Honors Alumna Meredith Hamlett Reflects on Path to Teaching

Publish Date: Oct. 30, 2025

When Crafton Hills College alumna-Meredith Hamlett-was in high school, she never imagined that she would graduate with a master’s degree, a teaching credential, and a classroom of her own.   

“When I think about where I am now, I know I would not have made it here without Crafton Hills College,” Hamlett said. “Crafton carried me through the beginning of my educational journey and gave me the foundation to keep moving forward.” 

Hamlett enrolled at Crafton Hills College directly after high school, uncertain which career path she wanted to pursue. Over the next three years, she explored various academic interests before deciding to major in associate degree programs: sociology, anthropology, and history. She graduated with honors and transferred to California State University, San Bernardino, to complete a bachelor’s degree in history. 
Hamlett credits Crafton’s Honors Program for building her confidence and academic discipline. “The Honors Program in particular shaped me into someone who could set goals, stay disciplined, and believe I was capable of more,” she said. “The extra rigor of the coursework pushed me to write, research, and present at a higher level, which gave me the confidence to take on everything that came after.” 

The program also helped her build lasting professional relationships. “Those relationships opened doors for letters of recommendation, references for teaching programs, and a network I knew I could return to for guidance,” Hamlett added. 

After earning her bachelor’s degree, Hamlett was accepted into UC Riverside’s combined teaching credential and master’s in education program. A significant factor in her decision was the Native American Opportunity Plan, which provides free tuition for Native American students across UC campuses. “It was truly life-changing to walk out of my master’s program with no student debt,” she said. 

Today, Hamlett teaches history at Moreno Valley High School, where she encourages her students to consider community college as a strong and affordable starting point. She exclaimed, “Crafton, and especially the Honors Program, challenged me, supported me, and showed me that I was capable of more than I ever thought,” she said. 

Learn more about the College Honors Institute.