More than 430 graduates, plus three infants in their parents’ arms, crossed the commencement stage at sun-soaked Jaguar Stadium in front of an overflow crowd.
Not all who received degrees or certificates attended the ceremony, as the class of 2024 includes 3,049 graduates. However, their spirit and achievements inspired the graduation theme developed by the Associated Student Government, ‘Empowering students for a new horizon. Take action.’
“This theme serves as a reminder of the leadership role you all hold today and tomorrow. You are the leaders who will inspire change,” SJCC President Dr. Rowena Tomaneng said in her address. “You are the leaders who will inspire others to collaborate and work together to uplift our community and create a brighter future for all.”
Photo by David Schmitz
Dr. Josie Mendez-Negrete, author, publisher, and retired professor of Mexican American studies at the University of Texas, San Antonio, gave the commencement address. She was raised in East San Jose and graduated from San José City College. She received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from San José State University and a Ph.D. from UC Santa Cruz.
Dr. Mendez-Negrete, a true testament to the power of education, shared her personal journey from an undocumented student born in a small village in Zacatecas, Mexico, to the halls of academia. SJCC was a turning point in her life, not just because it is where she met her husband of 47 years but also because she discovered her potential and realized her future. Her story is a beacon of hope, showing us that no dream is too big and no obstacle too great.
Photo by David Schmitz
“Some years ahead, you are going to remember that you got a Ph.D. because San José City College paved the way for you,” she said. “This is such an amazing moment. As I see you in the audience, I feel hopeful. I feel that you are going to make a difference, and you are going to create the change we need.”
Valedictorian JuanCristobal Fregoso Jacinto.
“I encourage you all to take chances and dream big because while the journey may be unpredictable, this serves as a reminder to persevere and to learn from our mistakes and emerge stronger and more resilient than before.”
Class valedictorian Juan Carlos Fregoso Jacinto told his fellow graduates that he was inspired and amazed by their resilience amid all the challenges that community college students encounter. He also said that within mistakes and self-doubt, opportunities exist.
Photo by David Schmitz
“I encourage you all to take chances and dream big because while the journey may be unpredictable, this serves as a reminder to persevere and to learn from our mistakes and emerge stronger and more resilient than before,” he said.
Photos by D. Ross Cameron
The class of 2024 earned 1,761 degrees and 1,288 certificates. The top three in each category are:
Degrees
- Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences – 265
- Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning – 95
- Associate of Science for Transfer Business Administration – 75
Certificates
- CSU GE – Level 3 – 200
- Cosmetology – 56
- Esthetics – 53
The class of 2024 is also taking advantage of SJCC’s Student Pathway to Opportunity and Transfer (SPOT). In the fall, Jaguars will attend a variety of universities and colleges, including:
- Cal Poly Pomona
- Chico State University
- Cornell University
- CSU East Bay
- CSU Fullerton
- CSU Long Beach
- Fresno State University
- Sacramento State University
- San Diego State University
- San Francisco State University
- San José State University
- Santa Clara University
- Sonoma State University
- Stanford University
- UC Berkeley
- UC Davis
- UC Irvine
- UC Los Angeles
- UC Merced
- UC Riverside
- UC San Diego
- UC Santa Barbara
- UC Santa Cruz
Many graduates who earned certificates of achievement will go directly into the workforce with new skills acquired through SJCC’s comprehensive Career Education programs.
