Published on Morgan Hill Life’s website on May 24, 2016
By staff report
Gavilan Community College will present 1,130 degrees and certificates to graduating students at the annual commencement ceremony to be held Friday, May 27, 6 p.m. in the Bud and Jean Ottmar Memorial Gymnasium at the Gilroy campus.
“As per tradition, the afternoon starts with a procession of graduates walking from the Arts Quad , along Sycamore Lane, over the bridge, and into the gymnasium, where they are greeted by family and faculty,” said Jan Bernstein Chargin, Gavilan’s director of public information.
The ceremony will begin with the national anthem performed by Gavilan College music faculty Dahweed Behroozi and Sam Sotelo, followed by welcoming remarks from Priscilla Ahmed on behalf of the Associated Students of Gavilan College. The main address will be delivered by college president Steven M. Kinsella, who will be presiding over his final graduation ceremony before retiring.
Instructor Jane Rekedal will present Faculty Scholarships, and instructor Jennifer Nari will induct the new lifetime members of the Honor Society. Board of Trustees President Laura Perry will confer an honorary degree to community member Larry Barr. Dr. Kathleen Rose, executive vice president, will present the Outstanding Scholar Award.
The names of all graduates will be read aloud by Faculty of the Year Enrique Luna and part-time Faculty of the Year Leticia Palacios, as the graduates cross the stage to receive their diplomas. The ceremony ends with the traditional move of the tassle on each graduate’s mortarboard from right to left, and closing remarks by Kinsella.
WHEN and WHERE: Friday, May 27, 6 p.m. in the Bud and Jean Ottmar Memorial Gymnasium. Admission is by invitation only — each graduate received a limited number of tickets due to the large size of the graduating class, however the ceremony will be live-streamed. Go to www.gavilan.edu/commencement for more information.
Graduation by the numbers:
- 1130 degrees and certificates will be presented
- 256 Associate in Arts (AA) degrees
- 75 Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T)
- 140 Associate in Science (AS) degrees
- 89 Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T)
- 570 Certificates
