Profiles

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Gaby Saxon poses in the costume shop, where she works.

Soon-to-be Theatre Arts Graduate Has Played a Starring Role Offstage

Gaby Saxon has spent four years at Chico State telling outstanding stories, all while using her growing voice and passion for social justice to create one of the most compelling stories of all—her own!

Public relations major Skylar Trostinsky is photographed on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 in Chico, Calif. Originally from the East Coast, Skylar is president of Chico State’s Envy dance team, works as a copy editor at the NorCal Design Center, and is general manager of Tehama Group Communications (TGC).

Journalism Major Finds Career Path to Write Her Own Future

A love of writing led Skylar Trostinsky to journalism and Tehama Group Communications, where she’s honing her skills and paving the way for a successful career in PR.

Irene Duran poses in high visibility safety gear and a hard hat on Iselin Dock in Woods Hole.

From Northern California to Ocean Engineer

Gridley native Irene Duran (Mechatronic Engineering, '20), moved to Cape Cod after graduating with one mission: an engineering job.

Rio Miner poses for the camera with a colleague in a corporate conference room.

In the Midst of a Successful Career of Catching Bad Guys, Military Vet Pursues Online MBA

After a long and successful career first in the military and then the financial industry, Rio Miner enrolled in Chico State's online MBA program to further his career and fill in the gaps in his business acumen.

Mateus Avalos, wearing a black polo shirt and khaki pants, sits on a bench in front of a brick building for a posed photo.

Construction Management Student Gets Solid Start to Future

Senior construction management major Mateus Avalos went from novice to leader in the program—securing three internships and helping lead community service projects in his hometown of Chico.

Elizabeth “Eli” Contreras-Perez (left) talks with Joel Ramirez, TRIO Project Director, about the support and a sense of belonging Contreras-Perez received in a program called TRIO Student Support Services.

Graduating Public Health Student Embraces Support and Grows Through Challenges

First-gen student, Elizabeth “Eli” Contreras-Perez, has navigated many personal struggles on her path to graduating, finding newfound resilience, and beginning a new chapter in life.

Karsten Kaufmann poses for a photo in front of his home workstation.

Three Imaginative Media Arts Alumni Making Exciting Moves

Karsten Kaufmann’s dance moves became a viral sensation in 2015. Find out where he and collaborating media arts majors Sophie McGuirk and Michael Connell are today. Hint: They're still making amazing content!

Mia Mendoza and Chico State Women's Soccer Coach Kim Sutton pose and smile in the women's soccer office.

Title IX at 50: Current Wildcat Calling Attention to Women Who Paved the Way

The legacy of Title IX at Chico State is filled with stories of inspiring women. Mia Mendoza knows many of them by heart after spending this year sharing them with Chico State’s student-athletes and fans to honor the 50th anniversary of the landmark legislation.