By Jennifer K. Morita

November 07, 2024

California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas is the recipient of a Distinguished Service Award from the Sacramento State Alumni Association.

Rivas, who graduated from Sac State in 2003 with a degree in Government, was first elected to the State Assembly in 2018 and represents the Pajaro and Salinas valleys of the Central Coast.

“Speaker Rivas’s journey from humble beginnings … exemplifies the values of perseverance, dedication, and excellence that Sacramento State instills in its graduates,” Sac State Chief of External Relations Michelle Willard wrote in a letter endorsing his nomination for the award.

“His unwavering commitment to advancing equity in the workforce, particularly on behalf of farmworkers, sets him apart as a beacon of progress and inclusivity in our state.”

Rivas and five other honorees will be recognized at a Distinguished Alumni Awards reception and dinner on Nov. 7.

Rivas grew up in Paicines with his single mother and his grandparents. His grandfather was a farmworker at Almaden Vineyards, and he was raised in farmworker housing.

He spent his early childhood in a two-room unit with seven family members. In his June 2023 Inauguration Ceremony remarks, Rivas said the unit “glistened with spray from the pesticides used on the fields.”

His grandfather helped organize farmworkers alongside Cesar Chavez and Delores Huerta and won a first-ever labor contract.

“In some ways our lives were difficult,” Rivas said. “But I was raised in the spirit of service elevated by a strong community, a community where people took care of each other. … Love, community and service – those are the three forces that have helped me understand that our lives are only worthwhile when we bring others up as we rise.”

After graduating from Sac State, Rivas earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from San Jose State. 

“Speaker Rivas’s journey from humble beginnings … exemplifies the values of perseverance, dedication, and excellence that Sacramento State instills in its graduates.” -- Sac State Chief of External Relations Michelle Willard

In the same post-election speech, Rivas credited his California public school education for his later success.

Since taking office, Rivas has advocated for the improvement of affordable housing in California, increasing workplace health and safety protections, and he led efforts to accelerate the construction of renewable energy.

For more information about the Distinguished Alumni Awards, visit the Alumni Association web page.