Edward James Olmos visited Cal State LA on Friday, Oct. 10 to receive the Prism Award as part of “We Are LA: Community Weekend.” The event included a screening of The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez and a Q&A led by Dean Stephen Trzaskoma from the College of Arts & Letters.
During the talk, Olmos reflected on his time as a student at Cal State LA back in the late 1960s, sharing that a semester’s tuition was just $60. He expressed deep admiration for the faculty and staff who supported him throughout his education and helped guide his steps as an artist.
Olmos spoke about the value of learning from older generations, saying that while the wisdom of the elderly is powerful, it’s the hope and creativity of the youth that bring everything together. He encouraged students to keep working hard, stay determined, and always hold on to their values, no matter how tough the path in their future careers may get.
