When Rear Adm. Pamela Schweitzer graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, she wasn’t exactly sure where her career path would take her.

Schweitzer’s time at CSUF laid the foundation for a nearly 30-year career in federal service that included regional and national positions within Indian Health Service and a four-year term as the assistant surgeon general and 10th chief pharmacist officer of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

Her service to our country, along with her continued commitment to the Titan community, has earned Schweitzer a selection as a 2024 CSUF Vision & Visionaries Distinguished Alumni award winner.

A Placentia native and one of five children, Schweitzer attended Troy High School in Fullerton and applied to CSUF because it was the most affordable college option for her family. She lived at home during her undergraduate years but spent time on campus whenever she could, participating in various clubs and activities.

One of Schweitzer’s most influential professors was the late Miles D. McCarthy, a CSUF founding faculty member and founding chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. McCarthy’s impact fostered a love for her chosen field.

“The light bulb turned on, and I really loved that college was so different than high school,” Schweitzer said. “McCarthy had this health professions group that I participated in, and he introduced us to all the different career options that were out there for health professionals. He was so excited that we were interested in going into the health profession.”

Once she earned her bachelor’s degree, Schweitzer stayed at CSUF to pursue a master’s degree in immunology but left for UC San Francisco after being accepted into the university’s School of Pharmacy. After earning her doctorate in pharmacy, she completed her residency in ambulatory care/administration at UC Irvine Medical Center, eventually working as an outpatient pharmacy supervisor.

Her next career steps took Schweitzer to the Black Hills of South Dakota, where she worked for Indian Health Service, the federal health program for American Indians and Alaska Natives within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She spent time at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and then relocated to Northern Arizona, where she worked in Tuba City and on the Gila River Indian Reservation, helping to ensure access to public health services.

“I love helping people, and so it was an adventure being able to go and work on the Indian reservations and help there,” Schweitzer said.

After advancing to national positions within IHS, she headed to Washington D.C. to work with the Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies on regulatory and policy matters. While there, Schweitzer was appointed assistant surgeon general and 10th chief pharmacist officer, the first female to hold this position, serving under former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams, and current U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy.

During her term, which ran from 2014 – 2018, Schweitzer provided leadership and oversight to more than 1,300 Public Health Service pharmacy officers across the country and focused on emergency response initiatives that included Ebola, H1N1 and the opioid crisis. The role was a 24/7 commitment, but she loved every minute.

“I worked with absolutely amazing people,” Schweitzer said. “I felt like I was really fortunate to be around a lot of people that were very committed.”

Although currently retired, Schweitzer is still active in the health care space, serving on advisory boards to help with strategic planning on several public health initiatives, splitting her time between Washington, D.C.; South Dakota and Arizona. She is also a member of CSUF’s Philanthropic Foundation Board of Governors and enjoys sharing her story with the next generation of Titans.

Her years at CSUF set the stage for a career path that captured both her interest in science and her heart for others while instilling a love for learning that remains with her to this day.

“When I was there (at CSUF), I learned to love learning,” Schweitzer said. “I had this great attitude, and I acquired it from the professors because they loved their subjects so much. I’ve kept that attitude my whole career, and I’m grateful that I had those experiences at Cal State Fullerton where people really, genuinely wanted to help me learn.”

Schweitzer and her family will join the other five 2024 Vision and Visionaries honorees at an awards dinner on Feb. 24 where their accomplishments will be celebrated. She is grateful for the recognition and credits those who have provided unwavering support throughout her career.

“This is not about me, it’s about the team, the people that have been around me,” Schweitzer said. “I’ve had amazing people to work with. This is not something I did. None of us can do anything without our wonderful support systems.”

This year’s motto: consistency

“That’s just what we wanted to be all season long,” Titan Dance Coach Jennie Volkert said.

The Titans were indeed consistent, and at the highest level.

The CSUF Dance Team won its 18th National Championship in the Division 1 Jazz competition at the Universal Dance Team Championships, held Jan. 12-14 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.

CSUF also placed 3rd in the nation for its routine in the Division 1 Pom category.

“We were just so excited,” said Volkert, who has served as head coach since 1997 and has been the coach for all 18 national championship teams. “The competition is really tough, and all the teams are good. And everybody kind of has their own style, and dance is very subjective, so you never know what the judges are going to want. We just stayed focused.”

The competition was tougher in this year’s championship, with the UDA adding a preliminary round for the D1 Jazz category.

