Cerritos College Virtually Celebrates the Largest Graduating Class

The 62nd annual commencement marked the fifth consecutive year Cerritos College celebrated its largest number of degrees and certificates with approximately 5,300 awarded.  From 2015 to 2020, the College has seen a two-fold increase in the number of graduates. The College hosted a virtual, asynchronous commencement ceremony on June 23-30, 2020. 

The College increased by 10 percent the number of Associate Degrees for Transfer (AD-T) from 2019. The AD-T degree guarantees transfer admission to the California State University system. Since the program’s inception in 2012, more than 4,500 students have earned AD-T degrees. The College currently has 30 AD-T degree programs. 

Tran PhamTran Pham received an associate degree in accounting during the virtual ceremony. She moved from Vietnam to the United States in 2017 and enrolled at Cerritos College. At first, she was afraid to speak up because of the language barrier. However, once she joined the Toast Master Club on campus, Tran became more confident in public speaking; and assumed leadership positions with the Accounting Club where she currently serves as the president. The accounting major is transferring to the University of California, Berkeley. Tran plans to pursue a career as an accountant.

Jesus AyalaJesus Ayala is a 32-year-old single father. He is a 11-year survivor of a violent crime that left him with paraplegia. For Jesus, there is no such thing as quitting or giving up. Shortly after the birth of his daughter, Jesus experienced many challenges as a single parent. Making a better life for his daughter motivated him to work hard to finish his goals. Jesus is the first person in his family to go to college. He earned two associate degrees – one in sociology and one in liberal arts – and is transferring to UCLA. Jesus plans to pursue a master’s degree to become a social worker. 

“Considering these unprecedented times, this year’s commencement ceremony is especially significant. The fact that our students were forced to transition to an online learning environment and leave campus within weeks – yet still completed their degrees – is extraordinary,” said Dr. Jose Fierro, Cerritos College President/Superintendent. “I applaud every single graduate for overcoming the odds and staying focused on finishing their educational goals. I am always amazed by the amount of grit and perseverance our students show in order to succeed.  A special thank you to our entire campus community, including faculty, staff, managers, and administrators for supporting our students through these hard times. We are also extremely proud to celebrate another historic year, having the largest number of degrees and certificates awarded in campus history.” 

“The Board is honored to congratulate the Class of 2020. It is gratifying to celebrate this year’s graduates as they transition to a four-year college or into the workforce. The Board will continue to make sure our students have the best possible resources they need to be successful. We are grateful to all of the dedicated instructors and staff who continue to help our students chart a pathway to a better life for themselves and their families,” said Marisa Perez, President, Board of Trustees.” 

This year’s graduates have been accepted to some of the nation’s top colleges and universities, including Yale, NYU, Boston University, the University of La Verne, Loyola Marymount University, USC, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Cal Poly Pomona, among other schools.