Sacramento State Alumni

In their own words: Stories from Hornet alumni 💬🐝 Tou Lia Xiong BA ‘14, MA ‘17 (English) “I was born and raised in Northern California, so I wanted to go to a college that was local. I started out at American River College, and then I transferred to Sac State. I was able to stay home and take care of my sick family member. The campus at Sac State was beautiful. I remember seeing all of the wonderful trees. Sac State aligned with some of my personal ideals and goals. They supported inclusion and diversity. I was a first-generation college student and I wanted to go into language arts because I had a passion for that field. The Language Arts Department really fascinated me. I pursued English as my undergraduate degree, and it played directly into my career goals. I still look back at my time at Sac State with great fondness. I appreciated my professors and the friends I made. My time at Sac State was an enriching experience.”

Don’t miss out on updates! Our connections newsletters are packed with exciting news from your alma mater, upcoming alumni events, and achievements from your fellow Hornet alum. Link in our bio to see the latest, and keep an eye out on your email every month for the next edition!

Sign up for our monthly newsletter by joining the Alumni Association at SacStateAlumni.com.

In their own words: Stories from Hornet alumni 💬🐝 Francisca García ‘20 (Child Development) “I attended Sac State because of the family dynamic. It was a small campus, so I got to know the people I went to school with, and it was easy to build relationships in the classroom setting. Everybody was very welcoming and friendly. I felt free and comfortable to ask questions or reach out to anybody without feeling shy. I graduated in spring 2020 with my bachelor's degree in child development. I went through a credential program for teaching multiple subjects, and in 2022, I finished my master's degree in teaching. I grew as a person at Sac State, and it gave me a different perspective on how to help and support students. I'm grateful for the community that I built, and I always felt like I had support. Those relationships were really useful and meaningful to me.”

Summer is here, making it the perfect time to take advantage of exciting water activities and outdoor fun. As a member, you will receive a one-time discount of affiliate pricing on equipment rentals and all leisure classes, including sailing, windsurfing, stand up paddling, rowing, and more. Legacy Life members receive affiliate pricing anytime. Members must be participating in the activities to receive the discount. Be sure to present your Sacramento State Alumni Association membership card email and ID to the Aquatic Center staff upon your arrival. www.sacstateaquaticcenter.com

Congratulations, you graduated! Like many of your peers, you may be asking yourself... now what? There are a lot of ways to start planning the next phase of your journey. Join us for this panel discussion on networking, job searching, graduate school, and volunteering. Join us on Wednesday, June 17, at 12 p.m. or 5 p.m. to plan the next step in your journey. This event will be taking place virtually, to register use the link in our bio.

In their own words: Stories from Hornet alumni 💬🐝 Kevin W. Day ‘19 (English) “I wanted to go to Sac State because it was close by and would allow me to pursue my bachelor's degree in English with a focus on literature. I also liked that Sac State factored a lot of film-related topics into the major because my two favorite things are literature and film. The combination of those two things made the program really attractive to me. I was the first person in my family to get a college degree. I had a really good experience with all of my instructors, specifically Dr. Rice. I took a film class with him that focused on auteur theory in cinema, which really tapped into my love of film. I was very fortunate to take a lot of great film classes, but I also loved my African American literature class with Dr. Lee. I especially loved my literature classes with Dr. Gieger. His method of instruction really resonated with me. We got to watch some really informative films about the history of race in the United States. I had a really well-rounded education at Sac State, which helped me hone a lot of my communication skills, both verbal and written. Since I went to college when I was older, I was able to appreciate my education a lot more than I would have if I was younger.”

The Sacramento River Cats are excited to welcome back all Sacramento State alumni, students, family, staff, and faculty to Sutter Health Park for Sac State Night on July 7! The first 500 Sac State ticketholders to purchase using the link below will receive the official co-branded Sac State and River Cats baseball jersey. Join fellow Hornets and cheer on the River Cats as they take on the Salt Lake Bees. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. Buy tickets today! https://rivercats.spinzo.com/river-cats-vs-salt-lake-bees-2026-07-07-VUVNM?group=sacramento-state-alumni-night-tmbb ⚾

Join us on June 5 at 9 a.m. for donuts and coffee while connecting with Sac State and CSU alumni! We're excited to feature five CSU research organizations showcasing their groundbreaking work. Stop by to meet the researchers and learn how their projects are making a difference in your community. Registration is required, to register use the link in bio.

In their own words: Stories from Hornet alumni 💬🐝 Deidre J. (Michelle) Edwards ‘73 (French) “I went on a field trip from San Jose to Sacramento while I was in high school. So I felt connected to Sac State before I moved to Sacramento with my mom. I walked and took the bus to college every day. My major was French, and my minor was English. After graduating I became a teaching assistant and helping soldiers in GED classes. I then ended up becoming an activities director in assisted living. From there, I became a nursing home administrator, and then I ended up helping my husband become a videographer. We did weddings, dance recitals, and all kinds of other special events, and I was a very good camera operator. I loved doing it, and we even put on a TV show for a while. After that, I became a supervisor in a brand-new nursing home, and then became a high school health science teacher. I taught anatomy and physiology, and my kids had clinical rotations. They took state boards to become nursing assistants in my classroom, and it was amazing. My students went on to become doctors, nurses, and people who worked in respiratory therapy, radiology, and physical therapy. When I retired in 2012, I started writing my first book, which was about health and wellness, and I published it in fall 2015. It's been a great journey, and two of my dearest friends from Sac State, Betty and Jane, and I are friends to this day.”