May 29, 2009
The Honorable Andrea Seastrand, executive director of the California Space
Authority (CSA) and former U.S. Congresswoman, gave the keynote address Friday
at Allan Hancock College’s 88th annual commencement exercise, addressing
the nearly 300 participating graduates and 2,000 members of the audience who
came to take part in the festive event on the Santa Maria campus Commons.
Drawing on her experience in both the California State Assembly (1990-1994)
and the U.S. Congress (1995-1996), Seastrand’s extensive knowledge of both
federal and state legislative processes was of great benefit as she began
helping to create the California Space and Technology Alliance (CSTA), the
forerunner of the CSA, which is a statewide non-profit corporation.
After welcoming remarks from Allan Hancock College Superintendent/
President
José M. Ortiz, Ed.D., who spoke on behalf of the college and its board of
trustees, faculty and staff, Seastrand spoke of the hopes she has for the
graduating class of 2009:
“Graduates, I stand before you today, hoping to inspire you on your new
life’s journey by asking that you keep in mind the three roads on which you may
choose to travel.
“The first is the path most obvious by your birth, your family situation,
your geographical location. The second is the road which opens as you identify
your skills, interests and the careers that are in apparent alignment with them.
The third is the highway to your dreams, discovered when you match your talents
to your passions.”
She concluded her remarks with the same theme: “So choose the first, the
second or the third road on which to travel. Do so consciously and with
commitment, contributing your voice, your vote, your hands and your heart to
your community, your state and your country. Bask in the glory of your
tremendous and most laudable achievement today; you have deserved it. Then suit
up, buckle up, and launch yourselves on a trajectory with many more stellar
achievements and successes!” (Above, at left, AHC Superintendent/President Jose M. Ortiz, Ed.D., congratulates soon-to-be graduates as they proceed to the ceremony. Below, from left, graduates Ramon Agosto, Berenisse Becerra, Amber Shaw, Paola Cisneros, Nancy Djembe-Walu Majiba and Cheri Donati enjoy the ceremony.)
The graduates at commencement were among 801 students who earned 1,075
associate in arts or science degrees during the 2008-09 academic year. These
degrees—787 associate in arts degrees, and 288 associate in science degrees—were
earned in 64 different subject areas.
Of the 801 graduates, 145 graduated with honors for maintaining a GPA of 3.5
or above. Ten of those students maintained a GPA of 4.0 and graduated with high
honors, and among them is Evan Lowman of Arroyo Grande. Lowman was selected to
carry the Allan Hancock College banner to lead the graduates’ processional by
virtue of having earned the most degrees with a perfect 4.0 GPA. His five AA
degrees are in physics, mathematics with a physics emphasis, chemistry, liberal
arts and transfer studies. He plans to major in physics at UC Berkeley this
fall.
Another graduate at Friday’s commencement ceremony was Lucerito Salgado, who
was awarded the prestigious Marian Hancock Scholarship at Thursday night’s
awards banquet. Salgado has many goals, among them attending Fresno State
University to major in mass communication and journalism and minor in political
science, and then obtain her Ph.D. She said she wants to use her education for
many purposes: to be the voice of underrepresented people, to create a
foundation to help cancer victims, to fight injustice and to give back to her
community.
More than 200 students earned more than one degree, but only one, Johny Diaz
Mejia of Santa Maria, earned six: AA degrees in chemistry, physics, engineering,
mathematics with a physics emphasis, liberal arts, and transfer studies. Diaz
Mejia struggled at first with his English, but he overcame the problem and will
now be attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, this fall to study industrial
engineering.
As always, this year’s graduating class represented a wide range of ages,
with an average age of 28. The youngest graduate was 18-year-old Nathan Vaughan
of Nipomo, who earned an AA degree in liberal arts, and the most senior, Thomas
Hohe of Orcutt, who is a proud “71-1/2 years young.” Vaughan plans to attend
Columbia College in San Luis Obispo next January to obtain a bachelor’s degree
in business administration. Hohe, who earned an AA degree in viticulture, which
adds to his medical degree, maintains a small vineyard on his Orcutt property,
from which he makes wine. He plans to continue learning and experimenting with
his grape growing and winemaking.
Graduation was a family affair for many Allan Hancock College graduates,
including youngest graduate, Nathan Vaughan, whose mother, Helen Vaughan,
graduated with him. Other family members graduating together included sisters
Nora Alvarez and Alejandra Maldonado, Betsy and Julianna Graton, Lucia and
Lylyvett Herrera and Karla and Diana Ponce; twin sisters Ana and Anayeli Torres;
and brothers and sisters Adelaido and Yoshira Jimenez and William and Katherine
Powell.
Associated Student Body President Jeff Hamsher spoke on behalf of the
graduating class and Gary Bierly, academic senate president, presented the
graduates.
To see lists of graduates, click the links below.
- AHC -
Graduate lists are available by area:
Santa Maria Valley & Cuyama Valley
Lompoc Valley
Santa Ynez Valley
San Luis Obispo
County
Out-of-District and Out-of-State