Sharon Nakayama

Off the Court

Long Beach St alumni, as Sharon Nakayama tells it on the shows. Each story was checked against its source.

• Erin GruwellFreedom Writers teacher

  Erin Gruwell earned her teaching credentials at Long Beach State and started at Wilson High in nineteen ninety four. All one hundred fifty of her Freedom Writers graduated. Hilary Swank played her in the movie, but the real work happened here.

  Source
• Linda WoolvertonDisney screenwriter

  Linda Woolverton was born in Long Beach and finished her theater degree at the Beach in seventy three. She became the first woman with a sole writing credit on a film that grossed a billion dollars. Hometown girl, worldwide audience.

  Source
• Steven Spielbergfilmmaker

  Steven Spielberg enrolled here, dropped out to make movies, and came back in two thousand two to finish his bachelor's degree. Three decades between semesters. At the Beach, we hold your seat.

  Source
• Palmer LuckeyOculus founder, Anduril co-founder

  Palmer Luckey majored in journalism here, dropped out, and co-founded a military technology company built on autonomous drones. Forbes puts him at six billion dollars. The journalism degree, I gather, remains unfinished.

  Source
• Chris Cartercreator of The X-Files

  Chris Carter, creator and producer of the X-Files, is a Long Beach State alum. The truth is out there, and apparently it started on our campus.

  Source