Clayton McCabe never thought that college would be in his future. Not when he graduated from high school and decided to enlist in the Marine Corps. Not when he exited several years later and found himself rudderless without the structure provided by the military. Not while he worked a series of odd jobs and dabbled in multiple blue-collar professions. McCabe figured that he was destined to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both of whom were lifelong construction workers. “I thought that I was going to do some kind of manual labor,” McCabe said. “I was like, ‘I can’t do college. I’m not smart enough.’ ” That mentality prevailed until the end of 2021 when, feeling like he was out of viable options, McCabe elected to use his GI Bill benefits and enroll at Palomar College. Three years and a transfer to Cal State San Marcos later, he has arrived at the definitive conclusion that college is indeed for him. A senior, McCabe is on track to graduate next spring with a degree in human development. His grade-point average at CSUSM is 3.9 – a vast improvement over the 1.7 he recorded in high school – and he has made the dean’s list every semester. McCabe, though, has found his most meaning and purpose outside of the classroom. Continuing the work he started at Palomar, he was hired as a student assistant in the Epstein Family Veterans Center through the federal work-study program before being promoted to a School Certifying Official (SCO). An SCO acts as the middleman between a university and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In that role, McCabe helps CSUSM student veterans or the dependents of veterans access the VA benefits that they’re entitled to, in the process working frequently with the offices of Financial Aid and Student Financial Services. He also serves as a de factor academic adviser, assisting military-affiliated students with course selection and scheduling. “This is the best job I've ever had, and I've had a lot of jobs,” he said. “I get to work with veterans all day. I get to work with veteran families. And I like working at a college.” Christopher Ramirez, the interim assistant director of Veterans Services, met McCabe when the latter was a Palomar student expressing a desire to transfer to CSUSM. Impressed by McCabe’s passion for supporting fellow veterans, Ramirez tapped him for the work-study role, then bumped him up to SCO when his experience with Palomar’s veterans center allowed him to outshine his peers. “To be successful as an SCO, you need to have a desire to help people, which Clay has,” Ramirez said. “He truly cares for people and goes above and beyond to help students, from talking to them about applying, to assisting them with signing up for classes, to discussing benefits with them.” McCabe, 28, is the youngest of three boys in a family from Kansas City, Mo. After high school, he tried a local community college for a few weeks but disliked it so much that he dropped out in favor of the Marines in 2015. He attended boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego and underwent combat and job training at Camp Pendleton, where he learned how to be the crewman of an amphibious assault vehicle, 26-ton tanks that can carry 23 Marines and float in the water. He went on two deployments – neither to combat zones, to his great relief – and traveled to 10 different countries during his time in active duty. “I got to see a lot of the world,” McCabe said. “I’ve been to the Arctic Circle. I’ve been past the equator. I’ve seen the Northern Lights. I got to go through the Suez Canal. I’ve done a lot.” McCabe not only saw the world through the Marines, he also met his future wife in the military, at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. McCabe married his wife, Sydnee, in 2017, he retired from the Marines two years later, and Sydnee remained in until last February. The couple moved to Temecula in 2019, only a few months after McCabe’s exit, and his transition out the military was daunting. There was a stint in HVAC school. There was a period working as a pipefitting apprentice on a huge construction site in Riverside. There was a dalliance with becoming a police officer or sheriff’s deputy. There were jobs with UPS, Home Depot and a fitness center. What there wasn’t, however, was a clear sense of direction or mission. That came about when McCabe discovered higher education, and specifically CSUSM. And in two more developments that younger Clay couldn’t have imagined, he’s hoping to stay in the Veterans Center as a full-time SCO after graduation, then begin a two-year Master of Sociological Practice program next fall. Make that three developments: He and Sydnee had their first child, a daughter named Mia, in May. “I get a huge dopamine rush whenever I am able to help people,” he said. “Whenever I talk to somebody in my job and they have no idea what they are entitled to, I'm like, ‘Yeah, you can use this. Your kids’ stuff can be completely paid for.’ And you just see in their face that this changes everything.” Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

