2022/2023 Award Recipients
Ricardo Alvarez '13
B.S. Business Administration
Real Estate Professional, Team Leader for Alvarez & Assoc.
BLVD. Real Estate
Ricky J. Alvarez, also known as Ricky The Realtor®, is a highly regarded real estate agent in the East Bay. With a focus on delivering results-driven service, Ricky has built a solid reputation since 2015. He values kindness, respect, and hard work. Born in San Francisco and raised in Concord, real estate has been a lifelong passion for Ricky. Holding a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a focus on Finance and Real Estate, Ricky began his professional career as an intern with a top-producing team. He's known for providing personalized service and achieving exceptional results. Ricky recently started his own team, Alvarez & Associates. He and his team are dedicated to helping people achieve their real estate goals! In addition to real estate, Ricky enjoys camping, sports, and playing golf. He actively volunteers for various organizations, holds leadership positions, and serves as the Vice President for NAHREP East Bay.
Rugieyatu Bhonopha '13
M.S. Health Care Administration
Program Manager of Belonging and Equity at John Muir Health and the Owner CEO of Amoy Wines
Rugieyatu Bhonopha is currently the inaugural Program Manager for the Office of Belonging and Equity Office at John Muir Health, a non-profit healthcare system serving communities in San Francisco, Bay Area. Born in the wake of the national racial awakening following the murder of George Floyd, the BE Office is tasked with implementing a comprehensive strategy that addresses workforce diversity, equitable health outcomes, and system change. Rugieyatu is also the owner of Amoy Wines boutique wine company based out of Napa California. Amoy Wines ships nationwide and is now available at selected wine bars and restaurants in the Bay Area.
Michael Booker '16 & '20
B.A. Music & MS Educational Technology
General Music Teacher and Musician
Hayward Unified School District
Performs under the Golden State Warriors, and with a Parliament Funkadelic Tribute group. Teaching children within the community for the past 20 years.
Madison Fox '17
M.S. Speech Language Pathology
Speech Pathologist - Clinical Specialist
Stanford Health Care
Madison Fox is an acute care Speech Pathologist and the clinical specialist for the inpatient team at Stanford Health. As a graduate student at CSU East Bay, Madison directed the Aphasia Tones Choir and conducted qualitative research alongside her mentor, Ellen Bernstein-Ellis, looking at the impact of choir on well-being for adults with aphasia. At Stanford, her clinical focus centers on the management of complex communication and swallowing disorders for critically ill patients. She completed the Stanford Clinical Effectiveness Leadership Training program in 2020 and has participated in the development of several quality improvement initiatives targeting patient safety and satisfaction. Madison serves as a board member for the California State Speech Language Hearing Association and is an accomplished presenter at national and international conferences. She also works for the Aphasia Center of California and co-founded the ACC’s Music Club under the direction of Dr. Roberta Elman. Madison continues to give back to the CSU East Bay community as a lecturer and supporting Stanford’s robust student internship program. Prior to becoming a speech pathologist, she studied voice at New York University and enjoys singing Beatles songs with her three-year-old son, Elliott.
Rachel Cesena '14 & '16
B.S. & M.S. Kinesiology
Assistant Director of Fitness Programs
Stanford University
Rachel graduated from 911爆料网, East Bay with a B.S, Kinesiology, in 2014 and a M.S., Kinesiology, in 2016. She was involved as a student on campus with the University of Housing and Residence Life as a Residence Assistant for 4 years and the Recreation and Wellness Center as a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and intramural sports supervisor for 2 years. After graduation, she started working full-time for a corporate fitness company and worked her way to a managerial role and accrued over 10 additional certifications. She also worked part-time for a local youth soccer club, creating a program for youth to learn, train, and develop as referees, translating these lessons to lifelong skills. She is currently working at Stanford University with the Recreation and Wellness Department, where she manages over 60 group fitness and 20 recreation classes as the Assistant Director of Fitness Programs.
Michael Ryan Cesena '16
M.S. Kinesiology
Associate Director
Associated Students Inc., CSU East Bay
Michael Ryan is a first-generation college student that graduated from 911爆料网State East Bay in the class of 2016 with his Master's of Kinesiology. He was heavily involved as a student on-campus in student government and working campus events. After graduation, he started working full-time at the university first as a special events coordinator and now as the Associate Director of the Associated Students Incorporated at CSU East Bay. Over the years he and his amazing students have won numerous regional awards for the events they have hosted at East Bay. He has served and continues to serve on multiple regional boards for campus activities and auxiliaries. Prior to East Bay, Michael earned his bachelor’s degree in Movement and Sport Science from the University of La Verne, where he is also currently wrapping up an EdD in Organizational Leadership.
Jennifer Elemen '05 & '09
B.A. History and Sociology & MPA
Digitally Mediated Learning Coordinator, 21st Century California School Leadership Academy
UC Berkeley
Dr. Jennifer Elemen serves as the 21st Century California School Leadership Academy (21CSLA) State Center’s digitally mediated learning coordinator at the UC Berkeley School of Education and as president-elect of the California Council for the Social Studies. She has received the CCSS Diane L. Brooks Administrative Award and Outstanding Secondary Educator of the Year Award, MCOE Superintendent Resolution, UWG School Improvement Dissertation of the Year Award, YMCA East Bay Volunteer of the Year Award, JFKHS Teacher of the Year Award and Civic Learning Award. She has led grant projects including the California Department of Education’s Content, Literacy, Inquiry, and Citizenship (CLIC) Project for Region 5 and served on the California State Literacy Plan Team, contributing to the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant Resource Repository. She writes and presents, supporting educators, schools, and districts with next practices, implementation, and continuous improvement for equity and social justice with youth, families, and communities.
April C. Garcia, MPA '14 & '18
B.S. Biological Sciences & MPA
Associate, Talent Acquisition
KPMG LLP
April, a second-generation Mexican American, was born and raised in Boyle Heights, CA known for its rich Chicano culture. Here, she was exposed to crime, gang violence, death, and suicide on a regular basis. However, she made the choice to thrive despite her surroundings and pursue her goals. She is the first in her family to graduate high school, to complete a trade program, and to receive a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree - both from CSU East Bay. She has a deep understanding of how life’s difficult circumstances can impact one’s academic or career journey. She can also explain how the smallest choices can have the most meaningful impact. April is honest, dependable, and incredibly hard-working; she is always willing to lend a helping hand and be of service to her community. Her ability to maintain a positive attitude amid adversity is truly an inspiration to others.
April is a former CSUEB student services professional turned diversity Talent Sourcer for KPMG LLP, a multinational company leading in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. She has continued to pursue a path of public service in her personal life and has positively impacted the Latina community and beyond.