By Edward Hewitt|Staff Writer|

“Come Here … Go anywhere.” The motto of CSUSB is posted on the schools website, posters, class schedule books and it seems anything that is associated with promotions.

Have you ever wondered if this statement has some truth to it? Once you graduate can you really parlay your degree into a career and eventually choose your own destination?

For some alumni this motto has actually turned into reality. According to CSUSB Alumni Association there have been approximately 69,000 graduates some of which have turned their degrees into an actual successful career.

Amongst these alumni there have been CEOs, best-selling authors, software engineers and entrepreneurs, just to name a few of the careers alums have found success in.

The CSUSB Alumni Associations website reports that among these thousands of graduates there has been a CEO of the world’s sixth-largest accounting and consulting organization, one of the nation’s top independent financial advisors.

In addition to that, CSUSB has produced two California Teachers of the Year,  five California State legislators and the presidents of two organizations: Arrowhead Credit Union and the Southern California Automobile Association.

People like Lois J. Carson, who graduated with a B.A. in English in 1967, was a 2007 recipient of the “Lyndon Baines Johnson Human Services Award” from the national Community Action Partnership.

Carson was the executive director of the Riverside Community Action Partnership for 32 years. She helped serve low-income families in the Inland Empire but recently retired from her position at the end of 2010. She was also a member of the first graduating class of CSUSB.

Another notable alumnus is Dr. Travis Huxman, who graduated from CSUSB in 1992 with a bachelors degree in biology, and also obtained his master. in biology in 1998.
He is currently the director for Biosphere2 and the B2 Earthscience research program. Biosphere2 is a facility dedicated to the researching and understanding of global scientific issues.

Alumni like these help to re-insure students that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and can serve as inspiration for those that are feelings unsure about life after graduation.

Some alumnus like Jeff Pope, a radio personality for Inland Empire’s 99.1 KGGI radio station, have found success on a local and national level.
Pope, who graduated from CSUSB in 1992, has been a radio personality for 99.1 KGGI for over a decade and is proud of where he received his education as well as his consistency. “I’ve been on the morning show since May 2000.  How’s that for consistency?” said Pope.

Successful alumni can provide a sense of security and pride in the type of education the students at CSUSB are receiving or have received in the last four decades.

In addition to providing inspiration for the students the success of the alumni help the school hold true to its motto’s claim “Come here … Go anywhere,” reassuring the students that they are receiving an education that they can take pride in.