Cabrillo College honored its 59th graduating class of 1,196 students during a formal commencement ceremony to confer degrees and certificates. Cabrillo’s 2018 Graduation Ceremony took place Friday, May 25, 2018 at the Carl Conelly Stadium, Cabrillo College.
This year Cabrillo awarded 724 A.A. degrees, 492 A.S. degrees, 117 certificates of achievement, and 187 skills certificates. The Cabrillo College Class of 2018 is comprised of graduates ranging in age from 18 to 73 years with an average age of 27. Of the total graduates, 63% are females and 37% are males. As a Federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution, 45% of Cabrillo’s graduating class is Latinx.
The Cabrillo College Class of 2018 contains 50 students who are graduating with a 4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA), 141 students who will graduate with high honors (3.75-3.99 GPA), 236 who will graduate with honors (3.5-3.74 GPA) and 493 who will graduate with honorable mentions (3.0-3.49 GPA).
A record-breaking 91 students graduated and/or transferred as part of the Honors Transfer Program, having completed all of the courses required to transfer, including at least 15 units of honors coursework, while also maintaining a 3.5 or higher GPA. Of those 91 Honors Transfer students, 31 of them graduated with high honors (3.75-3.99 GPA).
Of Cabrillo’s Honor Transfer Students, 18 students were certified for the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program, which gives priority admission into the UCLA College of Letters and Sciences for Fall, 2018. This year, Cabrillo students enjoyed an 80% admission rate into the UCLA College of Letters and Sciences.
Several students also received Regents Scholarships through the UC system, including Christian Barajas, who will receive a full scholarship to UC Berkeley in Anthropology. Flannery Fitch received a full scholarship to pursue her major in History at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
This year, 282 students graduated with an Associate’s Degree for Transfer (AA-T/AS-T), a special degree offered for the first time five years ago by California Community Colleges. Students who earned an AA-T or AS-T Degree and meet the California State University (CSU) minimum eligibility requirements are guaranteed admission to a CSU.
Following the processional and the National Anthem sung by the Cabrillo Chorale, Cabrillo College Vice President of Student Services Sue Gochis welcomed participants and guests. This year, there was a student presentation by graduates who were part of Cabrillo’s winning Ethics Bowl Team, Ella Carroll, Liv Johansson, and Connor Degraff.
Cabrillo College President and Superintendent Dr. Matthew Wetstein and Cabrillo Faculty Senate President Dr. Robin McFarland gave their congratulatory remarks to the Cabrillo College Class of 2018. Representing the Associated Students of Cabrillo College (ASCC), students Nikolas Osorio and Ella Tyler recognized Cabrillo’s Transfer Students, and Vice President of Instruction Dr. Kathleen Welch presented the class of 2018.
Dr. Ekua Omosupe, English Instructor, Dr. Francisco Iñiguez Becerra, Spanish Instructor, Matthew Halter, Biology Instructor, and Nancy Stucker, Spanish Instructor, read the graduates’ names.
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Cabrillo College is a leading California community college serving Santa Cruz County with locations in Aptos, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. Founded in 1959, the college offers over 100 academic and career technical education programs.