Family and friends of 1,049 graduating students gathered in Santa Barbara City College’s La Playa Stadium on Friday to celebrate the college’s first in-person commencement ceremony since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The graduates gathered on the lawn of the stadium, adorned in regalia — from pink glittery caps to layered stoles and cords. Parents, partners, children and peers of the graduates made a passionate showing for the Class of 2022, some even popping canisters of confetti upon hearing their graduate’s name. Not one row of stadium bleachers remained empty during the ceremony.
SBCC, which moved to remote classes in March 2020 and returned to in-person instruction last August, celebrated graduates who had earned a majority, if not all, of their degree through the back-and-forth of remote learning. Many students started out with an uncertain future ahead, but nonetheless continued in pursuit of their degree.
The college adapted the ceremony to the demands of COVID-19 while remaining flexible in light of decreasing public health requirements. Masks were optional among attendees and graduates, but programs were accessible online through a QR code.
SBCC’s brass ensemble opened with “Pomp and Circumstance” as the graduating class followed in procession. After the grand marshal salute and the national anthem, Interim Superintendent/President Kindred Murillo delivered her welcoming address, opening with proud remarks on the demographics of the class.
The graduates proved that people can attain education at any stage and from any background, she said. Though the average graduate was about 26 years old, the oldest graduating student was 88 and the youngest was 16. A majority of the graduates were women, representing 64% of the class.
SBCC’s reputation as the No. 1 community college in the country precedes itself through its diverse constituency, Murillo said. Though most students come from California, members of the graduating class represent 21 states and 16 countries. One international student was among the select students to earn a 4.0 grade point average.
Murrillo acknowledged the circumstances that befell the graduating class, but commended them for their endurance. She assured the class that their graduation was already a manifestation of their aspirations.
“You wouldn’t be here today if you weren’t already (following) those dreams,” she said. “You’re also here because you dared to dream, and dared to achieve it.”
Lisandra Barrera-Rising, the commencement speaker, talked about her experience getting back into school 15 years after she graduated from high school.
Barrera-Rising came to SBCC in 2019, and shared that she hadn’t even owned a laptop before starting school. As such, the rapid changes brought on by the pandemic presented challenges for her, which she says she got through with the guidance of counselors, professors and peers willing to help.
As a wife and a mother, Barrera-Rising said returning to school came with another layer of logistical challenges. She initially felt uncomfortable going back to school, but was later encouraged by seeing peers from similar backgrounds persevere and succeed.
“Returning to school doesn’t have an age limit,” Barrera-Rising said in her speech. “It doesn’t have a certain demographic. Go back to school if you’ve already started. Don’t be afraid to keep expanding your knowledge.”
Many graduates received multiple credentials at the ceremony, and two students received four degrees at once during the ceremony. Degrees varied from communication, computer engineering, fashion merchandising, behavioral social sciences, medicine and more. SBCC had 585 students graduate with honors, indicated by gold tassels worn upon their caps.
The ceremony concluded with a closing address from Murrillo and another performance by the brass ensemble.
As the sun set on the proud graduates, many looked toward continuing their education, furthering their trade goals, or simply walked away knowing they had learned something new.
SBCC posted a livestream of the ceremony that can be viewed online here.
— Lauren Luna is a Noozhawk contributing writer. Contact her at news@noozhawk.com.
