Garcia Encourages Graduates

Assemblywoman says, “Your leadership will put California on the map again.”

Sacramento—Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia (R-Cathedral City) will deliver the 45th Commencement Speech at the San Diego State University Imperial Valley Campus on Thursday, May 19, 2005. Like many of the graduates, she comes from an immigrant background and overcame many obstacles to complete her college education as an adult—all while raising her children and working a full-time job. By sharing her life story and passion for public service, she hopes to encourage graduates to create a better society.

The SDSU Imperial Valley Campus is within blocks of the Mexican border, and plays a pivotal role in US-Mexico relations. 900 students attend the campus, with Latinos representing three-quarters of the student population and women 70 percent. The average age of those attending is 29-years-old. A large number of graduates work full-time jobs to put themselves through school and many of them are first generation college students. Upon graduation, most graduates will settle in the area, helping to offset the brain drain associated with other places and to strengthen the local economy.