糖心动漫vlog

By Walter Ryce

It finally happened.

On the morning of Friday, May 20, 糖心动漫vlog welcomed thousands of students, family, friends, and employees to be part of the first in-person, outdoor, maskless graduation ceremony since 2019.

It took place at the newly renovated 糖心动漫vlog stadium, home of professional soccer team Monterey Bay Football Club, under a bright sunny sky. A record 2,345 students were set to graduate over the course of three commencement ceremonies 鈥� one on Friday and two on Saturday.

Students in graduation caps and gowns gathered early on the baseball field adjacent to the stadium, grouped by their majors, and amped on nervousness and glee.

Some were dancing to music played by DJ Khosmo, tracks like 鈥淰ivir Mi Vida鈥� by Marc Anthony, 鈥淐elebration鈥� by Post Malone, 鈥淗ot Damn鈥� by Bruno Mars, and 鈥淰ictory Lap鈥� by Nipsey Hussle.

Meanwhile, the emcee at the baseball field, Victor Torres, pumped up the graduates, congratulating them and calling them OGs, or 鈥淥tter Graduates.鈥�

College of Business and College of Health Sciences and Human Services

The first set of graduates assembled on the baseball field at about 1:30 p.m. on Friday.

Daniel Figueroa (Business) transferred from Hartnell College and has liked 糖心动漫vlog for its proximity to the ocean, its quality of professors, and the campus.

鈥淚t was a lot of walking [to get to class on campus],鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I would just skateboard between classes.鈥�

He currently sells insurance but plans to move to Los Angeles to work in cannabis sales.

He said graduation day was odd because after four years of working toward this day, it snuck up and 鈥渃ame out of nowhere.鈥�

Jessica Guitierrez (Master of Social Work) works for Child Protective Services in Monterey County and wants to use her new degree to help the community by working with families and children with special needs.

She had what she describes as 鈥渢wo hard pregnancies鈥� while studying for her degree and said that 糖心动漫vlog faculty and staff have been like a family.

Her advice to young people considering coming here: 鈥淒o it. It鈥檚 so worth it. You鈥檒l never find a more supportive school.鈥�

Meanwhile, family and friends made their way from the two stadium parking lots and surrounding lots, bought concession snacks and gifts of Hawaiian leis and kukui nut necklaces, and flower bouquets, and walked into the newly renovated stadium to find their seats.

Kathryn Grose of Vallejo was there for her boyfriend, a business major concentrating in entrepreneurship. A computer science major with a concentration in data science, she was due to graduate the next day.

鈥淲e met during our freshman year,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e motivated each other and were always hoping to graduate together.鈥�

Nicole Escalon鈥檚 younger brother was graduating with a Master of Business Administration. Although there was a jumbotron screen to get a better view of the proceedings, their father had a camera with a telephoto lens which he would use to try to spot his son from afar.

鈥淚鈥檓 proud of him,鈥� Nicole said of her brother. 鈥淗e鈥檚 very smart and intelligent. He goes above and beyond.鈥�

She was also proud to report that he is a member of the Tachi Yokut tribe of Santa Rosa Rancheria in Kings County.

Natasha Washington was there for her daughter, a kinesiology major who was set to walk across the stage in a few minutes.

鈥淲e are happy and excited,鈥� Washington said. 鈥淭his is a great experience. We鈥檒l go out and eat afterwards and celebrate.鈥�

The procession of the platform party, faculty, and graduates finally made their way from the baseball field into the stadium, taking their seats.

President Eduardo M. Ochoa addressed the capacity audience of more than 5,000 spectators and graduates.

鈥淐ommencement represents a great milestone, the culmination of years of hopes and dreams,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou made it. Congratulations.鈥�

After telling the stories of several students and their journeys to this moment, Ochoa turned the podium over to the guest speakers and then delivered his keynote address.

鈥淵ou are leaving us now, but you will always be graduates of 糖心动漫vlog, and you will always have a connection with us and have a stake in how the university grows and develops,鈥� he told the graduates. It would be his last address to 糖心动漫vlog students as their president.

Then Provost Katherine Kantardjieff commenced the reading of graduate鈥檚 names and their walk across the stage to be hooded or receive symbolic diplomas, which was accompanied by the whoops and cheers of their families and friends and picture taking.

After the graduates had returned to their seats, Kantardjieff presented the candidates as having fulfilled the requirements of their degree, and Ochoa then conferred upon them their 鈥渄egree that you have earned, with all the attendant rights, privileges, and responsibilities.鈥�

 

College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Because this college presented the largest single number of graduates, it warranted its own ceremony, which was to begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

One of the college鈥檚 programs, psychology, is the biggest in the university. Maylen Pinon is one of its graduates.