More than 30 teams competed in the first round, 20 teams advanced to the semifinal round, and then 10 teams advanced to the final round, which was won by the Titans.

“It was scary going into it knowing we were going to do it three times,” senior co-captain Carissa Hobbs said. “Normally we do it twice. But honestly, going through it three times, when we got to finals, I know we were way more confident stepping on that stage, and we knew what we needed to do because we had already done it two times.”

The road to the championships begins in April when tryouts are held.

This year’s group of potential dancers was the largest and most talented ever, said Volkert, who was herself a Titan cheerleader, performing on the sidelines for CSUF’s last football team in 1992.

Even members of the previous year’s team are required to try out again to make the team.

Once the final cuts are made — never an easy decision — Volkert said, the 21 Titans who make the team attend a few camps over the summer.

The day after Labor Day, practices for the season get underway and are held three days a week.

After Christmas, practices are every day in preparation for the national championships.

Having been part of a national championship team as a sophomore, winning is always special, Hobbs said, but her motivation to be part of the team each year hasn’t only been to win another title.

“We just love each other, and it’s like a family here,” Hobbs said. “So that’s why we keep coming back. Not necessarily because of the winning, but because of the people on the team, our coaches, the environment.”

Balancing practices, academics and a job took some getting used to, freshman dance team member Kennedi Sandidge said.

To be part of a winning team, Sandidge was willing to make the commitment, and support from her teammates and the coaches made the adjustment period easier, she said.

“It was definitely something I haven’t experienced before,” Sandidge said. “I knew that when I wanted to go to college, I wanted to be on a really strong team that had a good reputation and seemed to just be well-rounded. I had looked at old videos of Cal State Fullerton, and they had everything I was looking for. I knew a few girls going into it that are also freshmen, and so it already made it feel like home.”

Senior co-captain Jordan Takai, who was also part of the Titans’ national championship team as a sophomore, said winning a second national title is a great way to cap off her senior year, especially coming off a disappointing team showing during her junior season.

“Because when you feel so defeated last year, and just to come back as a new team, it felt really good,” Takai said.

Titans’ assistant coach Krysten Dorado was also a member of the dance team, from 2010 to 2013, and part of three national championship teams before being asked to come back as a coach.

“It was an incredible opportunity, and especially being a part of the program before, I definitely couldn’t pass it up,” Dorado said. “Jennie has done an amazing job with the dance team, and so to be a part of this is awesome.”

Aside from competing and performing at basketball games, the Titans are also active in the community, reading to children in local elementary schools and participating in toy drives during the holiday season.

Upcoming performances

Thursday, Feb. 29 – Women’s Basketball vs. Long Beach State at 7 p.m.

• Halftime – 3rd Place Pom Routine

Saturday, March 2 – Men’s Basketball vs. UC Santa Barbara at 6 p.m.

• Halftime – National Championship Jazz Routine and Trophy Presentation

The trio, wearing masks and possibly armed with handguns, exited a dark-colored sedan that had stopped in front of the jewelry store, located on the 1500 block of South Harbor Boulevard. A uniformed security guard employed by the store fired at the suspects as they approached, causing them to flee the scene, a preliminary investigation revealed.

Police responded to the scene around 12:08 p.m. and searched the area for possible suspects.

No suspects were in custody late Wednesday and it is unknown if any were struck by the gunfire, Sgt. Ryan O’Neil said.

No other injuries were reported.

Among the most fulfilling of those opportunities for Darvish, who is in her fourth semester at CSUF, was her participation in the Panetta Congressional Internship Program.

As a Panetta Scholar, Darvish, a criminal justice major, spent the Fall 2023 semester in an 11-week internship in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington D.C.

The Panetta Institute was founded and is co-directed by Leon Panetta and his wife, Sylvia. Panetta served in several Democratic administrations as Secretary of Defense, director of the CIA and White House Chief of Staff.

As part of the internship, congressional representatives, along with state and local elected officials, taught the interns policy issues related to income inequity, inflation, health care and Middle East politics.

The first two weeks of the internship took place in August at Cal State Monterey Bay, where the interns attended lectures, including lectures given by Panetta himself.

“We were learning all about the government and bipartisanship and basically how things work,” Darvish said. “And then we were sent to D.C.  and spent 11 weeks there working full time for a member of the House of Representatives.”

