CASA: Reuniting to Celebrate 45 Years of Community

On June 11th 2016, original CASA alumni and friends reunited in Wurster to share memories of those early days and celebrate the community they formed which continues to raise public awareness and provide outreach and support to Latino CED students.

Those gathered included Fred Atilano (B.Arch ’73), Rudy Carrasquilla (M.Arch ’78), Jorge Castillo, Anne Cervantes (M.Arch ’80), Robert Daughters (MCP ’74), Maritza Delgadillo (M.Arch ’78), Dan Esparza, Ernestine “Sunny” Esparza, Roy Hernandez (M.Arch ’78), Charles Higueras (M.Arch ’81), Oswaldo Lopez (M.Arch ’78), Carlos G. Mendoza (B.Arch ’73), Ross Ojeda (M.Arch ’73), Michael Ordonia (M.Arch ’77), Antonio Pizano (M.Arch ’75), Gloria Ramos (M.Arch ’73) — the first Latina to graduate from UC Berkeley with a degree in architecture, Cesario Rodriguez, Thomas B. Sanchez (M.Arch ’79), Victoria Vargas, Carlos Villagran (B.Arch ’73), David Zamora (B.Arch ’73), and Chris Ynzunza.

CASA alumni have no shortage of stories about their CED experiences, from studio all-nighters listening to Santana to taking their own bold initiative, absent administrative approval, to paint a mural on the fifth floor of Wurster Hall. (The mural was eventually painted over, but is now being honored with a new version funded through CED.) Many told of being the first in their families to attend college, and how fellow CASA members helped them not only get through classes but advance their educations — 100% of CASA members who graduated in 1973 were admitted to graduate school. Antonio Pizano passionately remarked that his success at CED “would not have been possible without each of my friends at CASA.”

While community is intrinsic to CASA and to CED — Oswaldo Lopez noted that even in his early days at CED, understanding the role of design as it relates to society and community set CED apart in its approach to teaching — expanding diversity at CED was an ongoing challenge, and remains a vital mission of the college. As students in the early 1970s, with the encouragement of CED faculty including Professors James Prestini and Joseph Esherick, Roy Hernandez and Lopez submitted a proposal to fund a recruitment program for students of color. The new Community Design Outreach Program formalized the organization’s outreach program.

Decades later in 2011, Roy, Oswaldo, and others formed the CASA Alumni Association to better assist students with mentoring, preparing applications to graduate school, and providing scholarships and professional guidance.

The CASA Scholarship Fund, which supports low-income students of color at CED, symbolizes the continuity of the support community that was born over 40 years ago. Through a partnership with Latinos in Architecture — a part of AIA — CASA is now able to access 501(c)(3) status, with the hope that this will encourage increased contribution.

“Nobody comes to this school and graduates without the help of somebody else,” said Roy Hernandez addressing fellow alumni. Reinforcing the mission of CASA alumni, “We’re here to help and to give back.”

CASA scholarships and prizes are named in honor of former CED professor Martin Del Campo, Antonia Escobar, and the late Bob Esparza (affectionately known as El Oso Mayor), one of the original founders of CASA and a guiding force in the organization’s early days. A special tribute to Esparza was an emotional highlight of the June event.

Currently CASA includes about 115 members comprising alumni, students, and friends. While the organization was originally formed by and for CED students with a shared Mexican heritage, it has come to embrace the wider Latino community. Cesario Rodriguez pointed out that “as Chicanos, we are born into two or three cultures — our heritage is diversity.”

Read more about the history of CASA, its mission and alumni reminiscence.