For Juliana Ortiz, ice cream is more than just a dessert.   Ortiz still gets nostalgic recalling childhood trips to Rite Aid to grab Thrifty’s ice cream with her parents. Her go-to flavor was chocolate, and it brought her comfort every time she ate it.   Ortiz cherished the little things. Going for chocolate ice cream with her mom and dad may have seemed ordinary to others. But for her, growing up in a low-income family, it was always a special moment.   “Ice cream was always a reward,” Ortiz said. “I had to do something good to get it. Every time I had ice cream, it was always that sense of accomplishing something, even if it was something small.”   Now, as a business owner, Ortiz looks for special moments like these through customers at her own ice cream shop. Entrepreneurship was never something on her radar, but that changed at Cal State San Marcos. It was a combination of fond memories of eating ice cream with her family and realizing that ice cream shops have the happiest clientele.   “No one goes to an ice cream shop angry, right?” Ortiz said. “Customers are either really happy because they're with family or friends or they've had a really bad day and they want a pick-me-up.”    Since graduating from CSUSM in 2018 with a degree in marketing, Ortiz has launched a successful ice cream business, Cali Cream, with her husband, Ken Schulenburg. Ortiz has helped craft 55 different flavors, including her childhood favorite, chocolate.   Quality is paramount. Cali Cream ice cream is made with 16% butterfat, compared with an average of 12% for most ice cream companies.    “We get it shipped from the farm to us within seven days,” Ortiz said. “It's only seven days from cow to cone.”    Since opening steps from Moonlight Beach in Encinitas in 2016, Cali Cream has expanded to include a bakery and a second ice cream location in San Diego’s downtown Gaslamp Quarter. Cali Cream also has been featured at special events like Comic-Con International and concerts at the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park.    “I don't know if there was ever a moment where the lightbulb went off,” Ortiz said, “but I think there are times where you're in a place in your life where you just say, ‘Hey, I want to do something different.’ ”    Ortiz came to CSUSM looking for a change, intending to create a better life for her daughter, Leslie.   When she was 16, Ortiz learned that she was pregnant. Telling her parents was difficult, and she didn’t want them to be disappointed in her or think it would keep her from having a successful future.    “It was extremely hard,” she said. “You never want to disappoint your parents. And you never want to do anything that they think might hold you back. Sometimes kids make mistakes. I've learned from it, but I think I've turned it around. I also believe that there are certain things that just kind of happen for a reason, and I feel like she's my biggest motivator. We’ve grown up together.”   Leslie was born prematurely, weighing just 4 pounds. Ortiz was facing adult responsibilities at a young age, but Leslie was a constant source of inspiration and motivation.    “At that time, it was so difficult to try to navigate everything,” Ortiz said. “But I ended up just striving forward again. I'm not going to be a statistic. I'm not going to let something like that hold me back. I needed to give my family – and I needed to give my daughter – a good example.”    When Ortiz was introduced to Rebeca Perren, a CSUSM marketing professor and former faculty mentor in the College of Business Administration’s mentorship program, she was clear that going back to school at age 30 was all for Leslie. And Perren was excited by the possibility of helping Latina students because when she was a student, she rarely saw people like her in the classroom.   “I wanted to help students who were like me,” Perren said. “And just by chance, Juliana was the student who was assigned to me. I got to know Juliana and her story, not just as a first-generation college student, but as a mother. She had a teenage daughter and she wanted to get her degree before her daughter went off to college. I had children myself, and we connected on so many different levels.”   Perren and Ortiz would meet to discuss class assignments and the struggles of being Latina in higher education. Ortiz saw that Perren regularly met with other business students, and she suggested that they all come together and start gathering as a group.    Perren invited Josefina Espino and Chris Santos to join, and they all bonded instantly. They met twice a month, usually at the campus Starbucks, and talked about how they pictured their lives after college.    The mentor group evolved into CoBA’s Latino Business Student Association, with Perren serving as the faculty adviser for seven years. Espino remembers when Ortiz revealed to the group that she was interested in entrepreneurship and wanted to start an ice cream business. Ortiz and Espino even used her business idea for a research project in a marketing class taught by professor Kristin Stewart.    Starting a path to entrepreneurship was exciting, but also nerve-racking for Ortiz. She didn’t know how she would balance being a student and mother while quitting her job as a marketing coordinator at Pacific Records, Inc. in San Diego.    “I remember one of the most important conversations I had to have with Juliana was about being generous to herself,” Perren said. “She, of course, had so much to offer, and one of the most difficult decisions she had to make was investing in herself. She is such a generous and loyal person. It felt difficult to let go of some of her commitments and give back to herself.”    Now, as an entrepreneur, Ortiz shows her generosity in the creative ways she connects with her customers and employees. When a customer comes into Cali Cream and talks about an ice cream flavor that holds significance for them, Ortiz goes out of her way to make it.    “Ice cream is such an emotional product,” Ortiz said. “We've made special request ice cream orders, because maybe it's a birthday present or it’s their parents' favorite. It’s so cool because I get to be the decision-maker. I can say yes or no, but if someone were to ask any other ice cream company, the answer is always going to be no. But my goal is to always make people happy.”   One of the most rewarding parts of Ortiz’s job is supporting her employees through college. It’s her way of giving back. A photo wall in the Encinitas location displays the logos of the colleges that her employees are attending. Ortiz even established a rule that if an employee performs well during the summer, they are guaranteed a job when they come home from college.    “I remember going to Cali Cream and seeing that the tip jar said ‘college fund’ on it,” Perren said. “It’s really awesome to see how college is built into the company culture. It's great when you see our alumni not only make a difference in their own life, but also how she can inspire and create social mobility in her family and in our community.”   Juliana Ortiz  Major at CSUSM: Business marketing   Graduation year: 2018  Company: Cali Cream  Website: calicreamicecream.com  Founded: 2016  Number of employees: 35-80 (depending on the season)    Talking Business With Juliana Ortiz What’s the best advice you received about starting a business?  Do what feels right for you and don’t be afraid to take risks. Not every risk is going to be successful, but there's certain risks that are very rewarding. I think if you do your work and research time, then it minimizes the damage.     What advice would you give budding entrepreneurs?  I would say go for it. I think you never want to regret not making a decision because of the fear of failure.     What’s the greatest challenge in starting your own business?  The greatest challenge for me was trying to understand the process for getting health permits.    Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?  For us, it's a weather-based ice business. I have to look at weather for the next week and for the next couple of days to see how it impacts our business. That’s something that most people don't think about.   I would also make sure to work with a team and ensure that if there's a new product, we have to educate them. If your team's not good and if they're not educated, it falls back on you. They also don't want to be put in a position where they don't know how to communicate to their guests.    What are the qualities of a good entrepreneur?  With changes in just about anything, whether it’s regulation or COVID, you have to be able to adapt and you have to be able to transition.  Media Contact Bri Phillips, Communications Specialist bphillips@csusm.edu

After spending a few days at the White House meeting with the National Advisory Council on Indian Education, I flew directly from Washington, D.C., to Arizona. As I sat among distinguished tribal leaders and advocates at the Gila River Indian Community on Friday, Oct. 25, I witnessed a moment that generations of Native Americans have long awaited. President Joe Biden delivered a formal apology on behalf of the United States for the devastating legacy of Indian boarding schools – a system that sought to erase our people, our culture and our languages for over 150 years. "I formally apologize as president of the United States of America for what we did," Biden said in strident remarks. "It's long overdue." “The federal Indian boarding school policy, the pain it has caused, will always be a significant mark of shame, a blot on American history,” Biden said. As both an academic leader and Payómkawichum and Tongva woman, my presence for this historic moment carried profound personal and professional significance. The presidential apology, following the U.S. Department of the Interior's comprehensive investigation and "The Road to Healing” tour, represented more than just words – it marked a crucial step toward acknowledging the intergenerational trauma that continues to impact Native communities. "For too long, this nation sought to silence the voices of generations of Native children, but now your voices are being heard," Biden declared during the ceremony. I’m the director of the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center, and these words resonated deeply with our ongoing mission to preserve and advance Native American culture, history and sovereignty. One of the most meaningful aspects of the day was sitting alongside members of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, especially with a particular board