Kent Wong and Gaspar Rivera-Salgado congratulate graduate Gregory Allan Cendana.

With the support and input of students in the minor, the Labor and Workplace Studies graduation luncheon took place on June 14, 2008, attended by sixty-five students, staff, faculty, and friends and family of the graduates. UCLA Labor Center Director Kent Wong gave the welcome address, followed by the student-chosen faculty speaker, Labor Center Project Director Janna Shadduck-Hernández.

Graduating senior Gregory Allan Cendana spoke on the theme “Celebrating Labor and Community Activism and Academic Excellence.” Cendana reflected on how the labor and workplace studies minor has allowed students to dig deeper into the labor movement, to explore the injustices that surround working-class people in Los Angeles, and to apply this knowledge after graduation.

Cristina Lopez, project coordinator for the Labor Center, recognized the students who took part in producing the book Underground Undergrads, which portrays the experience of undocumented students at the university. The luncheon culminated with the commemoration of graduates by Labor Center Project Director Gaspar Rivera-Salgado and Kent Wong. Graduates received a certificate of completion and a special gift in recognition of their achievements.

2008 Labor and Workplace Studies graduates.