In Washington, Darvish worked as a legislative intern for U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal of California’s 24th District, which encompasses portions of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

Her duties included preparing and maintaining reports and memos, drafting letters to constituents, organizing messages from constituents, answering phone calls, attending briefings and giving tours of the U.S. Capitol building.

Only 25 students from the CSU system, Santa Clara University, St. Mary’s College of California and Dominican University of California are selected for the internship.

Students’ housing, tuition and travel are funded by the Panetta Institute for Public Policy.

Darvish also drafted and wrote co-sponsored recommendations for the congressman on bills related to voting rights, criminal justice reform, civil rights and LGBTQ rights.

To be considered for the internship, each candidate intern had to have an exemplary scholastic record along with an interest in politics, policy and public service.

Darvish also had to participate in several rounds of interviews with university officials, culminating with an interview with then CSUF President Fram Virjee, who recommended Darvish for the internship.

“I was surrounded by some of the most powerful and important people at Cal State Fullerton,” Darvish said of the interviews. “They were really there just to hear about me and learn about me. I felt supported and uplifted by them.”

In his letter to Darvish informing her of his recommendation, Virjee wrote:

“Sophia, I wish you much success and thank you in advance for aspiring to represent Cal State Fullerton in this very prestigious position. As you know, this is a highly competitive process, and I congratulate you on your outstanding application and interview. I know you will have an amazing experience in this program and am also confident that you will represent CSUF in an outstanding manner.”

Darvish was then interviewed by members of the Panetta Institute.

Before earning the Panetta Congressional Internship, Darvish participated in a fellowship with the Progressive Turnout Project, which focuses its efforts on mobilizing the Democratic Party and motivating Democrats to exercise their right to vote.

Darvish also completed an internship with U.S. Representative and CSUF alum Lou Correa, D-Anaheim, where she was the first line of communication with constituents and assisted with casework updates and directing calls to appropriate resources.

“I just try to apply to anything and everything that piques my interest, and hopefully I can do a better interview with that job or other internships,” she said.

As the daughter of Iranian immigrants, Darvish began taking an interest in public affairs and government while a student at nearby El Dorado High School, where she was involved with several campus clubs.

Darvish was a member of ASB and participated in Mock Trial and in the ED Law Academy, where students received a primer on the legal profession through coursework and in-person meetings with attorneys and judges.

“I was always listening to podcasts and reading up on the news,” Darvish said. “So, I think that’s what made me so engaged, especially my experiences in high school impacted my interest in the whole field.”

She became more impassioned with criminal justice reform from reading two books: “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson and “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander.

Both titles deal with injustices in the criminal justice system.

“Those two books got me even more interested in criminal justice … in the whole process,” Darvish said. “It’s such a real-world thing. You really have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives.”

And the subject of why the Cal State Fullerton softball team wasn’t the last team standing still stings Kelly Ford eight months later. So much so that the CSF softball coach spent as little time talking about what happened on a sunny May afternoon in Long Beach as she could – and as much time talking about what transpired from that weekend as she could.

“This group is hungry. That definitely slapped us down,” Ford said, concisely summarizing how the Titans lost the Big West title on the final weekend of the season.

Needing only one win in three games to win their second consecutive Big West title and sixth since 2016, the Titans got swept by Long Beach State, losing the title on the last day of the season and denying Ford her sixth title in 11 seasons. Ford’s astute and audacious scheduling – the Titans had one of the most demanding schedules in the country last year – earned CSF an at-large NCAA berth and a cross-country trip to Clemson for a four-team regional in South Carolina, where the Titans went 1-2.

This explains Ford’s succinctness in dismissing how one of her grittiest teams had a conference title snatched and grabbed away. Yes, the Titans were missing their two top-of-the-lineup igniters in Megan Delgadillo and Antonette Dean, who both tore ACLs within four days of each other midway through the season. Ford said losing Delgadillo changed the whole environment like few other athletes she’s ever coached.

And yet, even after the Titans lost two games to Auburn at the Clemson Regional, a quick zoom-out revealed all was not bleak. CSF went 34-21 with that tough schedule, beating No. 3 Florida and No. 8 Tennessee. Along the way, the Titans gave Ford her 800th career victory by knocking off Oregon State, earned 10 All-Big West accolades and still went 20-7 in conference play.

Now, the page turns, and Ford finds new ways to keep the Titans moving as she plots the path of snatching and grabbing that title back.