member: Pauma-Yuima band of Luiseño Indians matriarch Juana Majel-Dixon, a longtime mentor and powerful force for Native American rights. Our connection spans years of advocacy work, including a memorable moment when, as she reminded me during the event, we participated in a crucial Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) call with then-Sen. Biden. Juana's tireless work led to President Barack Obama giving her one of the pens used to sign the VAWA reauthorization – a pen that now holds a place of honor in our California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center, serving as a daily reminder to our students about the power of activism and engagement. While we appreciate President Biden's apology, there is so much more that must be done. We hope Biden will follow up by effectuating meaningful and appropriate action throughout his administration. Even as Native people receive this first-time official apology from the commander in chief, the U.S. Army continues to refuse to fulfill repatriation requests, pursuant to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, to return the remains of the children who died at one of the first and most notorious federal Indian boarding schools, the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. The federal government must take concrete steps beyond apologies. A critical priority must be implementing fully funded, as I coined, "Language of the Land" initiatives requiring all schools to teach the Indigenous languages of their regions. This would include restoring original place names across the landscape – from mountains and rivers to cities and streets – returning them to their Indigenous names in Native languages. Such restoration of language and place names is not merely symbolic but represents a fundamental act of cultural justice and healing, returning what was systematically erased through colonization. Additionally, the government must fully fund tribal health care and education systems, protect tribal sovereignty and self-determination, strengthen tribal jurisdiction, honor all treaty obligations, protect sacred sites and cultural resources, ensure meaningful tribal consultation on federal projects affecting tribal lands and resources, address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, and provide comprehensive resources for cultural revitalization programs. We hope President Biden's apology provides leadership for federal officials and personnel to foster cooperation between the U.S. and tribal nations so that Native communities may continue to heal. It was heartening to see and share this day with so many friends and colleagues, and it was particularly moving to reconnect with individuals like Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, whose documentary “Sugarcane” powerfully captures the boarding school experience. I plan to bring this film to campus for a special screening and discussion. Their work ensures that these stories will continue to educate future generations. As an educator and advocate for Native American rights, I recognize that while this apology is historic, it's just the beginning. When Gila River Governor Stephen Lewis and the people of Gila River opened their homelands for this historic event, they created a space not just for an apology, but for a new chapter in Native American history. At the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center and within our American Indian studies program, we remain committed to supporting the healing process, preserving Indigenous knowledge and empowering the next generation of Native leaders. Indeed, it was a good day to be Indigenous. But more importantly, it marked the beginning of the real work – transforming this historic apology into meaningful action and lasting change for our communities. As I return to campus, I carry with me a renewed commitment to our mission and the knowledge that through our continued efforts, we will ensure that this moment becomes a catalyst for the healing and empowerment of Native peoples. While we have much work ahead, we are moving in the right direction.   Proudfit is the chair of CSUSM’s American Indian studies department and director of the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center on campus. Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306

Throughout November, Cal State San Marcos will be celebrating and recognizing the contributions of American Indians with a series of special events as part of Native American Heritage Month.  CSUSM invites the campus community to honor Native American Heritage Month through the following events.    Tukwut Coloring Contest  Nov. 1-30 Pick up a coloring page at the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center, located in Social and Behavioral Sciences Building 1118. Coloring is from Nov. 1-15, with pages to be dropped off at the center. From Nov. 16-30, people can vote for their favorites on the Instagram page of the American Indian Student Alliance (@csusm_aisa). A winner will be announced on Nov. 30 and given a prize.    Exhibit Reception at the Sasse Museum of Art Saturday, Nov. 2, 1-3 p.m., Sasse Museum  Join us for the gallery viewing of featured artists Dr. Eric Tippeconnic, Monica Zavala and Lanise Luna.    