People - Chico State Today

Cecilia Lore sits on a desk with her hands on her left knee, while sitting in a college classroom

Age and Obstacles Don’t Deter Anthropology Major from Pursuing Her Degree

After overcoming obstacles throughout her life, anthropology major Cecelia Lore is utilizing the CSU's fee waiver to pursue her degree.

College graduates sit and stand in rows during a college graduation.

Worth Sharing: Spring-Season Student Athletes Earn All-West Academic Honors

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

Eriberto Hernandez leads students from local high schools on a campus tour during a meeting of The League.

The League Paves Pathways of Possibilities for Local Youth

The League changes the lives of local high school students. Just ask Markel Hardman and Kanye Parham, who just completed their first year of college and are now part of a push to make its impact even greater.

Trinity Hall's bell tower is visible through a cluster of spring blossoms.

Five Faculty Recognized with Professional Achievement Honors

Faculty from across the University are recognized for their research, scholarly contributions, and excellence in academia.

Football Alumni Raise Funds for Athletics Scholarships

The Wildcat Football Alumni Board plans to award five scholarships during its annual summer gathering and fundraiser.

Office Hours: School of Social Work Professor Sue Steiner

With a heart for social justice and a drive to elevate communities. the School of Social Work's Sue Steiner was recognized with the Office of Civic Engagement's Civically Engaged Scholar Award.

Alt text: Treyton Wood works on the Baja vehicle, wearing safety goggles.

Off-Road Vehicle Club Drives Mechanical Engineering Major Toward His Dream Career

Treyton Wood has devoted the last five years of his undergraduate experience to national competition of off-road vehicles. As a real-world, hands-on learning experience, it was foundational for his education.

Melania Raygoza looks at the flow test stand she and her group created

Engineering Success: Students Solve Real-World Problems

From self-cleaning pool robots to a self-stabilizing spoon for Parkinson’s patients, engineering students demonstrate their ingenuity at the ECC Senior Design Capstone Project Expo.

Grad Student and Horror Fan LEAPs into Editing and Publishing

Horror publisher Benjamin Vandersluis credits Chico State’s “killer” English Department for expanding his view of the genre and sparking his love for literary editing and publishing.

Pa Yang sits on a brick wall in the shade of a giant oak tree in front of Kendall Hall.

Connecting Generations Through Understanding

On the cusp of receiving her master’s in psychology, Pa Yang (Psychology, ’21) reflects on the value of her work and the ideas behind it: making her community stronger, more connected, and (hopefully) happier.

Claire Kooi wears a lab coat and smiles as she leans on a counter in a lab

Earth and Environmental Sciences Grad Student Driven by Social Issues

Graduate student Claire-Marie Kooi loves studying the Earth because "everything impacts something else." Kooi is making quite an impact as well in her work at UC Berkeley, and in the field of environmental justice.

Raquel Krach sits on a rock wall with trees and shrubs in the background.

Grad Student Farmer Grows Case for Marrying Agriculture With the Natural World

With her master’s thesis—a collaborative effort to study the effects of agroecology on her almond farm—Chico State graduate student Raquel Krach confirmed what the birds have been telling her. It’s working!

A photograph taken in 1981 featuring student employees at the on-campus radio station, KCSC.

KCSC Radio Alumna Reflects on Chico’s Music Scene During the ’80s

Free-spirited alumna Toni Smith chose to come to Chico on a whim and ended up following her dream of becoming an underground DJ here.

President Hutchinson addresses an enthusiastic crowd with arms outstretched.

Reflections on Retirement

University President Gayle Hutchison reflects on her storied tenure as Chico State's top official, during her final semester.

Eric Angerer swings a baseball bat in the right-handed batter's box

Baseball Alum Leans Into His Legacy

Chico State Baseball alumnus Eric Angerer reflects on holding the program's all-time record for times hit-by-pitch.

We're looking at a bright graphic illustration of an open suitcase. Inside, we see the Statue of Liberty, Big Ben, an airplane, a Chico State Wildcat statue, and the clock tower of Trinity Hall.

Passport to Self-Discovery

Since 2016, approximately 1,600 Wildcats have studied abroad at one of 200 locations across 35 countries. Students share their stories from both flight paths.

Victoria Villasenor poses in a white sweater and jeans, holding a Uruguayan flag across her lap.

Journeys of Self-Discovery to Uruguay and Cuba

For Victoria Villaseñor, breaking away from routine and predictability was part of the experience she wanted during two experiences abroad.

Aishwarya Gowda poses against a brick pillar on campus, wearing a white shirt and jeans.

Bollywood Dance Club Founder Finds a Sense of Home at Chico State

In two years, International student Aishwarya Gowda has already made her mark on campus. To her, the biggest impact has been finding herself and her community here on campus.

Haeryong Cheong is photographed against a facebrick wall, wearing a black seater.

Embracing Chico State’s Welcoming Student Atmosphere

Haeryeong Cheong, who came to Chico State from South Korea to study animal science, reflects on his journey over the last three years.

Molecular Biology Student Turns ‘Beautiful Disasters’ into Lifelong Call to Service

Hikmat Abou Shahla has spent his formative years stepping up to help during seasons of global crisis. He is set to graduate and continue on the path of service.

