CARSON -- A throng of nearly 400 Toros enveloped the Cal State Dominguez Hills campus last Saturday to recognize and honor 69 former CSUDH student-athletes in a three-part Toros All-American Wall of Honor unveiling ceremony.
The event, which welcomed back a who's who of former student-athletes, coaches, administrators and their families that included women's track and field's 6-time All-America sensation and current fastest woman in the world Carmelita Jeter, and men's soccer's 6-time All-America and 2-time National Player of the Year Kevin Gallaugher, began in Loker Student Union for a pre-ceremony meet-and-greet before segueing into the Torodome.
"The chance to celebrate and honor the student-athletes who earned All-America honors throughout the history of Cal State Dominguez Hills was a very powerful experience," reflects Dr. Sue Borrego, CSUDH Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs.
"Their contributions are part of the fabric of who we are and many of them had not been back to campus for years. I look forward to interacting with these alumni in the future."
In the Torodome, each All-America, Academic All-America and Rhodes Scholar Finalist was announced, with those in attendance being presented a plaque commemorating their accomplishments.
Following the plaque presentation, the recipients and their families, along with special VIPs in attendance, made their way to the Torodome lobby where the display was unveiled by CSUDH President Dr. Mildred Garc@font-face {
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ía, Borrego and CSUDH Director of Athletics Patrick Guillen.
"What a great way to celebrate and honor the rich history and tradition that is Toros Athletics," begins Guillen. "It was fantastic to bring back our athletic and academic All-Americans, and our Rhodes Scholar Finalists, and recognize them for their tremendous past achievements.
"Some had not been on campus in 25-30 years so it was a great way to reconnect, show off our beautiful campus and show them the positive direction in which CSUDH and its Athletics Department are moving.
"I could not have been more pleased with the way the evening turned out," he concluded.
Other special guests in attendance were CSUDH alumnus Rick Goacher, who made a special presentation to CSUDH's first-ever Athletics Director and current golf coach Dr. John Johnson prior to the unveiling, former CSUDH men's basketball head coach Dave Yanai, for whom the Torodome court is named, as well as 10 current CSUDH All-Americans whose faces and accomplishments will grace the All-American Wall of Honor once their careers are complete, including 3-time winners in baseball's #Abel Medina# and track and field's #Chanel Parker#.
Of the former All-American who received their awards in person, 1983 women's basketball All-American Chandra Trower noted, "It was an overwhelming joy, and after being away 27 years, I'm feeling that Toro pride again," while 1984 Academic All-American and 1985 men's golf All-American Pat Burke concluded, "Being back on campus for the first time in 25 years reminded me why I went to Cal State Dominguez Hills."
(Photos courtesy of Gary Kuwuhara, CSUDH Media Production Specialist, and John Alexovich)
