rice Company.

Jacqueline Galimany sits at a table with bone artifacts and a skull, prepared to take notes.

Chile to Chico: Fulbright Student Focuses on Forensic Anthropology

Graduate student Jacqueline Galimany brings passion and perspective to her coursework in forensic anthropology.

Chico State student Luke LaPlant sits in a popular area with other students studying nearby.

Chico State Students Help with Project Restore Success

Chico State students are learning about a side of criminal justice that no textbook could teach them mentoring for Project Restore.

Megan Kurtz stands in front of a building.

Faculty Member Leads as Camp Fire Liaison

As Chico State takes an active role in Camp Fire recovery, someone needs to lead the way: Megan Kurtz accepted the challenge.

Tim O'Shea sprays water on a cylinder of concrete over a metal grate in the concrete lab.

Engineering Student Finds His Footing

From guiding his construction team to a national first-place finish to rebuilding a historic children's playground, double major Tim O'Shea left his mark at Chico State.

Portrait of He-Lo Ramirez near the base of a Valley Oak tree.

Roots Resonate with Biology Major

Whether creating a campus native plant garden or researching how the valley oak is adapting to climate change, He-Lo Ramirez is letting his ancestry guide his future.

Katie Rosauer smiles as she poses in front of Kendall Hall.

A Calling to Help

Katie Rosauer found her calling through trial and error. And now that she has, she's committed to helping those around her in need.

Hundreds of Chico State graduates sit and wait as Commencement ceremonies prepare to get underway.

CSU, Chico Moves up on Forbes Magazine’s ‘Best Value Colleges’ List for 2019

Forbes magazine listed Chico State No. 73 on its "Best Values Colleges" list, out of 300 schools nationwide.

Kendall Hall is flanked with colorful pink flowers and other green vegetation.

Celebrating Student Leaders

Fourteen Chico State students were honored for their exceptional student service, achievement, mentorship, and engagement.

Portrait of Mary Gibaldi

A Stronger Sense of Space

Master’s candidate Mary Gibaldi focused her English studies on the subject of space in literary worlds while discovering her own new expression of “home.”

Jaime Valdovinos walks through an outdoor hallway on campus carrying his back and reusable water bottle

Setting an Example

Jaime Valdovinos left his home in Mexico alone at age 17 to pursue an education. Now a first-generation college graduate eyeing law school, he hopes to be an example for his 14 siblings.