Enter new mental training and conditioning coach Zach Sorensen, who has the Titans thinking accountability. Taking over from Brian Kane, a Ford favorite who was a former acolyte of legendary mental guru and Cal State Fullerton Athletic Hall of Fame member Dr. Ken Ravizza, Sorensen won over Ford with an eight-word mantra that has her players’ attention.

“Zach is of that mindset of ‘What are you going to do about it?’ You throw something out about it, and he’s going to ask you that question,” Ford said. He puts thoughts and dreams into action. A lot of times, people put dreams out there. He will look you in the eye and ask you, ‘What are you going to do about it?’ Our accountability is at an all-time high.”

According to Ford, so is the Titans’ depth, not only on the field but in the dugout. A new NCAA rule opened the door for teams to have four full-time assistant coaches and – with the blessing of Athletic Director Jim Donovan – Ford wasted no time fortifying her staff. Joining longtime chief lieutenant Jorge Araujo was Jamee Juarez, a three-time All-Big Ten standout at Ohio State and Venezuelan National Team member, and one of the greatest players in CSF history – Gina Oaks Garcia.

Ford had been trying to lure Oaks Garcia from Claremont Mudd Scripps, where she coached the past six years. That mission finally accomplished, the Titans welcome back one of the most decorated players in program history – if not the most versatile.

A pitcher/infielder, Oaks Garcia still holds the program record for career runs scored (150) and ranks in the top 10 in total bases (314) and walks (74). She owns the single-game record for RBIs with her eight against Kansas in 2001. In the circle, she ranks in the top 10 in strikeouts (685), wins (74), complete games (72), shutouts (25) and saves (4).

She was a two-time All-American and four-time Big West Champion who became the first player in Big West history to earn first-team All-Conference honors at two different positions.

“I’ve gone after both for years, and they’ve brought a new standard, a new vibe and a lot of expectations,” Ford said. “They’re holding these ladies accountable, and I’ve given them a lot of freedom to bring in the gritty.”

Along with that grit and aura comes a team that is so deep that Ford said only one position is solidified: Delgadillo leading off and playing center. Two seasons ago, the Big West Field Player of the Year led the conference in hits (80), runs (57) and stolen bases (50), while slashing .404/.462/.444.

From there, matters are wide open. So wide open that senior Peyton Toto, a three-year starter at shortstop, may find another position. That’s courtesy of freshmen middle infielders Sarah Perez and Jazmin Williams and Biola transfer Colby McClinton, who was the PacWest Player and Freshman of the Year. Ford said that trio and outfielder Kate Verhoef had the upperclassman rhapsodizing about how good the freshmen are.

“There’s not an award she didn’t win at Biola, and she wanted to be challenged at the Division 1 level. That kid is super athletic,” Ford said about McClinton.

Not that the upperclassmen are slouches, starting with junior pitcher Haley Rainey, who inherits the ace mantle from the departed Myka Sutherlin after going 9-5 with a 1.53 ERA and earning All-Big West Second Team honors. Behind her are five other pitchers seeking to start the one weekend game Rainey won’t. The list starts with left-handed pitchers Staci Chambers and Leanna Garcia, both of whom redshirted last year.

After you get through Delgadillo, the Titans return Hannah Becerra, who led the Titans in runs (39), RBIs (28), doubles (8), home runs (8) and walks (32), which also led the Big West. Ford said that Becerra – a first-team All-Big West selection – was disappointed with her season last year, which bodes ill for opposing pitchers who will likely treat Becerra like she’s radioactive.

Also back for more are seniors Toto, catcher Jessi Alcala, outfielder Bailey Wallace, and pinch-hitter Kika Ramirez, who is expected to play a more prominent role this year.

“I keep thinking about what’s so special about this group right now. They’re not afraid to laugh and cry together,” Ford said. “They’re not afraid to face fear and lean in when things get tough and they’re showing a lot of the characteristics of a championship team. I’ve seen it in such a short time. We’ve been together 10 days and I’ve seen a transformation in 10 days unlike what I’ve seen before.

“In the fall, I thought we had talent. But this spring, there’s been a shift. It’s that ‘special sauce,’ that ‘mojo,’ that synergy. I call it ‘competitive greatness,’ when you’re competing with someone, you want to make each other better. If you’re both playing third base, I’m going to dive a little further, you’re going to dive a little further than me. They’re trying to make that position better for the team and they don’t care who will play it. They’re pushing each other and coaching each other, but more importantly, they’re giving and taking feedback from each other.”

