By Jennifer K. Morita

May 12, 2025

Danae Bolton’s family is brimming with graduates this spring.

Growing up as the oldest child in a Black, low-income, single-parent household, Bolton was the first in the family to go to college – but not the last.

Bolton’s mom, a preschool teacher, will earn her associate’s degree in early childhood education from Sacramento City College later this month.

The kid brother they encouraged to pursue higher education and guided through choosing a college, graduates from high school in June.

And on May 17, Bolton will graduate from Sacramento State with a bachelor’s degree in Women’s and Gender Studies as the 2024-25 Dean’s Award recipient for the College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies.

“I don’t know how I ended up winning. It’s really crazy, but I’m proud of what I accomplished." -- Danae Bolton, College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies Dean's Award recipient

Deans’ Awards are given at Spring Commencement to the top graduating student in each of Sac State’s seven academic colleges.

“I still can’t believe I won,” said Bolton, who uses they/them pronouns. “I had so much adversity, but I still made it through, and I’m just really proud of myself.”

Their path to higher education wasn’t easy. The Sacramento native enrolled at San Francisco State University immediately after graduating from high school, but soon realized they couldn’t afford tuition with the Bay Area’s high cost of living.

They moved back home and enrolled at Sacramento City College, taking a student job in the admissions office. After finishing an associate’s degree, Bolton transferred to Sac State.

“It was a really big jump for me,” they said. “The classes were a lot more intense, and I was working two jobs.”

By then, Bolton was living alone and working a lot of hours to pay for school and rent. Eventually, the additional course load that came with attending a four-year university, coupled with the higher tuition, forced them to take a semester off.

“I struggled. I was working 40 hours a week, and I was really stressed,” Bolton said. “But I was really trying to pursue getting my bachelor’s degree, so I went down to working part-time instead.”

“It was a big transition, but I was like, ‘This is my bachelor’s degree. It’s worth it.’ ”

Bolton juggled their studies with jobs at the Disability Access Center, University Enterprises, Inc. and the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies. They were also a College Corps Fellow, tutoring K-12 students from underrepresented communities in math and English.

They made the Dean’s Honors List and won first place at the Georgia State University CIBER International Business Case competition in February.

“I don’t know how I ended up winning. It’s really crazy, but I’m proud of what I accomplished,” they said.

Bolton also served as a peer mentor, guiding other students through their educational journeys, much the way Bolton advised their own brother.

After graduation, Bolton will work with autistic children as an instructional aide at a K-12 school. They plan to pursue a master’s degree and doctorate in education, and hope to be a college professor.

“I want to ensure that students from underrepresented backgrounds receive the support they need to succeed in their academic paths,” Bolton said. “My goal is to create inclusive spaces within academia where students feel seen, valued and empowered to succeed.”

Read the inspiring stories of the other Deans' Awards recipients.