The independent student news site of San Marcos, California

The Cougar Chronicle

The independent student news site of San Marcos, California

The Cougar Chronicle

The independent student news site of San Marcos, California

The Cougar Chronicle

The Cougar Chronicle’s well wishes to graduate and editor Anne Hall

woman+in+blue+shirt
woman in blue shirt
CSUSM Grad, Anne Hall celebrates a degree and her journey with the Cougar Chronicle. Photo by Faith Orcino

By Sarah Hughes

News Editor

It’s graduation season again. Many enjoy the cycle of beginnings and endings that school brings.
While we are excited to celebrate members of the Cougar Chronicle staff moving on, we will miss them. Here we take a moment to honor their accomplishments and consider where they are going.

Anne Hall

Graduating with a Bachelors of arts in Visual Performing Arts, Arts and Technology and a Minor in Film Studies, Anne Hall has been editing as the layout editor and photographer for the 2013-2014 school year. Anne has been writing since September 2012.

Anne has worked as a photography intern for the Communications Department on campus, as well as for the Cougar Chronicle.

She has achieved numerous awards in her college career such as being on the Deans List at CSUSM and the President’s List at Mira Costa. Last semester she received the Cougar Chronicle Award for being a hard and helpful worker. This award was for the countless hours and dedication involved in her contributions to layout and photography, many of which involve stressful deadlines, meshing last minute organization and artistic prowess. She has a Chronicle Staff Writer of the Year Award coming this semester.

Anne transferred from Mira Costa College in Fall 2012. A veteran, before going back to school full-time, Anne served for five and a half years in the United States Coast Guard (USCG), as a Marine Science Technician. She has obtained other degrees before.

“I obtained a Digital Photography Certification from Mira Costa, an Associates Degree in Studio Art, and an Associates Degree is General Studies in the Arts while waiting to be accepted into CSU San Marcos” said Anne.

In the future, Anne plans to enter into competition for her photography work, now that the demands of coursework are over. Her work can be viewed at: https://www.behance.net/syreniaimagery

“I have been working for the college in internships for the last year and have been operating my own photography business, Syrenia Imagery, for the past 3 years.” said Anne, “My business objective has been “slow and steady,” but now that I’m graduating I need to take what I’ve put together thus far and start running. After graduation I have to start editing photography work I did for myself and start getting it out there in the world.  I’m hoping to find a job that emphasizes in photography work, graphic design as well as work as a photojournalist.  My dream job as a photographer/writer has always been to work for National Geographic . . .  Anything is possible at this point.  The field has changed dramatically with the technological age and so far I’ve met all of the transitions.  I’ve proven to everyone I’ve encountered that I can do anything I’m presented with . . . despite the challenges.”

Anne has had a strong pillar of support behind her in her husband Bill, whom she will have been with for 20 years next year.

“I have to and do thank my husband for the many hours of sacrifice he has made to make our lives possible with him being the sole income for our family and for always being unbelievably supportive in my pursuits.” said Anne, “He’s my photography assistant, even though he has never had any interest in photography, he has boundless patience for helping me through photography sessions or going so far as to finding or making supplies and sets for me.  And he’s always been in the background helping to make life happen while I’ve worked long nights trying to operate my business and keep up with school for the past two years.”

Anne’s favorite teachers include Marcos Martinez, M.B.A, a Professor of Theatre in the Visual and Performing Arts Program, Dr. Fredi Avalos, lecturer of communication and Dr. Merryl Goldberg, a Professor of Visual and Performing Arts at California State University San Marcos and Executive Director of Center ARTES.

Anne names Martinez and Avalos, “for the clear passion, drive, sincerity and creativity in trying to open minds, motivate learning, teach students that learning goes beyond having to read books and memorize and regurgitate information that other people already know.  Honestly, both lectures and methods of teaching felt very similar to me.”

She thanks Goldberg “for being so open to allowing anyone and everyone to find their means for expressing themselves and their knowledge and ability to learn.  She makes it feel so easy to be allowed to be oneself and use that to contribute to the world.”

“I also have to very much thank the professors at CSUSM and at Mira Costa.” says Anne of the educators in her college experience. “I have encountered some extraordinarily amazing people and have been extremely blessed to have met the professors and Doctors that I have had the honor of learning from.

Favoring a class outside of her major, Anne’s class to enthusiastically mention is Chem 316: Chocolate: A Chemical Investigation. It appears to be a hard choice to name one for a lover of education.

“There were so many classes that I wanted to take that I didn’t get to,” Anne states,  “Completing my degree seemed to happen to soon.  I felt like I wasn’t done learning and developing my skills.  There are still aspects of my career goals I have yet to even touch.”
Anne, may you ever continue to learn fantastic new insights, this time as a CSUSM graduate!

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