For the Vietnamese community, Orange County is abuzz with plans for Tet, the celebration of the new year.

Enjoy a free three-day festival at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley or the UVSA Tet Festival at the OC Fair & Event Center, which is the biggest Vietnamese Lunar New Year Festival in the United States.

Westminster will hold a parade on Saturday, and there are other festivities planned in Little Saigon. For a full list of Tet celebrations in Orange County check out enjoyorangecounty.com.

Fullerton resident Vickie Tran explained how her family celebrates the three-day holiday.

“New Year’s Eve, the family gets together, eat dinner, and around midnight we pray for health and good luck. In Vietnam many years ago we have firecracker, but here we don’t have that,” she said. “Next morning, the first day of New Year, we go to temple in Monterey Park or Westminster.

“New Year we like to wear red for good luck. We wear bright color, like spring,” she added. “We give gifts to relatives. The first day we give red envelopes with money to the kids to wish good luck and happy.”

For dinner they enjoy traditional Tet fare, Tran said. “We have fruit, rice cake, chicken and pork cooked with egg, Thit Kho.”

For this dish, pork belly is braised in a mixture of soy sauce, fish sauce, and brown sugar with boiled eggs. The rice cakes Tran referred to are filled with mung beans and pork belly wrapped and steamed in banana leaves. In the North, they are shaped in a square and called banh chưng; in the South they are round and called banh tet.

Tran told a harrowing tale of her immigration to the U.S. in 1986.

“After 1975, the North take over the South. Life was different.” she said. “I came with my younger brother by boat. I’m a boat person. I escaped my country. My parents had to pay somebody to take me, but if they saw us escape, they would take us to the jail.

“I live on the boat three days in the Pacific Ocean. There were 49 people on the boat,” she said. “Fourth day we throw up because the water is rocky, and then a big ship came and take us to a small island, and we stayed there for two weeks, and then they bring us to Indonesia to a refugee camp. I stayed there for a year. They give us food once a week, like egg, rice, flour, sardines. It was OK. From Indonesia we come here.”

Tran, who was 16 at the time, arrived in the United States through Houston, Texas, where she lived with relatives there and in California.

She finds her recipes on YouTube, she said. “I cook, but don’t write it down. I look mentally with my eyes.”

Fullerton’s Judy Bart Kancigor is the author of “Cooking Jewish” and “The Perfect Passover Cookbook.” Her website is cookingjewish.com.

THIT KHO (VIETNAMESE BRAISED PORK BELLY)

This reciped for Thit Kho comes from Becca Du who writes and shares recipes on her site, www.cooking-therapy.com

Pork belly is traditional, but you can substitute leaner cuts such as pork shoulder or pork butt. For a thicker sauce, add 1/4 teaspoon corn starch mixed with 1 teaspoon water, and cook until thickened.

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 pound pork belly
• 4 large eggs, hard-boiled and shelled
• 1 shallot, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• Vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 cup coconut water
• Green onions, sliced, for garnish

Method:

1. Cut pork belly into 1-inch chunks. Bring 2 quarts water to a boil; add pork belly chunks. Boil 2-4 minutes to clean pork belly. Drain pork belly and rinse.

2. Add shallots, garlic, and a little oil to a medium pot. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the shallots and garlic are shiny. Add brown sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce, and coconut water. Stir and bring to a boil. Return pork belly to pot and lower heat to a simmer. If the liquid doesn’t fully cover pork belly, add more coconut water until it just covers meat. Simmer with pan slightly uncovered for 30 minutes.

3. After 30 minutes, add hard-boiled eggs. Simmer for another 30 minutes with pan slightly uncovered. If liquid does not completely cover eggs, turn eggs over after 15 minutes.

4. Serve over rice garnished with green onions.

An assistant professor in Cal State Fullerton’s Department of American Studies, Rowe teaches courses such as “Women, Race and Ethnicity in American Culture” and “The Body in American Culture,” where she and her students examine the intersection between beauty, pop culture, race and gender politics.

Rowe’s passion for research and her many published works in this area resulted in an invitation to contribute to the 2022 Comcast Xfinity docuseries, titled “The Black Beauty Effect,” a three-part series that focuses on the history, evolution and contribution of Black people in beauty and culture.

