The May 18 graduation ceremony at Stockton Arena is the main event, but an array of other commencement-related events began last week on campus.
Students in Phoenix Project, Puente, Veterans and La Raza areas have celebrated events on campus recently.
It was the first time the Phoenix Project hosted this celebration.
“A lot of students put in a lot of work so it’s important to highlight the work of our students. It is the first time doing a celebration for them, it is really to get together and celebrate and those who are part of the Phoenix Project are welcome too,” said Henry Romero, Student Programs Specialist for the Phoenix Project.
They also handed out orange cords for the graduates. The color orange is a presentation of the colors of the program.
Romero says he hopes people get more aware of the program offered for incarcerated people in Delta like the Phoenix Project.
The La Raza Graduation was hosted by the La Raza Employees Association (LREA) & the Chicanx/Latinx Faculty Task Force of Delta, Monday, May 8 at Atherton Auditorium.
LREA are faculty, staff, members, managers on campus that aim to maintain: the LREA student scholarships fund, extend college resources, and advocate to improve communications among staff, students and community.
This event served as a celebration for those who are graduating this May and identify as Latino, Chicano or Hispanic.
The total number of Hispanic, Latino graduates for Delta College invited to the event for May 8 were approximately 1,183. About 800 people showed up for the event.
This year’s event took a different route for LREA when it paired up with the Chicano/Latinx Faculty Task Force (CLF). CLF donated money for the event to take place.
“CLF we are blessed they donated so much money this year so we did not have the opportunity to do a fundraiser. The medallions budgets a cost of almost $4,000 and in the past we gave out sarapes,” said Tina Leal, Delta’s Resource Specialist for Dreamer Success Center.
Leal, Resource Specialist for the Dreamer Success Center, helps undocumented students to find direction? in the state senate bills and for Delta to inform students of the services the Dreamer Success Center and community provides.
“It has been rewarding helping the undocumented students find faith in the state senate bills and San Joaquin Delta College to talk to the students and inform them of the services we have in the Dreamer Success Center and community allies is beautiful,” said Leal.
Leal also thinks it is a beautiful and powerful feeling to see students go up on stage and thank a family member or loved one for their accomplishments.
“It can be many student’s parents for the first time attending a ceremony or college; and being first-gen in earning a degree and being a witness of all that is what makes it memorable. Is always beautiful because they feel the stage. It’s really powerful what they do is beautiful. We don’t get paid for it, we volunteer because we got love for our race and culture,” said Leal.
Other upcoming events are:
Torch of Excellence Ceremony, 5:30 p.m. May 10, Tillie Lewis Theatre
CalWORKs & EOPS Student Recognition Celebration, 6 p.m. May 11, Danner Hall
Career/Technical Education Graduation, 6pm May 12, Atherton Auditorium
Black Graduation, 6 p.m. May 16, Dolores Huerta Plaza
AANHPI Graduation, 10 a.m. May 13, Tillie Lewis Theatre
ADN Spring Pinning Ceremony, 6 p.m. May 17, Atherton Auditorium
CNA Certificate Ceremony, 2 p.m. May 25, Tillie Lewis Theatre
