It was a family affair as Cal State San Bernardino graduates celebrated their big day Friday, May 16.
Parents, siblings and aunts and uncles cheered, snapped photos and shot video as the Class of 2025 entered the Toyota Arena in Ontario to receive their diplomas.
RELATED: Graduation 2025 schedule: Dates, times for San Bernardino County high schools, universities
The university staged two commencements Friday, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Three more are set for Saturday, May 17, at the same venue. All the ceremonies are being livestreamed.
Cal State San Bernardino Social and Behavioral Sciences major Angela Gil waves to family during commencement at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, May 16, 2025. It was the first of five graduations over the span of two days. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cal State San Bernardino Social and Behavioral Sciences graduates wave Friday, May 16, 2025, after receiving diplomas at the Toyota Arena in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A sea of decorated mortarboards is seen Friday, May 16, 2025, at a Cal State San Bernardino commencement at the Toyota Arena in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A Cal State San Bernardino graduate celebrates after receiving her diploma during a Friday, May 16, 2025, commencement at the Toyota Arena in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cal State San Bernardino’s Social and Behavioral Sciences majors enter the Toyota Arena on Friday, May 16, 2025, for commencement. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A Cal State San Bernardino graduate waves during a Friday, May 16, 2025, commencement at the Toyota Arena in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cal State San Bernardino Social and Behavioral Sciences majors greet friends and family at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, May 16, 2025. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cal State San Bernardino Social and Behavioral Sciences major Marcelina Fernandez wears a picture of her late great grandparents during commencement at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, May 16, 2025. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cal State San Bernardino Social and Behavioral Sciences major Ebeny Salazar adjusts her cap before commencement at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, May 16, 2025. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Audience members spot their graduate from the stands at the Toyota Arena in Ontario during a Friday, May 16, 2025, Cal State San Bernardino commencement. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cal State San Bernardino’s Alberto Negrette, of the university’s special events team, peeks from behind a curtain Friday, May 16, 2025, before the Social and Behavioral Sciences commencement at the Toyota Arena in Ontario. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cal State San Bernardino Social and Behavioral Sciences graduate Madyson Stoops, from Bermuda Dunes, waves after receiving her diploma at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, May 16, 2025. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Cal State San Bernardino Social and Behavioral Sciences major Angela Gil waves to family during commencement at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, May 16, 2025. It was the first of five graduations over the span of two days. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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About 3,100 students registered to join in the five celebrations.
Saturday’s festivities will feature a milestone and two significant honors.
The Watson College of Education will award 20 doctorates in educational leadership — the most ever in Cal State San Bernardino history, a university news release states.
Mary Jane McCoy, an alum and longtime Inland Empire educator, will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters. Another alum, Paul Granillo, president and CEO of the Inland Empire Economic Partnership, will be honored with a CSU Trustee-Nominated honorary doctor of humane letters.
