Nearly 10,000 CSUN Graduates ‘Shine Bright’ in Series of Ceremonies (Gallery)

Written and reported by Ken Stone, an associate regional editor with Patch in San Diego. Ken's stone graduated with CSUN's class of 2013.

Oviatt Library has been a backdrop for movie and TV shoots including Star Trek and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but this week it was the setting for a galaxy of stars—nearly 10,000 graduates of California State University Northridge.

“What is great about Cal State Northridge is all-comers are embraced and allowed to shine bright,” Dean Sylvia Alva told 1,600 graduates Tuesday night at the last of the day’s three commencements—the College of Health and Human Development.

Awaiting remarks by new CSUN President Dianne Harrison, some of the bachelor’s and master’s degree recipients started a wave and kept afloat a multicolored beach ball.

Harrison, noting this as her first set of commencements, told the third of Tuesday’s three graduations (and eight overall): “Thank you for allowing us to nurture your talents.”

An estimated 9,944 students—about 7,735 bachelor’s, 2,190 master’s and 19 doctoral degree candidates in a total of 63 disciplines—were eligible to take part in nine ceremonies that began Monday and ended Wednesday night with the College of Education, the university said.

“All year, I have enjoyed meeting students and learning about their outstanding work in the classroom and in the community,” Harrison was quoted as saying earlier.

About 40,000 friends, family members and others were expected to attend the procession of graduations, the university said.

Some commencements had featured speakers, but Tuesday night’s did not—owing to the preference of the dean, expense and the time it takes to announce the name of every graduate, said a CSUN spokeswoman.

But the College of Health and Human Development graduation wasn’t the biggest on campus this year.

That distinction went to the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, which had 2,503 students eligible to take part in Wednesday morning ceremonies—1,768 undergraduates and 735 graduate students.

The lawn in front of the Delmar T. Oviatt Library had a festival feel Tuesday, with booths selling shirts, flowers and mugs to the departing students.

By next week, the bleachers will be removed and the grounds returned to their usual quiet serenity.