Publish Date: May 27, 2015
Over 400 to Participate in Commencement Ceremony at Rabobank Stadium
SALINAS, Calif. – Thursday, May 28, 2015, the Hartnell Community College District will hold its Commencement Ceremony at Rabobank Stadium located on Maryal Drive in Salinas, California. The program will start at 6:30 p.m. and admission tickets are required for all guests. MEDIA check-in will be at entrance of the stadium through Maryal Drive.
This year, we are issuing 746 Associate Degrees to students who completed their coursework summer 2014, fall 2014, or spring 2015 and 544 Certificates to recipients who completed their coursework during the same periods. (List of Graduates attached)
“Student success is our mission and commencement is the demonstration of delivering on that mission. The students at Hartnell College have what we refer to as grit, a fierce determination to succeed and to create a better quality of life for themselves and their families,” expressed Superintendent/President, Dr. Willard Lewallen. “We have the honor of supporting them in pursuing their goals and their dreams and we get to celebrate their accomplishments each year at the Commencement Ceremony.”
The celebration of student achievement will commence with music by the Hartnell College Orchestra, color guard, the national anthem, and a welcome by Dr. Lewallen. The President of the Board of Trustees, Elia Gonzalez-Castro will offer her congratulations to the Class of 2015, and Academic Senate President, Carol Kimbrough will provide the Academic Senate President’s Address.
The keynote speaker will be 2015 Distinguished Alumna, Dr. Norma Ambriz-Galaviz, president at Merritt College in Oakland, California. She is a first generation college student born in Watsonville. Her story of overcoming obstacles and achieving multiple degrees and her diverse experience in college management will inspire the crowd.
In this graduating class, we have 54 majors; the most popular is Administration of Justice with 139 graduates. There are 398 receiving CSU GE Certificates, and 81 graduates in Psychology. Other interesting facts about Hartnell’s Class of 2015 include:
- There are three sets of siblings that will be graduating from our RN Program
- There are four first cousins that are graduating from the RN, LVN, and RCP programs
- There are 473 students that are earning both an Associate Degree and a Certificate of Achievement
- 298 students are graduating with Honors (3.25+ or higher GPA)
- This is our first graduating class for the Respiratory Care Practitioners Program. Nine students will be graduating
- 54 majors (most popular: Administration of Justice, 139 graduates; CSU GE Certificates, 398 graduates; Psychology, 81 graduates)
- 213 students are graduating with an AA-T/AS-T Degree
- 2 graduates celebrating birthdays on graduation day
- 20 graduates named Maria
- 9 graduates named Juan
- We have two international students graduating. One is from China and the other is from Japan
Hartnell Community College District
The Hartnell CCD serves over 15,000 students annually through its main campus in Salinas, the Alisal Campus in East Salinas, the King City Education Center, and various outreach learning centers throughout the Salinas Valley. Hartnell College, a Hispanic Serving Institution, provides workforce training, basic skills courses, and prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Hartnell College is recognized for its innovative public and private partnerships that support world class STEM education, career technical education, fine and performing arts, humanities, and athletics. We are growing leaders through opportunity, engagement, and achievement. For more about Hartnell CCD, visit www.hartnell.edu.
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