1
1965
John Hefner becomes part of the first youth group to visit Bakersfield's first sister city, Wakayama, Japan, beginning a 50-year affiliation with the local sister city organization, during which he's taken students on trips around the globe.
2
1969
Irma Carson joins the Bakersfield Police Department as its first Black female police officer.
3
1971
Louie Vega becomes the first non-white broadcaster on Kern County airwaves, covering news for KERO.
4
1974
Judy Snyder co-founds the Rape Hotline of Kern County.
5
1977
Gene Tackett is elected to the Kern County Board of Supervisors.
6
1981
Greg Bynum launches Gregory D. Bynum and Associates, which goes on to become one of the top commercial developer-management companies in Bakersfield.
7
1983
Pauline Larwood is the first woman elected to the Kern County Board of Supervisors.
8
1991
Greg Colson becomes the first CSUB alumni artist to showcase his artwork at an international exhibition at Konrad Fischer Gallery in Dusseldorf, Germany in 1991, then Gian Enzo Sperone Gallery in Rome, Italy in 1992.
9
1994
Mel Atkinson is the first alumnus appointed to the CSUB Foundation Board of Directors, which advises the fundraising arm of the university.
10
1995
Joel Heinrichs is appointed as Kern County administrative officer, the youngest one at age 38.
11
1996
The CSUB Alumni Association throws the first Party in the Park, now a 24-year tradition of raising money for alumni programs through food, drink and fun.
12
1999
Eric Matlock becomes the Bakersfield Police Department's first Black police chief.
13
2000
Author Kathleen O'Neal Gear hits the milestone of 15 million books in print worldwide.
14
2001
Colleen McGauley is named executive director of the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Kern County.
15
2001
Sheryl Chalupa is named president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central California.
16
2001
Jon Van Boening ascends to president and CEO of Bakersfield Memorial Hospital.
17
2002
Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, is elected to his first of two terms in the California State Senate following service on the Kern County Board of Supervisors and California State Assembly.
18
2003
Alan Collatz rises to head track coach at CSUB, the pinnacle of a long and decorated career as an athlete and coach at the university.
19
2004
Don Carter is named superintendent of the Kern High School District.
20
2004
Bill Rector rises to chief of the Bakersfield Police Department.
21
2005
Dr. Cesar Aristeiguieta is appointed director of the California Emergency Medical Authority after having served as a White House fellow advising the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary.
22
2005
Stephen Neal wins his third Super Bowl championship ring with the New England Patriots.
23
2005
Manuela Albuquerque is named Outstanding Public Lawyer of the Year by the State Bar of California.
24
2006
Jeremy Adams, Bakersfield High School teacher, launches the Warren Cup, a civics competition that has become the “Super Bowl†of high school competitions in Kern County.
25
2006
Jeff Huckaby is named president of Grimmway Farms.
26
2006
Mike Maggard is elected to the Kern County Board of Supervisors, continuing a long career in public service that included terms on the Bakersfield City School District board and Bakersfield City Council.
27
2006
Audrey Cochran becomes the first CSUB alumna to receive the President's Medal.
28
2006
The alumni board creates the CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame, which has since honored more than 50 accomplished graduates.
29
2007
30
2008
Tom Corson spearheads the opening of Bakersfield's original Dream Center, a one-stop resource center for current and former foster youth.
31
2008
Tom Hardt pledges $1 million for the construction of what becomes CSUB's baseball field, Hardt Field.
32
2009
33
2010
Doug Greener is named chief of the Bakersfield Fire Department.
34
2012
Kegley Institute of Ethics names its annual awards after Wendy Wayne.
35
2012
Artist Jeff Colson is awarded the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, which goes to those who have "demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts."
36
2013
37
2013
Joe Drew is inducted into the U.S. Army Officer Candidate Schools Hall of Fame, which honors distinguished infantry officer graduates.
38
2013
Russell Judd is named CEO of Kern Medical, Kern County’s safety-net hospital, following a long career in local healthcare.
39
2014
Kevin McCarthy is elected U.S. House majority leader after eight years as a congressman.
40
2015
Jeremy Gunn, Stanford Men's Soccer Coach, leads his team to their first of three straight national championships. He is also named as the PAC-12 Coach of the Year. He is one of only four coaches with titles at both the NCAA Division I and Division II levels.
41
2015
Tara-Nicholle Nelson becomes the first and only vice president of marketing for MyFitnessPal app, leading to the company's $475 million acquisition by Under Armour in 2015.
42
2016
Tyree Boyd-Pates is named history curator of the California African American Museum.
43
2016
John Nilon becomes first and only CSUB alumnus appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees.
44
2016
Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, is elected to the California State Senate after serving two terms in the California State Assembly.
45
2017
Mary Barlow rises to superintendent of the Kern County Superintendent of Schools office.
46
2018
Bernie Barmann announces his retirement as Kern County counsel, county government's top attorney, after 23 years.
47
2018
Jeff Elwell becomes chancellor of the three-campus Eastern New Mexico University system.
48
2018
Mari Perez-Dowling is named as president and CEO of the United Way of Kern, the first Latina to hold the position.
49
2019
David Reese retires after 20 years as principal of Bakersfield High School, capping off a 35-year career educating young people in Bakersfield.
50
2019
Gerald Howze receives his fifth college degree, an MA in English. He earned his first degree, a BA in English, from CSUB in 1974.