Class of 2009 Outstanding Graduates - Arts and Letters
Below are several of San Diego State University's outstanding graduates from the class of 2009, which includes nearly 10,000 degree candidates:
College of Arts and Letters
Amelia Diedrich
Amelia Diedrich, 21, B.A., English, minor in rhetoric, writing studies
Amelia Diedrich started the SDSU chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, the largest legal fraternity in the country. She has served as president since the chapter was chartered in January 2008.
Diedrich was also chosen as the Outstanding Graduate in the Department of English in the College of Arts and Letters. She will be attending University of California Hastings College of the Law in the fall, after which she hopes to join a District Attorney's or United States Attorney's office. (Hometown: Sierra Madre, Calif.)
Nathaniel Donnelly
Nathaniel Donnelly, B.A., international security and conflict resolution
After spending eight years in the Marines, serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and completing a Marine Corps Security Training program, Donnelly enrolled at San Diego State to continue his education. When his military benefits ran out and he needed to find a job in order to stay in school, Donnelly went to the SDSU Veteran's Center.
Now, as the center's assistant veterans coordinator, he helps other military students get the benefits they need and deserve, advocates for veteran's rights and works toward making veterans and active-duty military an integral part of the SDSU community. Donnelly founded the Student Veteran Organization in fall 2006 and co-founded the Student Veterans of America. He received the 2008 Student Veteran of the Year Award and was crowned Homecoming King for 2008–2009.
After graduation Donnelly plans to apply for graduate school in business or international policy or work as an ambassador for the Department of State. (Hometown: San Diego, Calif.)
Daniel Perez
Daniel Perez, 24, B.A., linguistics
Unable to continue his education in his native country of Spain, Daniel Perez — the 2009 Outstanding Graduate in linguistics — found himself in the United States to pursue a college degree. His time spent in San Diego has allowed him to better understand his native culture and himself.
Although it was hard living in "two worlds" for the past four years, Perez said the benefits have more than made up for it. After graduation he plans to return to Spain to start the next chapter of his life. (Hometown: Benavente, Spain)
Other class of 2009 outstanding graduates by college:
- College of Arts and Letters
- College of Business Administration
- College of Education
- College of Engineering
- College of Health and Human Services
- College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (Ceremony 1)
- College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (Ceremony 2)
- College of Sciences
- Special programs and double majors
