95th commencement at SMC boasts second-largest graduating class ever
Santa Monica College (SMC) is calling for celebration, recording the second-largest graduating class in the college’s history this year.
On Tuesday, SMC Superintendent and President Dr. Kathryn Jeffery conferred 13,394 degrees and certificates for 7,248 students, with graduates ranging from 16 to 97 years old.
The 95th annual commencement ceremony transpired on Corsair Field, welcoming thousands of attendees and proud speeches from Jeffery, Board of Trustees Vice-Chair Dr. Sion Roy, and Academic Senate President and math professor Jamar London. In addition to filling the stadium, others tuned in to a livestreaming of the ceremony, paid for by Associated Students.
“Many of you have figuratively, and literally, gone through the fire to be with us, reaching this point in your journey, whether at another university or in a new career field,” Jeffery said, addressing a sea of graduates decked in blue gowns and multicolored regalia signalling different programs.
“Please know that, at SMC, we have full confidence that you can and will be successful as you move forward,” Jeffery said.
The ceremony honored students earning their degrees and certificates this spring, as well as a large group from summer 2024, fall 2024, winter 2025, and some students from spring 2024 who did not participate in last year’s ceremony.
Nineteen students graduated with Bachelor’s of Science degrees in Interactive Design (IxD) this year, marking a three-degree increase since 2024. SMC has awarded 159 IxD degrees since 2017, including this year’s class.
The IxD is the only baccalaureate degree offered by SMC. Per California’s Master Plan for Higher Education, published in 1960 and periodically updated, the purpose of community college is primarily to offer associate’s degrees and certificates.
This year, SMC conferred 7,068 associate degrees, enveloping 1,637 associate degrees for transfer (ADTs). SMC also awarded a wide swath of certificates, including 5,211 certificates of achievement, 449 noncredit certificates of completion, and 647 certificates of competency.
The college offers career, non-credit, and other nontraditional pathways to certification, such as English as a Second Language (ESL) credit courses.
The sole 97-year-old in this year’s graduating class received a Noncredit Certificate of Competency in Advanced English as a Second Language. Two 16-year-olds are also graduating, earning a total of four associate’s degrees among them.
The average age of all graduates this year, however, is 28.
Associate degree programs at the college with the most recipients this year include liberal arts, general science, economics, psychology, business administration, political science, art, sociology, mathematics, communication studies, studio arts, art history, history, and registered nursing.
According to SMC, the graduating class is 59.1% female and 38% male; 2.9% are nonbinary or did not report their gender. Five percent of the class graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
The college, continuing to boast one of the largest international student populations of the country’s two-year schools, saw 632 international students graduate this year. Jeffery said SMC is currently educating students from a total of 140 different countries.
Thirty-seven students with undocumented statuses graduated, compared to 27 in 2024. In addition, 676 students with disabilities and five foster youths were a part of the class.
Latino students represent 37% of the class; other demographics include white students at 26.4% and Asian students at 10.5%. Black students compose 6.7% of the class, 4.5% are multiracial, and 14.2% did not report their ethnicity or associate with any of the above categories.
In the weeks leading up to commencement, SMC published profiles on several high-achieving graduating students, including Corsair Editor-in-Chief Adriana Brady.
One of the profiled graduates, Victoria Salazar, gave a speech at the commencement about attending SMC in 2017, departing, and returning after many years.
Salazar is transferring to University of California, San Diego, to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology. Her ultimate ambition is to become a criminal investigative analyst for the Los Angeles Police Department.
Salazar also spoke on utilizing the strength of motherhood and raising her daughter to succeed as a student.
“She gave me a reason to rise, she gave me a reason to grow and try again,” she said.
“When we walk across this stage, you're not just getting a degree. We're proving that no obstacle, no detour could stop us from becoming who we're meant to be.”
As graduating students crossed the stage, math professor Brian Rodas; Sara Nieves-Lucas, chair of the counseling department; communication professor Maria Munoz; and Jose Hernandez, Associate Dean of Outreach, Onboarding and Engagement, read their names.
Before announcing names of graduates, Nieves-Lucas said she wanted to send “tons of love” to members of the crowd affected by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Los Angeles.
“To our communities that were recently affected by the raids, we hear you, we see you,” Nieves-Lucas said.
After an hour and a half of graduates walking the stage, Jeffery officially conferred all of their degrees in one motion, including bachelor’s degrees, associate’s degrees, certificates of achievement, certificates of competency, and completion certificates.
“Thank you so much for choosing Santa Monica College,” Jeffery said to close the ceremony.
General counseling and transfer services will be closed on Thursday, June 19 for Juneteenth, as well as July 4 for Independence Day. Counseling will also operate remotely only on Friday, June 20, with an online drop-in callback queue open for assistance.
Summer classes begin next week on June 23.