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-Editorial
More than 22,000 students from the 10 community colleges in the San Diego and Imperial Counties Community Colleges Association (SDICCCA) are graduating this spring, marking a significant milestone for higher education in the region.
Commencement ceremonies are taking place across both counties through June 7, celebrating students who have completed associate degrees, workforce certificates, dual enrollment programs, and continuing education pathways.
According to SDICCCA, the community college system contributes approximately $10 billion annually to the regional economy—an impact likened to hosting 28 Super Bowls. Collectively, the colleges support over 100,000 jobs across the two-county region.
“Education is the great equalizer and nowhere is that more evident than at our community colleges,” said Dr. Lennor M. Johnson, Superintendent/President of Imperial Valley College and Chair of SDICCCA. “These graduates are proof that access to affordable, high-quality education can change lives, families, and entire communities.”
The region’s community colleges offer a range of opportunities for students, including transfer pathways to four-year universities, career and technical training, dual enrollment for high school students, and lifelong learning programs tailored to workforce needs.
Graduates from the Class of 2025 have overcome significant personal and economic challenges to reach this milestone. At MiraCosta College, Myshell Thomas persevered through housing insecurity and substance abuse, keeping a 4.0 GPA while remaining active on campus. She will transfer to Arizona State University to study social work. At Grossmont College, 44-year-old single mother Remy Berman defied expectations and is set to continue her education at San Diego State University with plans to pursue a law degree in the future.
Workforce development programs also played a key role in student success. Sixteen students from San Diego’s Lincoln High School completed an HVAC certification program through the San Diego College of Continuing Education, preparing them to take the EPA exam and begin careers in the skilled trades. At Miramar College, seven incarcerated individuals at the Naval Consolidated Brig earned Certificates of Achievement in Entrepreneurship through the Rising Scholars program, highlighting the role of education in rehabilitation and opportunity.
Other graduates represent unique academic journeys. A student dually enrolled at Southwestern College and Olympian High School will graduate from both institutions and attend Yale University in the fall. At Imperial Valley College, Oscar Andrew Silva, a transborder student who crosses the border daily for school, delivered a commencement speech at a bi-national ceremony in Mexicali, highlighting the determination of students who navigate international boundaries to pursue their education. Palomar College valedictorian Lea Bronson, who began her studies during the pandemic with limited English skills, graduates with honors and has already made an impact through her hospice care project, Last Wish Transports.
Commencement ceremonies for the San Diego and Imperial Counties Community Colleges Association (SDICCCA) are taking place throughout May and early June, with each college hosting events to honor its graduates. The schedule begins with San Diego Miramar College on Friday, May 16, followed by San Diego City College on Thursday, May 22. MiraCosta College and Palomar College will both hold ceremonies on Friday, May 23. San Diego Mesa College and Southwestern College will celebrate on Friday, May 30, with the latter holding two ceremonies that day. Grossmont College’s event is set for Wednesday, June 4, while Cuyamaca College will hold its commencement on Thursday, June 5. San Diego College of Continuing Education will host its ceremony on Friday, June 6, and Imperial Valley College will conclude the schedule with two ceremonies on Saturday, June 7.
These ceremonies are more than the culmination of academic work—they underscore the critical role community colleges play in fostering opportunity, mobility, and workforce readiness. As students prepare to enter new chapters in their lives, the events highlight the colleges’ commitment to accessible, high-quality education that supports individuals and strengthens communities across the region.