Mark Arey poses at a restaurant with fellow students from South Korea.

International Relations Senior Makes the Most of Debut Trip to South Korea

When Mark Arey's dream of visiting Japan was put on hold during the pandemic, he embraced a year-long journey to Seoul and thrived during his first international trip.

Humberto Partida poses by leaning on the hand railing outside Trinity Hall, wearing a brown leather jacket and a blue shirt.

Graduating Senior Follows ‘Role Model’s’ Footsteps to Florence, Italy

Harnessing a long-held desire to travel, political science and international relations major, Humberto Partida, made his own dream come true by studying in Florence, Italy for a semester.

An academic building with grass in the foreground in the dusk hours of spring

Worth Sharing: Chico State Trio Acknowledged as ‘Women of Distinction’

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

Women's basketball player Myli Martinez poses for a photo inside a gymnasium. She is holding a basketball with both hands to her right.

Wildcats’ Triple Threat: Myli Martinez

Basketball player Myli Martinez's three-point bombs have placed her in the program's record books.

Kendall Hall is photographed at dusk, illuminated by soft lights against a cobalt blue sky.

Class Notes: Spring 2023

Whether it's starting a new business, writing a book, or achieving a lifelong dream, the Wildcat family continues to reach milestones. Alumni share professional and personal updates for spring 2023.

Standing in full regalia on stage, President Hutchinson extends her arms out toward the audience at a Commencement ceremony.

Path to Prominence

In 2016, Gayle Hutchinson began her presidential term with an ambitious punch list. Having checked off almost everything during the last seven years, she prepares to begin another chapter.

Hirra Khan is photographed outside of Kendall Hall. She wears a white cotton shirt and a tan Hijab.

Business Double Major Ready for Life’s Next Big Challenge

More than 10 years ago, Hirra Khan moved from Pakistan to Gridley as a pre-teen. She will now graduate with one degree in business administration and another in business information systems, and an impressive work résumé.

Jaylen Kruth (left) stands behind a counter as she accepts a purchase by Josh Rodriguez (right) who is using his EBT card to pay. There are a variety of snacks on the counter.

Expanded CalFresh Eligibility Brings Food Access to More Chico State Students

More Chico State students can now qualify for CalFresh benefits to access food, thanks to expanded eligibility requirements.

students stare up at a screen in a planetarium

Worth Sharing: Health Services Administration College Bowl Team Scores Wins

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

Zion Brigham on a bridge over Big Chico Creek with lush greenery behind him.

Life of Hard Work Pays Off for Agricultural Business Major

Zion Brigham says coming to Chico State: “felt like going from a black and white TV to full color.” He graduates in May with an agricultural business degree and a clear vision for what’s ahead.

A tall brick building glows in the late afternoon sunshine with trees in the foreground.

Fond Farewell: Retired Librarian Joel Leonard

With a strong personality and a lot of joy, Joel Leonard embraced his job as librarian as one with a primary mission of supporting students.

Framed portraits of families that are part of a generation of Wildcat alumni and students that portray the Chico State Wildcat family tree for a feature story in the Chico Statements magazine on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 in Chico, Calif.

Rooted in Connection: The Wildcat Family Tree

Attending college is a significant milestone for any student, but for many, enrolling at Chico State is both a personal achievement and a family tradition.

Twin sisters embrace on a bench. One is sitting on the bench while the other sits on the arm rest and places her arms around her sisters shoulders.

Identical Twins Follow Different Dreams

Relying on each other for support, Vanessa and Viviana Mendoza discover their own identity in college.

Three men pose for a photo on a soccer field, while the man in the middle holds a memorial plaque in his hands.

Pitch-Perfect Wildcats

Thirteen sets of siblings have donned the cardinal and white of the Wildcats, and the men's soccer program’s legacy is becoming intergenerational.

Eriberto Hernandez, who is out of focus, holds an old photograph of his older sister standing next to the Chico State sign and wearing a cap and gown.

Five Siblings Fulfill Father’s Dream

Salvador Hernandez left a remarkable legacy as his five children earned college degrees from Chico State, fulfilling his dream.

Mother hugs her son while they pose for a photo.

Mother, Son Turned Classmates Learn From Each Other

Kevin LaCombe and Evone LaCombe were overlapping kinesiology students for two semesters—an experience the mother and son called unique and inspiring.

a family of 10 siblings pose standing and sitting

Degrees of Hope and Opportunity

The patriarch of the Yang family wanted to see all of his children earn college degrees. All 10 of them did from Chico State.

Crossed Paths Lead Back to Chico

Recreation Administration majors Suzy and Paul McCreary fell in love at Chico State, and they built their lives around their shared love for their school and giving back.

Child Development Major Owes Success to Her Grandmother

Overcoming obstacles and adversity as a child, Abigail Resendez is ready to graduate with a degree in child development—and it was her grandmother who helped make it possible.

The sun sets behind an academic building.

Chico State Recognizes 2022–23 Outstanding Faculty

These awards—among the highest at Chico State—celebrate eight phenomenal faculty for academic distinction, prominent scholarship, and commitment to transformative experiences.