Each year, the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Awards celebrates the accomplishments of our exemplary alumni. Meet the 2025 honorees.

CSUN alumna Jenée Ornelas is experiencing a full-circle moment — from playfield to stewardship — as she pioneers a new job with Los Angeles County’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

Emhoff, a proud CSUN alumnus and the former U.S. Second Gentleman, spoke with President Erika D. Beck and met with entertainment alumni.

Jae C. Hong ’06 (Photojournalism), staff photojournalist for the Associated Press, in April won the 2025 World Press Photo Award in the Singles (single-frame photograph) category for the Asia-Pacific and Oceania region.

A CSUN alum’s research team won a $5 million prize for its work using drones to study the Amazon rainforest ecosystem.

Jason June ’13 (Journalism), M.A. ’16 (English Literature) always loved storytelling — but it was a single class, taken to fulfill a graduation requirement, that changed the course of his life and career.

Graduating senior in CSUN’s renowned Entertainment Media Management program followed his musical dreams to stages on the Sunset Strip.

CSUN alumnus Jermey Ashley Pair debuts his first feature film, “Meathook.”

The Matador is chasing his professional racing dream, fueled by the skills CSUN gave him to think like an engineer and compete like a champion.

CSUN’s Athletics Hall of Fame made its return in February after a seven-year hiatus. The 2025 class, consisting of three individuals and one team, were inducted during a night of Matador pride and celebration, Feb. 28 at the Warner Center Marriott Hotel in Woodland Hills.