Ascending Together: Celebrating New Heights in Education at the 2025-26 Convocation
Hundreds of faculty and staff members gathered at the Performing Arts Center to celebrate
the start of the 2025-26 academic year during the Convocation on August 28. The event
focused on our shared mission to uplift students and the community with the inspiring
theme “Climb Higher: Elevate Every Student, Every Community, Every Day.”President
Jose Fierro noted that after the first year, we are at 26 percent of our five-year
goal to graduate 50 percent of students. He compared our current progress to being
at base camp during a mountain climb.
Dr. Fierro highlighted the college’s achievements, including awarding 54,000 degrees and certificates and nearly quadrupling completion rates over the past decade. The campus also contributes more than half a billion dollars annually to the local economy. We are ranked #1 in LA County and in the top ten statewide by the College Futures Foundation. We are eager to work toward reaching a completion rate of 30 percent, which aligns with the state average.
The College Bound Buccaneers team, including Assistant Director of Admissions and Records Laura Estrada, Interim Director of Educational Partnerships and Programs Sasha Leonardo, Assistant Director of Financial Aid Jamie Quiroz, and Counselor Dr. Clara Ross-Jones, shared their work on launching the pilot program, which boosted Cerritos Complete enrollment at Bellflower High School. The team plans to expand and grow the award-winning program to more high schools.
Following that, Associate Professor of Sociology Joy Tsuhako and Biology Professor Anna Valcarcel discussed their work with the Native Plant Sanctuary. Located in the athletic complex, the sanctuary promotes the use of native plants to help prevent extinction and address climate issues, honors the native land, and encourages community involvement. The speakers invited the community to engage and incorporate the sanctuary into classes and personal wellness routines.
Throughout the event, attendees participated in quizzes and tested their knowledge of campus programs, history, and notable accomplishments. After the program, employees received a commemorative coil celebrating the campus’s 70th anniversary and symbolizing the mountain climbing theme, and enjoyed a sandwich lunch.
Here’s to reaching new heights together!
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