Dream big despite the odds, a retiring Allan Hancock College dean told the 2024 graduating class Friday morning before she encouraged them to “go forth and shine.”
Hundreds of black-gowned students and their supporters gathered on the athletics field at the Santa Maria campus for the 103rd commencement ceremony.
Representing Hancock’s faculty, retiring Dean of Academic Affairs Sofia Ramirez-Gelpi shared her own story as she delivered words of encouragement to the class of 2024.
“As you embark on the next chapter of your journey, I urge you to hold fast to your dreams, no matter how daunting the path may seem,” said Ramirez-Gelpi, who retires with 25 years of service. “Remember that it is not the size of your bank account or the circumstances of your birth that determine your destiny, but rather the depth of your conviction and the strength of your will.
“Go forth from this place, my friends, with courage in your hearts and fire in your soul. Chase your dreams with relentless passion and never allow anyone, anyone or anything to dim your light.”
More than 579 graduates participated in the ceremony with several being former military members and others the first in their families to earn college degrees.
Even before he completed Pioneer Valley High School, senior Uriel Pena earned an associate’s degree in political science from Hancock. Another student, Mario Gonzalez, began taking noncredit English classes and is now graduating with a degree in welding. In addition, Mary Santos returned to college after a 21-year gap while raising her children to earn two degrees.
One graduate attended Friday’s ceremony remotely because of being incarcerated in juvenile hall but earning two associate’s degrees, believed to be the first to do so. He plans to continue working toward earning a four-year degree via an online option with Arizona State University.
“Today’s event is a celebration of accomplishment, and the embodiment of what it means to be a community college graduate,” Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin Walthers said, adding that they paved the way for future students ready to make a positive impact on the community.
The 1,516 graduates, ranging from 18 to 82 years old, either earned a degree or will earn a degree pending the completion of their classes. Hancock’s graduates earned a total of 2,771 associate’s degrees and 2,600 certificates of achievement across 125 majors.
Additionally, 39% of Hancock’s class of 2024 received the Hancock Promise, a program that provides the first year of college tuition free for high school students in the Santa Maria, Lompoc, Santa Ynez and Cuyama valleys.
Once again, Hancock’s graduating class boasted the highest transfer rate to Cal Poly — nearly 67% — for the 23rd year in a row. A total of 225 Bulldog graduates were accepted to become Mustangs in the fall.
The graduation ceremony took place the morning after the AHC Foundation announced the 345 recipients of 496 scholarships totaling $582,290.
Calista Freeland received the prestigious Marian Hancock Scholarship, named in honor of the late wife of Capt. G. Allan Hancock. The $10,000 scholarship is awarded to one outstanding student each year who exemplifies service to the school and scholastic achievement.
Freeland is the 60th student to win the Marian Hancock Scholarship since 1967.
Also Thursday night, Samantha Martinez, outgoing Associated Student Body Government president, received the inaugural Daane Award for Integrity in Leadership.
The new award was presented in honor of longtime foundation board member and previous president Maggi Daane, who died in 2023.
Martinez reminded her fellow graduates to be proud of their accomplishments as they prepare to move on from Hancock.
“Let this milestone be one of many in our lives. I am so excited to see where we all go from here. You’ve got this. All of your hard work shows that your future is in good hands,” she said. “I believe in you, and Allan Hancock College believes in you.”