SMC's 94th Annual Commencement and Spring 2024 Graduating Class
Santa Monica College held its 94th Commencement Ceremony on the Corsair field on June 11th.
Karuna Namala | Culture Editor
The Corsair field at Santa Monica College (SMC) was filled with a sea of blue caps and gowns as students accepted their certificates and diplomas. On Tuesday, June 11, SMC held its 94th annual commencement, the second ceremony since the COVID-19 lockdown.
Hundreds of students and their families spilled onto the bleachers and field, many watching from the parking garage.
Dr. Kathryn Jeffery, SMC’s superintendent and president, introduced the faculty and two students sitting on stage alongside her. The students were student trustee Esmeralda Hernandez and the student speaker Patrisisa Diaz Maldonado.
“Graduates, your presence here today is evidence of excellence, persistence, and tremendous potential,” said Jeffery. “This is your day, this is your moment, and I want you to revel in it. Because you don't go backward, you go forwards.”
Following Jeffery, Jamar London, Academic Senate president, delivered the faculty challenge. “Use whatever influence you have to bring folks together rather than tear one another apart,” said London.
Before the certificates were handed out, Maldonado challenged the students. “Getting to this point is one of the hardest things we’ve done,” she told her fellow graduates.
A profile of Maldonado was featured in the front of the graduation program along with five other students. The stories can be found on the SMC website under Graduation Stories.
The following students were selected: Maldonado, Victor Chambers, Cebelihle Hlatshwayo, Andrea Giraldo Morales, Joe Caxton Odawa, and Michaela Sheppard Williams.
Hlatshwayo and Chambers have both held the position of editor-in-chief at the Corsair; Chambers was editor-in-chief during the fall of 2023, and Hlatshwayo in the spring of 2024.
“This is your day, this is your moment, and I want you to revel in it. Because you don’t go backward, you go forwards”
Giraldo Morales was the International Student Forum President and will be serving as Director of Activities for Associated Students.
This year's graduating class was composed of 6,309 students, with a total of 9,725 degrees. Of the degrees received, 16 were Bachelor of Science in Interaction Design, 6,657 Associate’s (1,245 of which were Associate Degrees for Transfer), 2,674 Certificates of Achievement, 197 non-credit certificates, and 208 certificates of competency. A more detailed breakdown of this year's graduating class can be found in SMC's Commencement Program.
The diplomas will be mailed to each student who is receiving a degree or certificate of completion, regardless of whether or not they participated in the graduation ceremony.
While Jefferey watched the sea of graduates moving their tassels together, she proudly exclaimed, "Ladies and gentlemen, the class of 2024," which received a resounding cheer and roaring applause from all in attendance. The graduates' final roar of happiness mirrored the fighting spirit that ushered them into this celebratory day, and that will usher them into their awaiting future.