Rep Your Tribe Spirit Day  Monday, Nov. 4 Come dressed in your tribal gear to show representation of what tribe you are from.   Honoring Native American Veterans Social  Tuesday, Nov. 5, noon-1 p.m., Veterans Center Join us as we honor Native veterans.    Beading Workshop Wednesday, Nov. 6, noon-1 p.m., CICSC (SBSB 1118) Learn how to create beadwork with the help of an instructor. Supplies are included.   Traditional Bow Making Workshop Thursday, Nov. 7, noon-5 p.m., CICSC (SBSB courtyard) Come learn how to create a traditional bow with Dr. Stan Rodriguez. Instruction will take place from noon-1 p.m., and the workshop area will be open from noon-5 p.m.   Rock Your Mocs Week Nov. 10-16 Take advantage of a positive opportunity to be united and celebrate tribal individuality by wearing moccasins. We honor our ancestors and Indigenous peoples worldwide during Rock Your Mocs events.   Native Fashion Day Tuesday, Nov. 12 Rock all your beadwork, including medallions, earrings and lanyards. Accessorize your wardrobe with your favorite ribbon dress or ribbon skirt.   ‘Reservation Dogs’ Marathon Wednesday, Nov. 13, CICSC (SBSB 1118) Join us to enjoy a full day of watching the acclaimed TV show “Reservation Dogs.” Snacks will be provided.   Outdoor Native Movie Night Thursday, Nov. 15, 6-8 p.m., Serenity Circle Bring your chairs and blankets and enjoy some snacks.   Storytelling Under the Stars With Dr. Stan Rodriguez Thursday, Nov. 14, 6-8 p.m., Serenity Circle Bring your chairs and blankets and join us for our annual storytelling event. We will provide hot drinks and treats.   Read a Native American Children's Book Day Monday, Nov. 18 Decolonize and indigenize your reading. For a full book list, visit caindianeducationforall.com.   AISA Gathering and Bird Social Thursday, Nov. 21, 5-8 p.m.  Come join us for an evening of bird dancing and singing.   College Motivation Day Friday, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., USU Ballroom Join us for college readiness workshops, a campus tour, raffles and more.   ‘Dark Winds’ Marathon  Wednesday, Nov. 27, CICSC (SBSB 1118) Join us to enjoy a full day of watching the TV show “Dark Winds.” Snacks will be provided. Media Contact Jerry McCormick, Director of Strategic Communications jmccormick@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-4010

Cal State San Marcos students approved a referendum this week to build a new wellness and recreation facility slated to open during the 2026-27 academic year. In the vote that took place from Monday through Wednesday this week, 64.6% of students voted to increase their fees, with 35.4% percent against. The turnout was 1,807 students, which is 11.9% of eligible student voters.  As a result of the “yes” vote, the student recreation fee will go up by $210 per semester, to $245 total, at the start of 2026-27. After that, the fee will increase 3% annually.   The fall referendum was described by Campus Recreation leaders as a now-or-never opportunity after a similar referendum in April failed. A renewed educational campaign called “Vote for U.” was led by student ambassadors from Campus Rec, CSUSM Athletics and CSUSM Housing, among other student groups and organizations.  “I want to commend the student ambassadors for leading this referendum with such passion and determination,” said Viridiana Diaz, CSUSM’s vice president for Student Affairs. “Their efforts in ensuring that students were educated and understood the importance of their vote had a significant impact on the level of student participation. Our students have left a lasting legacy for future generations of Cougars."  To reduce costs and maximize value, CSUSM will partner with the developer of North City and lease space in a new mixed facility boasting 49,200 square feet for wellness, recreation and basic needs services, plus 550 new student housing beds. The building will feature, among other amenities, more than 10,000 square feet for cardio machines and strength training equipment; dedicated wellness areas; an outdoor rooftop deck with a synthetic turf field for fitness programs, intramurals and sport club workouts; two standard-sized indoor courts; multipurpose rooms for a variety of individual and group activities; and a commuter lounge and e-sports collaboration den.  The wellness and recreation facility will be located across Barham Drive from University Village Apartments and directly next to The QUAD housing complex.  Since 2016, CSUSM students consistently have expressed a desire for more spaces dedicated to wellness, basic needs and recreation to support their growth and well-being. Now, thanks to the “yes” vote, CSUSM no longer will be one of the only California State University campuses without a dedicated facility for wellness and recreation.   “As someone who has lived on campus at The QUAD, I always felt like our school was missing a facility where students could go to truly be themselves and recover from a long school day,” said Jacob Brown, a junior kinesiology major and Campus Rec student assistant. “This facility not only will improve the lives of all students here on campus, but also those who live off campus. This building also will offer more spaces for programs like kinesiology and athletics, allowing them to become bigger and better than ever.”   