The celebration goes on.
Cal State LA welcomed students, faculty, and staff to the 2025-26 academic year with the “We Are LA: Campus Day Celebration,” which showcased the creativity, flair, and vibrancy of the university and Los Angeles, on Wednesday, August 20.
The special gathering, an event affiliated with the University Convocation and Investiture of President Berenecea Johnson Eanes from earlier in the week, featured food trucks, a Ferris wheel, local DJs and bands, games, a student art competition, student club and organization tables, and a classic car show.
At the University-Student Union Plaza, President Eanes offered a warm welcome and brief remarks before joining students, faculty, and staff in dancing and singing along to will.i.am’s new hit East LA. The plaza came alive with energy, unity, and excitement, creating a memorable social media moment that showcased Golden Eagle pride and resonated across campus and beyond.
There were plenty of activities to keep the hundreds of participants busy, and not even the scorching heat—which reached into the 90s by mid-afternoon—could stifle the attendees from enjoying themselves.
“There’s a lot of fun stuff,” said Jelene Villegas, a senior majoring in philosophy. “There are a lot of activities that make you want to stay and engage. Last year, it was easy to just walk past everything and just say, ‘Bye.’”
Said sophomore Frances Perez, “It’s a lot bigger event than we’ve had before. I don’t think I’ve seen a car show here before, and there’s also the Ferris wheel.”
Perez and some friends were drawn to the buzzing atmosphere of the celebration as they walked out of the University Library. They decided to stay on campus and explore.
They tasted some specials from the food trucks, spoke with some fraternity and sorority recruiters, played a game of oversized Jenga, and checked out the car show.
“My uncles, my godfathers had cars like these,” said Perez, a business major. “It made me think of them. Plus, I like the white (1971 Datsun 280Z). It reminds me of The Fast and the Furious.”
The classic car show was one of the most popular attractions. Car enthusiasts circled, inspected, and snapped countless selfies with the low riders, muscle cars, custom-built vehicles, and other classic rides on display along the Main Walkway.
The idea for the show was born from conversations between Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety Larry Bohanon and fellow automobile enthusiasts on the Cal State LA staff.
“The car show was very well received,” said Bohanon, who displayed his 1958 Chevy Impala and 1964 Lincoln Continental. “I’ve been talking to students all day. Our engagement has been astronomical—lots of interest, lots of questions. East LA has a strong car culture, and it only makes sense for Cal State LA to be part of that culture.”
Bohanon added that the car shows could turn into a staple at future campus events.
There were also large crowds of curious students inquiring about social and academic clubs, as well as student services, at the informational tables lined up in front of the library.
“Everything is going really well,” said senior Christopher Ruiz, recruiting chair for the Sigma Nu fraternity. “It’s a little hot out, but we have people coming and showing interest. It’s the second day of school and we’ve had a lot of students just out of high school asking what we’re all about, wanting to know about the full college experience.”
The table for the Hispanic Business Society (HBS) also received a good number of inquiries.
“This event has provided a good opportunity for us to communicate with others about who we are,” said HBS member and junior Penelope Marquez.
Food trucks from Habit Burger & Grill, Pink’s Hot Dogs, Hutch’s Jerk Chicken, and Cerda Vega served up a variety of flavors in representing Los Angeles’ internationally renowned cuisine. Free food vouchers were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at check-in.
Churro Man and Fruta Brito fruit cart served up desserts.
The Ferris wheel at the University-Student Union parking lot provided a relaxing ride and stunning panoramic views from high above the campus.
At the lawn in front of the Physical Education building, students played outdoor games such as cornhole, supersized Connect 4, and hockey target-shooting at an inflatable structure provided by the Los Angeles Kings. A photo booth was also available to the event participants.
The Luckman Street of the Arts displayed entries from an art competition that challenged students to express the influence Cal State LA has had in their lives. The paintings were judged on creativity, relevance, originality, emotional impact, and the strength of the artist’s statement.
“I’m an advocate for campus involvement and campus activities like this,” said Villegas, who as president of the Filipino club Kalahi spent most of the afternoon recruiting new members to her organization. “It’s dope that [the organizers] were able to find so many different vendors. They’ve hit on so many different aspects. I’m enjoying the live music, the car show is cool, and the food was yum.”
Photo: Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes and Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety Larry Bohanon pose in front of two of Bohanon’s classic cars at the “We Are LA: Campus Celebration Day.” (Credit: J. Emilio Flores/Cal State LA)
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California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 24,000 students and has more than 250,000 distinguished alumni.
