Cabrillo College honored a graduating class of 1,213 students during a formal commencement ceremony on June 7 at Carl Connelly Stadium to confer degrees and certificates. The Cabrillo College Class of 2013 is the college’s largest graduating class in six years.
This year Cabrillo awarded 873 A.A. degrees, 427 A.S. degrees, 115 certificates of achievement, and 233 skills certificates. The Cabrillo College Class of 2013 is comprised of graduates ranging in age from 17 to 86 years with an average age of 29. Sixty-one percent are females and 39% are males.
The Cabrillo College Class of 2013 contains 68 members that graduated with a perfect grade point average (GPA) of 4.0. This year 235 students graduated with high honors (3.75-3.99 GPA), 323 graduated with honors (3.5-3.74 GPA) and 691 graduated with honorable mentions (3.0-3.49 GPA).
Fifty-four students graduated 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. These students have been accepted and plan to transfer in to four-year universities including UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz and the University of Southern California, among others.
New this year, 25 students graduated with an Associates Degree for Transfer (AA-T/AS-T) Transfer Degree, a special, new degree offered by California Community Colleges. Students who earn 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, Cabrillo College Vice President of Student Services Dennis Bailey-Fougnier welcomed participants and guests. Cabrillo College Interim President John Hendrickson and Cabrillo Faculty Senate President Michael Mangin gave their congratulatory remarks to the Cabrillo College Class of 2013.
Vice President of Instruction Dr. Kathleen Welch presented the class of 2013, and highlighted inspiring stories of graduates in the 2013 class who have overcome adversity in achieving their degrees.
Cabrillo College Governing Board Member Rachael Spencer participated in the conferring of degrees. Dr. Victoria Banales, English Instructor and Sesario Escoto, Dean of Student Services, read the graduates’ names.
A reception for graduates and guests was held in the pavilion on the stadium field, immediately following the ceremony.