As an English major undergraduate student, Rowe was drawn to storytelling, film and pop culture. At the same time, she decided to join the contemporary natural hair movement, when a critical mass of Black women stopped chemically straightening their hair via relaxers in favor of natural hair styles.

Prior to that time, a significant part of Black beauty culture was centered on chemical relaxers. Rowe argues that at that same juncture, there became an overarching interest across races around going green, going organic and going natural, with an emphasis on “dechemicalizing” various aspects of our lives.

These movements, along with the introduction of YouTube in 2005, allowed the internet to become a space for Black women to teach each other how to style and maintain their natural hair. It wasn’t long before a community took shape, and Rowe felt the pull to contribute to the discussion.

“It was really just being in it,” Rowe said. “Being in the community, in the movement, being a product of it and observing things. And it was thinking that someone should write this down or unpack this.”

When the team from FaceForward Productions contacted Rowe in 2021, they explained the project and that they were looking for published experts to speak on the field of Black hair and Black beauty. She spent a day at Soho Works in West Hollywood being interviewed for the documentary, placing her voice alongside significant Black cultural creators, such as celebrity makeup artists, magazine editors, scholars and cosmetic company founders.

“The Black Beauty Effect” debuted in November 2022, highlighting the “social change in the beauty industry through the lens of successful Black women.”

The docuseries is in three parts: Episode 1 – “The Beat Effect” focusing on makeup, Episode 2 – “The Skin Effect” spotlighting skin care, and Episode 3 – “The Crown Effect” focusing on hair, the episode where Rowe makes the most significant contributions.

Rowe attended a premiere for the documentary in Los Angeles and is more than pleased with the finished product.

“I keep describing it as kind of an archival love letter,” Rowe said of the documentary, “the way they put all the voices in conversation with each other, along with the images and the video footage.”

Rowe feels the topics surrounding Black beauty are important and timely, with the docuseries playing a role in archiving and sharing the history of these contributions to society. She also sees the project as an entry point for wider discussions around race and gender.

“There are so many things to talk about,” Rowe said. “What do people have access to and how does that inform their experiences? How do different modes of presentation vary from class to class? There’s not just race, but ethnicity … body and size politics … all these things are embodied and wrapped up in beauty as well.”

While Rowe has not made viewing “The Black Beauty Effect” a required part of her courses, she has informed her students about the docuseries and introduces many of the topics into the curriculum of her upper-level classes and electives.

Additionally, Rowe is under contract to write a book on art, pop culture and representation in the context of the contemporary natural hair movement using a black feminist framework to review texts and new media.

All three episodes of “The Black Beauty Effect” are now available for viewing on Netflix, and Rowe feels it is a critical project that contributes to a relevant conversation.

“I think what they’ve made is so wonderful and so important,” Rowe said. “It is a topic that a lot of people connect to because it provides language and scholarship for things they’ve observed in their world and in their bodies … If it had nothing to do with me, I would still encourage you to watch it.”

Jon Bruschke knew he was onto something big when he overheard his 16-year-old daughter, Andromeda, singing at home.

But she wasn’t belting out a tune by one of her favorites, Taylor Swift.

Rather, the Fullerton Union High School student was singing a song from her father’s first musical, “Change the Game,” staged Jan. 5-6 at the Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center and being shopped around for potential performances at other venues.

Bruschke is a professor and speech and debate coach at CSUF, so a musical isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when guessing a pet project of his.

But Bruschke, who’s been playing the keyboards and writing songs since he was 18 years old, is a member of the “three-chord rock band” True to the Universe, a longtime fixture on Orange County’s live music scene.

So, tunes are in his blood.

And Bruschke’s multicultural and high-achieving speech and debate team at CSUF was the inspiration of “Change the Game,” a story about grassroots empowerment, local politics, a patchwork community of young adults from different ethnic backgrounds, and with the message that maybe it’s not how to win, but rather how to change the game.

As for Andromeda singing her father’s original songs?

She’s one of the 14 members of the cast of “Change the Game,” many of whom are CSUF alumni or current students.

Andromeda, who has been dancing since age 3 and sings and acts, plays a student/reporter and is one of five members of a quasi-chorus who perform in the musical.

The plot

The plot centers on students at the fictional Cal State San Marita who convince their political philosophy professor to take on big-money developers and run for local office. It’s a story of underdogs who take on the system by coming together to make a difference in the world by changing their community.

“They succeed not by beating people at their own game but by changing what the game is about,” said Bruschke, the musical’s writer, producer and director who for the last six years has served as chair of CSUF’s Department of Communication Studies.

