The College of Natural Sciences at Cal State San Bernardino will recognize two exceptional individuals at its graduation ceremony at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, at Toyota Arena (formerly known as Citizens Business Bank Arena) in Ontario: Dolores Mancha as the Outstanding Graduate Student and Jennifer Gallardo as the Outstanding Undergraduate Student.
 
Mancha, who lives in Victorville, is graduating with a master’s degree in public health, a major she chose from her passion for helping others and the inspiration from a professor.
 
“I grew up in a rough household, where education was not a priority; instead of being discouraged, it motivated me to pursue higher education,” she said. “In high school, I witnessed my grandfather become deathly ill. This caused me to drop out of school for a while to adequately care for him and nurse him back to health.
 
“This experience pushed me towards a career in the health field, but I was still unsure of what career in the health field I would like to pursue,” Mancha said. “In my third year, I met a fantastic mentor, Dr. (Ted) Coleman, who inspired me to consider public health. He encouraged me to take one health science class, which became one of the best choices of my life.”
 
While at CSUSB, Mancha joined multiple clubs and organizations, such as Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, Student Health Center Advisory Committee, Associated Students Inc. and the Student Assistant in Learning program. She also worked with the photography department for a few years and with the university’s Water Resources Institute for six years.
 
Recently, she completed an internship at the Student Health Center where she was a smoke- and tobacco-free ambassador. While enrolled in the graduate program, Mancha had the opportunity to teach multiple introductory-level health labs for the Department of Health Science.
 
Mancha’s goal is to become a health educator and continue to work in San Bernardino County. She wants to be an advocate for vulnerable populations, especially young adults. “My long-term goal is to receive my Ph.D. in public health,” she said. “I want to be in the community engaging, educating and promoting public health.”
 
Mancha is the first in her family to go to college and earn her bachelor’s degree, and now her master’s – an accomplishment she is most proud of, and she achieved all of this while battling the loss of multiple family members to drug abuse problems.
 
Over the last seven years of attending CSUSB, Mancha says she has been able to present at national conferences, gain experience, network, develop her skills and create valuable relationships. 
 
Mancha praised the CSUSB faculty and staff for their strong support.
 
“I was mainly impacted by the love and support from both the faculty in the health science department and the staff at CSUSB,” she said. “My mentors at CSUSB have also helped shape me to be the person I am today. I am more confident in myself and strive to make all my dreams become a reality. I am proud of the education and experiences that I gained while at CSUSB.”
 
Gallardo, the Outstanding Undergraduate Student, is graduating with a degree in biology, a major she chose from her pure love for the sciences. Gallardo plans to work in industry or as a lab technician while she furthers her education by getting her Clinical Laboratory Scientist license, then work where she loves: the laboratory. 
 
“I have decided that I want to pursue my education as a clinical lab scientist. This would allow me to work in a medical setting, but also be in the comfort of a lab,” she said. “However, eventually my goal would be to obtain a Ph.D. in a health-related science in order to study diseases.”
 
Gallardo, who also lives in Victorville, is a first-generation student who initially had a lot of uncertainties. She said CSUSB offered adequate resources that she took advantage of and used to guide her. Originally, she came to CSUSB with plans attend medical school, but her love for biology changed that.
 
“It was tough to let go of the idea of medical school because I had dreamed of it since I was young, but I knew it was no longer my passion,” Gallardo said. “It was even tough to tell my parents and family because a part of me felt I had let them down. Now I have come to terms with it and feel excited of what this new career path holds. I am still able to help patients, however, from the comfort of a lab.”
 
Gallardo says that she was motivated by her friend, Tim, who, despite all odds, graduated and became very successful.
 
“He and his family migrated from a different country during his high school years. Not fully understanding the language or culture, he made it to a four-year university, and early on, was very successful,“ she said. “He is a prime example of how through hard work and determination, we can create our own success. He has been a great encouragement to me both academically and personally, pushing me to grow and do better each day. Without him, I am not sure I would have had the success I have, and am truly grateful for his friendship and the competitive edge we have when it comes to our academics. He deserves this recognition just as much as I do.”
 
In addition to her friend, Gallardo credits her overall experiences at CSUSB for her success.
 
“Coming into CSUSB, I had a very narrow understanding of the world. While at CSUSB, I gained friendships and experiences that have helped equip me with the tools to be successful in whatever I choose to accomplish,” she said. “My appreciation for education has only increased and I now possess the ability to help others accomplish their goals too. With these things in mind, CSUSB has unlocked more options in my life to enable me to pursue my passions.”
 
For more information about the June 2019 Commencement ceremonies, visit the Commencement website. All of the ceremonies at Toyota Arena will be livestreamed.
 
Visit the College of Natural Sciences website to learn more about its programs.