A California State University, Dominguez Hills graduate student who once battled homelessness and addiction celebrated a major milestone this weekend with family, friends and supporters at his Long Beach home after earning his master’s degree.
J.D. Elson, who was recently honored with the 2025 CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, shared his story with KTLA after walking across the stage at CSUDH.
Elson, who previously struggled with alcoholism, drug addiction and homelessness, said he never imagined he would one day become an award-winning scholar…