Congratulations to the Class of 2009!

Today at Cox Stadium, more than 8,000 grads donned purple caps and gowns as they said goodbye to San Francisco State and hello to the real world.

Actor Jeffrey Tambor, a 1965 drama grad and six-time Emmy nominee, quipped, “I think there are a lot of teachers in heaven rolling their eyes right now about me being the alumnus of the year.”

Tambor’s advice for the Class of 2009: “Love yourself. Keep your voice authentic. Don’t settle. Love your partner in life, your kids and your fellow man. And remember as George Bluth said, ‘There’s always money in the banana stand. ‘”

Check out the University Web site for full coverage of Commencement 2009.

Click here to listen to Tambor’s address.

Need some poetic inspiration?

Read Pulitzer Prize-winning alumnus Philip Schultz’s poem in the current issue of  The New Yorker.

From Jefferson Airplane to Anvil…

Alumnus Frank Zamacona helped produce the PBS Pledge Special “Fillmore: The Last Days,” a rock documentary that captures the final week of the Fillmore West in 1971 and includes appearances by the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jefferson Airplane, It’s a Beautiful Day, Hot Tuna, The Elvin Bishop Group, Cold Blood and the legendary Bill Graham. The special will begin running on PBS stations later this month. In the San Francisco Bay Area, look for it on KQED, Channel 9 on June 1 at 10:30 pm and June 3 on KTEH channel 54 at 10:30 pm. Zamacona makes an appearance in studio along with Elvin Bishop and fellow alumnus Ben Fong Torres.

In other SF State music connections, director Sacha Gervasi recalls in this interview how the idea for “Anvil! The Story of Anvil” began to come together at alumnus Steve Zaillian’s house.

Happy Mother’s Day

Enjoy this tribute to mothers who go the distance for their children courtesy of alumna Kelly Corrigan, author of the bestselling memoir, “The Middle Place.”