“They realize they must make the world better for everyone and not just for themselves,” said Bruschke, who began his career at CSUF in 1997 after attending the university as an undergraduate (1984-88) and earning his doctorate in communication from the University of Utah in 1994.

‘Cooking with ideas’

Bruschke grew up in Salt Lake City and fell in love with speech and debate in high school when he had to take it as an elective after the metal shop class filled up.

“My brain was cooking with ideas at the time, and I latched onto it,” he recalled.

He says coaching CSUF’s speech and debate team has been the most meaningful thing he’s done in his life.

“What set us apart is we would get a variety of students — Latinx kids, Vietnamese, Chinese, etc.,” Bruschke said of his early years as speech and debate coach. “They’d all come together in one room. We were always overmatched by USC, Harvard, Northwestern, and other powerhouse speech and debate teams. But by the time our students were seniors, they were competing nationally.”

In 2004, the CSUF speech and debate team hit a high-water mark with an appearance in the quarterfinals of the National Debate Tournament.

Bruschke said his experience with the speech and debate team informed the plot of his musical.

“Seemingly every demographic came together, and it made them feel they belonged,” he said of his speech and debate team.

“What I would love to be is the Gene Roddenberry of musical theater,” added Bruschke, referring to the creator of “Star Trek” on TV. “I want to be the guy who brings everyone together and helps build a future where everyone is included and has a place.”

‘It’s not going to end here’

Bruschke began working on “Change the Game” in the spring of 2020. He would bounce ideas off bandmate and CSUF philosophy professor Andrew Howat.

In August 2022, the musical had its first workshop performance at the Maverick Theater in Fullerton. A year later, four shows were held at the Chance Theater in Anaheim.

Musical arrangements in “Change the Game” are by Howat and Bruschke.

Bruschke’s son, Milo, 20, co-wrote the lyrics with his father. The 17 songs in the musical originally were recorded in Howat’s home studio. A key hip-hop section was contributed by Tyrone Stokes, who goes by the stage name Lyrically Twisted.

Bruschke said he hopes “Change the Game” will be staged again soon.

“It was a blast, and it’s not going to end here,” Bruschke said. “I made a promise to the cast that I will push this as far as we can make it go.”

For more information about “Change the Game” visit changethegamemusical.wordpress.com.

Police were called to the post office at 1350 E. Chapman Ave. around 4:50 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, Fullerton Sgt. Ryan O’Neil said Saturday. A caller said someone had taken a crate of mail off a loading dock and fled in a black sedan. As the sedan left the parking lot, a female employee stood in front of the car, was pushed backward and fell into the street. She quickly got up on her own.

Cell phone footage captured the moment mail thieves ran over a mail lady after stealing mail from the Fullerton post office. The suspects walked into the facility targeting mail trays of checks before fleeing the location. #fullerton pic.twitter.com/0DLgspOqWg

— OC Hoods (@ocxhoods) January 25, 2024

About a mile south, at Orangethorpe and Raymond avenues near the 91 Freeway, an officer saw a car matching that description and pulled it over.

“Luckily, officers were in the right place at the right time,” police said in a Facebook post. “Officers conducted a traffic stop, and what do you know, a USPS mail bin was inside the vehicle. Needless to say, all occupants were delivered to jail.”

The three were arrested on suspicion of mail theft, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon — the car, O’Neil said.

Police are trying to determine whether the suspects were responsible for other mail thefts and robberies.

Federal officials say there has been a nationwide increase in such crimes.

Stealing mail provides crooks with numerous opportunities to profit. In addition to acquiring anything inside that in itself is valuable, thieves can alter checks and cash them, and they can sell or trade Social Security numbers and other personal information discovered. Mail is often targeted by drug addicts who lack cash.

It’s also less risky than robbing a bank because few mail thieves face federal charges that can result in longer sentences.

These thefts are turning increasingly violent, according to the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.

In a September 2023 report, officials wrote the Postal Service said in May that robberies — theft by force or fear — of letter carriers are increasing.

In a May 2023 news release cited by the Inspector General, postal authorities said 412 letter carriers were robbed during the 2022 fiscal year that ended in September 2022, and that 305 such crimes had been logged in the first half alone of fiscal year 2023 that ended in September 2023.

Also, postal authorities reported an increase in high-volume thefts from blue collection boxes and other containers from 38,500 in fiscal 2022 to 25,000 in the first half of fiscal 2023.

