LEADERS OF THE These outstanding graduates

Madelyn Gaines’ spiritual journey leads to Morocco

By Autumn Layton Features Editor

Religious studies and psychology major Madelyn Gaines is the recipient of the Outstanding Undergraduate Award for religious studies. This came with much hard work since Fall 2019, which is when Gaines started college.

Gaines is interested in the study of different religions. Growing up, she wasn’t raised in a religious household. Gaines found herself to be more spiritual and believing in a higher power.

“I say I’m lucky because I didn’t grow up in a religious household. So, I had a neutral and unbiased opinion on religion,” said Gaines.

Gaines, who originally wanted to major in biology and pursue medical school, quickly switched to psychology. After being advised by Associate Professor Steve CampagnaPinto to take a religious studies course, she eventually made it her major as well.

Gains chose psychology and religious studies because of the connection that the subjects had on a mental level. Throughout the courses she took, she said she learned that most major religions advocate for the same things, such as equality, freedom and peace.

“I really found out that psychology and religious studies are connected on so many levels. I’m really interested in understanding how religion specifically plays a role in social thinking and behavior, then also individually and on a social level,” said Gaines.

Gaines’ four years at California State University, Bakersfield have been nothing but great with the staff, students and faculty. There have been multiple opportunities that she said she has taken to further her education. Last summer, Gaines went to Paris for 10 days on a Beaver Scholarship, and

Vanessa Beltrán puts the risk in risqué and anti-traditional

By Ernesto Leon Co-Editor-in-Chief

Vanessa Beltrán, a student who enjoys the macabre, and isn’t afraid to touch the risque or be antitraditional with her plays, has won the Outstanding Undergraduate Award in Theatre at California State University, Bakersfield.

Beltrán described her time obtaining her degree as hard but satisfying. She has learned and experienced many opportunities she feels wouldn’t have existed if she went to a larger university.

before going, she took a French class. Gaines said that she really appreciated the experience.

Now, she has a job opportunity to travel to Morocco after graduation.

“Steve Campagna-Pinto encouraged me to apply for the Peace Corps and I did so now. I’m actually going to Morocco for two years after I graduate to work in youth development,” said Gaines.

Now that the semester is coming to an end, looking back, Gaines’ said that her biggest accomplishment is “just who I have become as a person through my college education.”

Gaines said that getting involved and finding what she wants to do early on was beneficial to her during college.

Gaines said that receiving this award makes her feel humble but also grateful that she was chosen among so many other amazing students. The next two years of her life will be full of learning opportunities when leaving the country to teach in Morocco.

“Don’t be afraid to be yourself and put yourself out there,” said Gaines

“I didn’t get into it [theatre] until I was older, but I always liked reading books and writing. When I discovered you can make that into a real-life thing being on a stage, I knew that’s what I would want to be doing for the rest of my life,” said Beltrán.

Theater Professor Mendy McMasters said Beltrán was one of the hardest-working students she’s ever had.

“Vanessa was my actor in our Spring 2022 production of Shakespeare Unmasked. She was my student in an audition for the theatre class, and I was her mentor for the Student Research Scholarship Creative Activity. During each of those projects, I have found her to be one of the most hardworking, and driven students I have ever had,” said McMasters.

Beltrán doesn’t consider herself an actor, but a playwright and arts manager. She is currently a student research scholar, which has given her the opportunity to write a full-length play that won her an award in the campus-wide competition. Beltrán will compete in the California State University state-wide competition, where she will present her play titled, “When I Was Your Age.”

“It’s a love letter to my community focused on breaking the generational trauma cycle in first-generation families. We’re all passing down some form of generational trauma, and this story, in particular, does deal with a first-generation family in a household where there is the children, parents and grandparents and how each group deals with issues like machismo, mental illness and substance abuse,” said Beltrán.

Beltrán feels extremely grateful for being chosen as the recipient of this award, and described the feeling as “surreal.”

Beltrán plans to continue her education by obtaining her master’s in playwriting, and her Ph.D. in theatre to be an educator at the collegiate level. Beltrán also hopes to become a playwright and continue to bring the anticonventional in a society that she explained is commercialized.