CSUSM Aspiring Scholars

🎉 Congratulations to some of our incredible Peer Mentors on being nominated for the 🏆 Service Learning Outstanding Student Award and the 🌟 Outstanding Service to Campus Award! Your dedication, leadership, and exceptional support have made a meaningful impact on our program and the students we serve.
👏 We are also proud to celebrate that Sophia Romero, Nayeli Jimenez, Madaline Faley, Simrandeep Nagra and Leticia Ramirez took home the 🥇 Best Student Poster Award! Your hard work, passion, and commitment truly shine.
🎓 In addition, the Aspiring Scholars Program was nominated for the 🤝 Service Learning Outstanding Community Partner Award at the 2026 Service Learning Showcase and Awards Celebration.
💙 Thank you to everyone whose passion, service, and commitment continue to strengthen our CSUSM community and inspire future success!

Happy ! 🎉 It was an honor to celebrate this important day with the CSUSM community. College is an option for ALL. Students with intellectual disabilities who participate in inclusive higher education programs gain meaningful learning experiences, build strong peer connections, and are more likely to secure competitive employment after graduation (Think College). Inclusion opens doors—and strengthens our communities. 💙

CSUSM’s Aspiring Scholars Program is gearing up to celebrate Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) Day on May 1st! 🎉📚This week, our students shared why they support IPSE—and their voices inspire us every day! 🙌 Want to learn more about our program and IPSE? Stop by our booth in the Plaza on April 30th from 11:00am–2:00pm! We’ll have games 🎲, prizes 🎁, and can’t wait to connect with the CSUSM community! 💫💙

Student Spotlight of the month, Helen Maggard! 🌟🔮

Student Spotlight of the month, William Yang! ✨⚡️

🎶🎸Rock, Reggae & The Road: Good Music, Good Food, One Life-Changing Van 🚐🎉 Sunday, APRIL 26, 2026; 4:00-8:00PM at the Elks Lodge in El Cajon. This event will feature a delicious Mexican dinner from Rita’s Catering, no host bar, auctions, raffle and two live bands (Reggae and Classic Rock). Proceeds from the event will be placed in a fund with Help Hope Live to help purchase a wheelchair-accessible van for Yonan Matti, one of our Aspiring Scholars students! 🔗REGISTER HERE: https://events.helphopelive.org/event/6997/signup

Get ready—exciting events are just around the corner at CSUSM!

Save the date and don’t miss these awesome upcoming campus events!

📣🗓️Mark your calendars! Coming up on December 2nd is Giving Day, a 24 hour crowd fundraiser event at CSUSM. 💙🐾Funds raised will support Aspiring Scholars students and staff to attend impactful educational conferences that promote self-advocacy and leadership among students, while providing staff with innovative strategies for program development. Contributions will also fund essential technology and materials, ensuring supports needed for program success. Every donation fuels the transformative journey of students, preparing them for competitive, integrated employment, helping them lead fulfilling lives and make meaningful contributions to society!!

The CSUSM Aspiring Scholars Program application is now open, apply now! Click on the link in our bio and check our website for more information. 💙🐾