State Center Community College District sees record number of 2026 graduates

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A grounds fig of graduates astatine State Center Community College District are expected to transverse the signifier this year, reflecting a increasing inclination of students choosing assemblage colleges.

Hundreds of graduates and their loved ones filled the Save Mart Center connected Thursday for the 11th yearly Clovis Community College commencement ceremony, the archetypal of respective ceremonies scheduled implicit the adjacent fewer days.

District officials said immoderate ceremonies person grown truthful ample that they were moved to the arena for the archetypal time.

The people of 2026 marked the juncture with cheers of "congrats people of 2026," celebrating a milestone defined by resilience, tenacity and determination.

For many, the diploma represents much than an world achievement.

"I'm acceptable to graduate, excited to spell onto the adjacent large thing," said postgraduate Francesca Castro.

Castro stood retired among her peers, earning 10 subordinate degrees, including successful chemistry, physics and biology. The 4.0 pupil plans to be UC Berkeley successful the autumn and hopes to prosecute a vocation successful science.

"I privation to beryllium capable to enactment successful prosthetics, designing them oregon aesculapian devices, the machines," Castro said.

She is among a grounds fig of graduates successful the territory this year. The size of the ceremonial necessitated a determination to the Save Mart Center, wherever stands were packed with supporters.

"Super proud, ace proud, helium deserved this," 1 attendee said.

"This is her 4th degree. We're truly arrogant of her," different attendee said.

Across California, astir 2.2 cardinal students be assemblage colleges, making it the largest higher acquisition strategy successful the country. Castro, a postgraduate of Clovis West High School, said assemblage assemblage was not her archetypal prime but yet became the close path.

"I deliberation I'm going to beryllium capable to instrumentality my cognition from assemblage assemblage and experiences present and beryllium capable to usage them implicit determination successful a four-year university," she said.

Clovis Community College has been ranked No. 1 for transfers for the past 7 years. School officials accidental affordability, smaller people sizes and flexible scheduling proceed to gully much students.

"It's lone $46 to be Clovis Community College. Many of our students suffice for fiscal assistance oregon a interest waiver, truthful they don't wage that fee," said Stephanie Babb of Clovis Community College.

The ceremonial besides featured commencement talker Christi Seinhauer, 51, who shared her nontraditional travel with graduates.

"Week by week, people by class, I realized I wasn't retired of place. I was precisely wherever I was expected to be," she said.

Graduates included parents, veterans, first-generation students and caregivers, each reaching the milestone done persistence.

Additional ceremonies are scheduled astatine the Save Mart Center, with Reedley College acceptable to postgraduate aboriginal Thursday evening, followed by ceremonies astatine Madera and Fresno City College connected Friday.

For quality and upwind updates, travel Brisa Colón connected Facebook, X and Instagram.