Hancock Honors Noncredit Students at 2026 Recognition Ceremony
MAY 4, 2026--Allan Hancock College celebrated the achievements of its noncredit students at its annual Noncredit Recognition Ceremony May 1 at the college’s Santa Maria campus.
The celebration, held in Boyd Concert Hall, highlighted the perseverance and accomplishments
of students who completed noncredit certificate programs, including family childcare
license preparation, commercial truck driving and income tax preparation. The ceremony
also recognized students who completed English Language Development (ELDN) courses,
earned their GED Equivalency Certificate or achieved U.S. citizenship through the
college’s noncredit offerings. More than 426 certificates were completed in noncredit
programs at Hancock during the 2025–2026 academic year.
“Noncredit programs are essential to ensuring that education remains accessible to
everyone in our community,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers,
Ph.D. “These students are a powerful example of what can be achieved when opportunity
meets determination.”
During the event, Walthers welcomed attendees in Spanish, highlighting the inclusive
spirit of the ceremony. The fully bilingual program reflected the college’s commitment
to accessibility and service to its diverse community, as more than 400 guests attended
the event across the concert hall and overflow viewing areas.
The ceremony featured remarks from faculty speaker Lilia Wambolt, who recognized the
dedication of students balancing multiple responsibilities while continuing their
education.
“Many of our students balance work, family, and personal challenges, yet they continue
to move forward,”
Wambolt said. “That determination is not only admirable but also inspiring.”
Student speaker Fabiola Oregel Martinez shared her personal journey of learning English
and returning to school, encouraging her peers to persevere.
“Like many of you, I came to this country without speaking English,” Oregel Martinez
said. “We all move at different speeds, but the most important thing is to keep going
and reach our goals.”
The ceremony also included a keynote address by Jaime Cuello, a poet and author and
teacher at Kermit McKenzie Intermediate School in Guadalupe, as well as the presentation
of certificates to students across a variety of noncredit program areas.
The event was organized by Hancock’s Community Education, Noncredit Counseling, and
Admissions & Records departments.
AHC Community Education offers tuition-free noncredit courses that help community
members gain skills, prepare for employment and transition to credit programs or the
workforce. Program areas include adult basic education, citizenship, GED preparation,
English language development and career development.
For more information about Allan Hancock College Community Education, visit www.hancockcollege.edu/communityed or call 1-805-347-7553.