Thieves are particularly targeting arrow keys, which are skeleton keys that carriers use to open relay boxes, apartmentpanels, outdoor parcel lockers and neighborhood delivery and collection boxes. Those keys are used on more than 300,000 routes. The Inspector General report urged postmasters to improve the security of the keys.

In June 2023, Irvine police arrested an Anaheim man and said he possessed thousands of pieces of stolen mail, credit cards, passports and keys that could be used to open mailboxes.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) introduced legislation in 2023 that would allow the Postal Service to assign its police to the field. Currently, they are restricted to Postal Service property, Durbin told CBS Ch. 2 in Chicago in November.

As a way to stay on top of when important letters and packages are going to arrive, consumers can sign up for Informed Delivery, a free service from the Postal Service that emails them images of incoming mail.

Support for foster youth is critical; roughly two-thirds of foster youth are going to be homeless within the first 12 months of leaving foster care, said Chris Simonsen, CEO of Orangewood Foundation, which helps foster young people develop skills for self-sufficiency.

Young people in California can stay in foster care until they’re 21 if they continue to meet with a social worker, among other requirements. But the challenges they face are daunting.

“The biggest issue is they don’t have that network of adult and family supporters to help them,” Simonsen said.If they’re able to graduate from high school and are accepted at Cal State Fullerton, current and former foster youth can receive a range of support as they step into higher education.

“Aside from providing the scholarship, we may also help with securing housing on campus as some students may not have a place to live once they begin their tenure at the university,” said Felipe Martinez, who coordinates the Guardian Scholars program, which has been replicated in universities throughout California as well as in other states. “We currently support 129 Guardian Scholars.”

Junely Merwin was part of the Guardian Scholar Program during her undergraduate years; she graduated from CSUF with a bachelor’s degree in 2019.

“I entered foster care at the age of 15, cradling my 1-month-old son in my arms, with no family support,” she said. “Throughout the five years I spent in foster care, I navigated through three foster homes, several high schools, and the challenges of attending college while being a teen mom in the system.”

Merwin is on track to achieve her master’s degree in higher education at Cal State Fullerton later this year.

“The Guardian Scholars program is crucial for foster youth due to the unique challenges they face,” Merwin said. “Foster youth have little to no family ties and often lack resources and a community to guide them through higher education and adulthood. These individuals often have a history of trauma and must overcome the challenges associated with both foster care and pursuing higher education. The Guardian Scholars program serves as a vital support system, providing advocacy, guidance, and connections to essential resources.”

Merwin said her journey in foster care was marked by the challenges of dealing with unsupportive foster homes, social workers, and the system itself. But in the midst of this, she encountered adults who believed in and supported her dream of earning a college degree.

“Their encouragement became a driving force behind my determination to secure a good job, providing the stability that my son and I deserved,” she said.

She currently works with a foster youth program at a community college and intends to continue once she graduates.

Becky Wells also credits the Guardian Scholars Program for encouraging her to get her college degree as a young single mom. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 2000 and is grateful to Ron Davis, the program’s founder — “I call him my adoptive father,” she said — and Gene Howard, who was at Orangewood Foundation during that time. Both were integral in supporting and encouraging her to continue her education.

“It’s hard to put into words something that I feel so deep in my heart and has impacted my life so profoundly; the program has changed my life and countless others,” said Wells, who now lives near Austin, Texas, with her husband and children. “I appreciate the Guardian Scholar Program not only for the financial assistance I received but also for the lifelong friends I’ve made. It truly is a family.”

The Guardians Scholars Program provides holistic support to foster youth, Martinez said. “It provides an opportunity to level the playing field as much as possible.”

To respect their privacy, students are never asked to share their stories.

“We also provide training to faculty, staff and campus partners, which allows them to learn more about the foster youth population and helps them recognize the impact that this can have on foster youth as they navigate the university,” Martinez said.

Guardian Scholars who’ve gone on to receive master’s degrees have focused on counseling, social work, education and international business, he said.

The Cal State Fullerton staff at the Center for Scholars is passionate about helping foster youth surmount their challenges.

“It is incredibly rewarding to work with students and help them thrive on campus,” Martinez said. “This population of students has been told that statistically they should not be in college, much less have graduated from high school. They are overcoming obstacles, changing statistical narratives and creating opportunities for themselves and those who will come after them.”