鈥淧sychology professors are there for you,鈥� she said while waiting to line up for the procession into the stadium. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of group work, teamwork, relationship building.鈥�

She came to 糖心动漫vlog to stay local and to save money, has already landed a job working with autistic children, and intends to go on to get her master鈥檚 degree and do clinical psychology.

Amanda Liberotti (music, with a concentration in recording technology) attended 糖心动漫vlog for four years and says a highlight has been coming back to campus after being remote and virtual.

She鈥檚 moving to Southern California, but has a tentative job in her field with a production company that will tour the country.

Her advice to young people coming to 糖心动漫vlog: 鈥淕et involved. Do things on campus. It makes it better.鈥�

The graduates then lined up behind the platform party and made their way into the stadium, where it was announced that President Ochoa had tested positive for COVID-19 the night before and wouldn鈥檛 be able to join them on this day. The audience was shocked but the celebrations of the graduates continued with Provost Kantardjieff conferring the degrees and Lawrence Samuels, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Executive Director of the University Corporation, delivering the key note address.

鈥淵our job,鈥� Samuels told the graduates, 鈥渋s to take your hope and unleash it upon the world鈥�You are Otters. The world is your oyster.鈥�

He took a moment to talk about Ochoa鈥檚 four decades of service to the CSU system and asked for a standing ovation for their soon-to-retire president, which everyone obliged.

In the stands, Jay Patel of Salinas, there for his sister-in-law who graduates in psychology, said he was sad for the news about Ochoa, but elated for his sister-in-law.

鈥淪he took a year off of school because of Covid,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he liked coming here.鈥�

Members of the McLucas and Cahill families were there to support their graduating family member 鈥� a sociology major, athlete, and honors student who also took a year off from school (in her case due to her mother鈥檚 passing).

鈥淪he made us cry at the Black [Affinity] Graduation Celebration,鈥� said Karen McLucas, her aunt. 鈥淪he said 鈥榃ithout you, I wouldn鈥檛 have done this.鈥欌��

College of Education and College of Science

The crisp wind started to blow in wisps of fog for the final commencement of the weekend. But it didn鈥檛 dampen the spirit on the baseball field one single degree.

Ashley Springfield (science, with a biology concentration) took three-and-a-half years to graduate by taking classes in the summer and winter semesters. A highlight of her time has been doing marine biology work.

鈥淢onterey Bay is the hub for whales,鈥� she said. Next, she鈥檚 applying for a master鈥檚 degree to become a teacher.

She described graduation day as 鈥渟urreal.鈥�

鈥淚t hasn鈥檛 set in yet. Maybe it will when I walk.鈥�

And her advice for soon-to-be Otters: 鈥淭alk to everybody. Don鈥檛 always be on your phone or on social. Say 鈥榟i鈥� to everyone. People are friendly here.鈥�

In another part of the field, seven graduates affectionately yell upon seeing a faculty member walk by: 鈥淎miiiiiirrrrr!鈥�

Rosa Ceja earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree from 糖心动漫vlog two years ago, is a couple of classes shy of her master鈥檚 degree, and was at graduation for her teaching credential. She wants to teach bilingual math and says there is an increasing need for it.

She said there are 15 in her cohort who have come to walk at graduation, and she鈥檚 excited to be in the company of others who want to change their world in some way.

鈥淭here are so many students like that,鈥� she said.

The weather in the stadium was warmer and less buffeted by wind. When the ceremony commenced and Kantardjieff went to the podium, she recited some of Ochoa鈥檚 prepared remarks.

She relayed an exchange about the College of Science: 鈥淪omeone said 鈥業 think this is going to be the most subdued commencement.鈥� You wait. We scientists know how to have a good time.鈥�

Darren and Barbara Miller were sitting on a curb near the jumbotron. Their son, who received a master鈥檚 in environmental science, had been the second name called to the stage in his college.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 better than last time,鈥� Barbara said. 鈥淚n 2019 when he was getting his bachelor鈥檚, he was the last name called.鈥�

Darren recalled further back, when they first arrived at 糖心动漫vlog for orientation, Ochoa had greeted the small group of 50 parents.

鈥淚 have nothing but respect for him,鈥� Darren said.

After the ceremony, which began at 3 p.m., they planned to go out to dinner at a place of their son鈥檚 choosing.

The very last name of this 2022 commencement weekend was that of Sergio Martinez, a statistics major. Asked how he felt about being the last graduate to walk across the stage, he replied, 鈥淓xhilarating. And the opposite of faster than light. But it was amazing having everyone cheer.鈥