Connie L. Lurie College of Education and College of Information, Data and Society San José State University

Kimberly Lopez Lamarque, ’25 Child and Adolescent Development

Kimberly Lopez Lamarque is the eldest among her siblings and the first female in her Hispanic family to graduate from high school and attend college. She is pursuing her dream of becoming an early childhood education teacher, driven by a passion for helping children grow and reach their full potential.

Lopez Lamarque strongly believes in the importance of values, seeing them as essential goals that guide a meaningful life. Known for her responsibility in school, in life and toward herself, she embraces every challenge with determination and purpose. Her sense of commitment reflects in her ability to manage responsibilities, make independent decisions, and fulfill important duties throughout her life.

She understands that obstacles may arise but remains confident that perseverance, belief in oneself, and never giving up are key to overcoming them. Lopez Lamarque is not afraid to set ambitious goals and strives to achieve them with her best effort, always aiming to feel satisfied with the results.

A self-described overachiever, she takes pride in organizing her time effectively and completing tasks ahead of schedule, recognizing that diligence and hard work pave the way to a bright future.

Henry Young

Henry Young is a proud two-time graduate of San José State University. He earned his B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development in December 2023 and is completing his Master of Arts in Teaching and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential in May 2025.

Born and raised in East Palo Alto, Young's journey into education was shaped by family, community, and the belief that schools should be places where every student feels seen and supported. Through the Tinsley Voluntary Transfer Program, he attended school in a neighboring district, an experience that deepened his understanding of educational equity and fueled his passion for teaching. That experience continues to guide his approach to the classroom.

Before entering the credential program, Young worked in elementary schools for four years . While at SJSU, he found mentorship and support through the Male Educators of Color Initiative and focused his master's research on teacher wellness, care and sustainability. His project explores how educators can better support themselves and one another in order to show up fully for students.

Young completed his student teaching in a fourth grade classroom in Campbell and currently works part-time at a South Bay elementary school. He is committed to building classroom communities where students feel safe, seen, and empowered to take risks in their learning. Outside of school, Young and his wife are foster parents. He also enjoys spending time with their two dogs, reading, golfing and finding ways to recharge.

Tanisha Dhopeshwar

Tanisha Dhopeshwar is graduating with a master’s degree in data analytics from San José State University. Born and raised in a small town in India, she came to the U.S. as an international student to pursue her passion for data and technology. Coming from a humble background, Dhopeshwar credits her parents and sister for their unwavering support, which gave her the courage to step into the unknown and chase her dreams.

Throughout her academic journey, she not only gained technical expertise in data science, but also discovered resilience, confidence and a deep appreciation for community. From navigating academic challenges to embracing new cultures and perspectives, her journey has been one of continuous learning and growth.

Dhopeshwar looks forward to using data not just to solve problems, but to uncover meaningful insights and tell human-centered stories that drive real-world impact.

Angela Dancheva, ’18 Teaching Credential, ’25 MLIS

Angela Dancheva is a teacher librarian in Santa Clara County with over a decade of experience in education. Born and raised in Los Ángeles, she is a proud first-gen college graduate with a B.A. in English literature and a minor in education from UC Berkeley, where she received a full-tuition scholarship. She earned her Single Subject Teaching Credential from San José State University in 2018, was recently awarded her Teacher Librarian Credential, and is now being conferred her MLIS, which she completed in one year with a 4.0 GPA as a Graduate Equity Fellow. Dancheva was recently admitted to the Master’s in Educational Leadership program at Harvard University and is pursuing National Board Certification through the Stanford NBCT Program.

She has taught high school English and humanities to general education students and newcomers; led research and media literacy instruction; and developed student-centered library programs. Dancheva is a passionate advocate for equity, literacy, and inclusive education. She also serves on the California Department of Education’s Recommended Reading List Committee (Grades 6–8) and is currently creating free toolkits and resources for school librarians through the Mariposa Project to enhance student experiences and learning.

Regalia

Commencement exercises like today’s ceremony date from the Middle Ages and the traditions of Europe’s first universities. Our graduates and members of the platform party are wearing regalia — robes, hoods and caps — that are likely adapted from the clothing of medieval priests or friars. Spot the differences in the gowns:

• Presidential gown is adorned with four bars, representing the Office of the President.
• Doctoral gown has velvet panels down the front and three velvet bars on each of the bell-shaped sleeves. The color of the velvet may indicate the academic discipline.
• Master’s gown may be worn open and has long sleeves with slits above the elbow.
• Bachelor’s gown has a closed front and long, pointed sleeves.

Draped over the shoulders, the hood evolved from a priest’s cowl and was often used to carry items — the first backpack, perhaps. The lining colors signify the college or university granting the degree. At San José State, the hood is gold, blue and white. The monk’s skullcap became the mortarboard cap or tam. Black is the accepted cap color in the United States, but many foreign universities have colorful headdresses.

Tassels vary in use and color. At SJSU, the color of tassels for bachelor’s degree candidates represent each college. The colors for the Lurie College of Education is light blue and the colors for the College of Information, Data and Society are lemon yellow (School of Information) and orange (Data Analytics).

The Ceremonial Mace

An ornamental staff or scepter, the mace is carried by officials as part of formal parliamentary or academic ceremonies. A gift from the Tower Foundation of SJSU, the university’s ceremonial mace was designed and created by Art and Art History Lecturer Yvonne Escalante, ’13 MFA Spatial Arts. She found inspiration for the design in both SJSU history and the paths students take to reach graduation.

Hail, Spartans, Hail!

Hail, Spartans, Hail! — Hail, gold, blue and white!

We pledge our hearts and hands to keep thy colors ever bright.

Forward we go! We will not fail!

Sing to our Alma Mater,

Hail! Hail! Hail!