In response to student feedback after the failed referendum in April, CSUSM made three important changes:  The increase to the recreation fee was reduced by $20, to $245 per semester (versus $265 previously).  The fee will not be charged until the year when the facility opens, which is projected to be 2026-27. Students objected to language in the previous proposal calling for them to start paying the higher fee in fall 2025, one year before the building’s expected opening.  The facility will be able to support more diverse programming. Large spaces like the indoor courts, rooftop terrace and outdoor courtyard can be reserved for student organization, department or student life events, which will expand programs to promote recruitment, retention, community and student success.   “A new rec facility at our school will be incredibly beneficial, offering students a place for physical activity and relaxation,” said Arman Rahgozar, a senior psychology major and CSUSM student-athlete. “More modern facilities will help to foster a strong sense of school spirit with students at CSUSM. With how fast the school is growing, a new rec facility is needed for the student experience to continue to grow as well.”  Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

When the Department of Education released a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, more commonly known as FAFSA, it was supposed to simplify the financial aid process for students across the country. While the form was condensed from 108 questions to 40, the rollout of what was supposed to be a streamlined process was plagued by delays and glitches. A form that normally is made available on Oct. 1 didn’t become accessible until Dec. 31, which was by law the latest it could be opened. Even when the form finally opened, seemingly endless issues caused stressful delays for many students who couldn't find out how much aid they would be receiving. Cal State San Marcos political science student Sarah Flores was among those affected. The myriad issues she had with the FAFSA caused so much consternation that she was called upon to provide testimony about the difficulties to the California State University Board of Trustees in September. “I worry about not having enough money for school and living expenses as I haven't been able to successfully submit my financial aid application through the new system,” Flores told the trustees. “Financial aid is my lifeline. At first I thought it might be a glitch or maybe I typed something wrong, but after trying again and again the same issue kept happening. “As deadlines loomed and the clock ticked, I couldn't access the one thing that would help me afford my education and living expenses. It was incredibly frustrating knowing that the solution to my financial aid worries was just out of reach.” But CSUSM is at the forefront of trying to make it a smoother process for students across the country when the FAFSA opens Dec. 1 for the 2025-26 financial aid cycle. CSUSM was one of two CSU schools selected to participate in FAFSA beta testing, which will provide students with early access to complete the form and then provide feedback to the Department of Education. The early access also means CSUSM will be able to process financial aid packages sooner. All currently enrolled CSUSM students are eligible to participate in the FAFSA beta testing. Students were informed via email and text message about the opportunity to complete an interest form by Oct. 25. Those who complete the interest form will gain access to the FAFSA form in mid-November, weeks before it becomes available to students across the country. “Our students will have the ability to provide direct feedback to the Department of Ed on what is working well and what has to be corrected,” said Julie Lindenmeier, CSUSM’s director of the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. “They're going to have the ability to say, ‘This question doesn’t make sense, or I had a technical error in this area.’ And that's important, because making the process easy to use was what this redesign was for.” As one example, Lindenmeier said a question about whether students wanted an unsubsidized loan if their tax contributor was unable to complete the form caused confusion. Many students clicked yes thinking they wouldn’t otherwise be eligible for a loan. But by answering the question incorrectly, their parents were never even invited to complete their portion of the FAFSA. “The beta is important not only because our students will get first access, but they'll have a real opportunity to contribute to the national discourse and make this better for everyone,” Lindenmeier said. Lindenmeier encourages all CSUSM students to complete the interest form so that they can participate in the early access. She said it’s critical that students use the email address that they’ve previously used to access the FAFSA rather than their campus email. Students who need more information about the beta testing can contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at finaid@csusm.edu. Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314