MSJC Celebrates Record-Breaking Class with Drive-Through and Virtual Graduation Ceremony
5/28/2021
Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) on Thursday celebrated its largest graduating class in its nearly 60-year history with a drive-through graduation and a virtual graduation ceremony for the Class of 2021.
MSJC awarded a record-breaking 3,848 degrees and certificates to 2,173 graduates. That’s 215 more graduates than last year, when the previous record was set. The graduates will earn a total of 3,283 associate degrees and 565 career certificates, as some students earn more than one degree, certificate, or a combination.
The drive-through graduation celebration on Thursday, May 27, at the Menifee Valley Campus provided graduates an opportunity to be recognized for their hard work while remaining safe and adhering to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. Graduates brought their families, wore their regalia (and a mask), walked across the stage, heard their names read, and had photos taken. A pre-recorded virtual ceremony also launched on YouTube for all graduates, including those who wished to stay at home.
"Our theme this year is 'Today’s Resiliency is Tomorrow’s Hope,' " MSJC Superintendent/President Dr. Roger Schultz told the graduates during the virtual ceremony. "Your actions and your achievements during these extraordinary times certainly give us all hope for tomorrow and show us that you can achieve anything."
The 2021 virtual ceremony featured speeches from Dr. Schultz; Vice President of Instruction Dr. Jeremy Brown; and student speaker Jennifer R. Vargas, a nursing and science major from Lake Elsinore; and videos of the MSJC Board of Trustees; Student Government Association President Brian Moreno-Alvarez, a Perris resident and quadruple major (sociology; kinesiology; liberal arts-mathematics and science; and liberal arts-social and behavioral science); Alliah J. Anid, a Wildomar resident and music major who will sing the National Anthem; Aaron Gonzalez, a Hemet resident and science major who will give the Land Acknowledgement; Mia Rose Leon, a Murrieta resident and triple major (science; social & behavioral sciences; and liberal arts-mathematics and science) leading the Turning of the Tassel; and Student Trustee Castin Chamberlain, a Murrieta resident and social justice major.
Vargas said her grandmother told her she's still going at age 97 because she wanted to see her graduate.
"She's the one that inspired me to be a nurse and to pursue an education in taking care of the elderly because it's so needed right now," Vargas said ahead of graduation.
MSJC held a virtual graduation ceremony last year for the Class of 2020 as a result of the pandemic. This year, MSJC held a drive-through graduation celebration on Wednesday, May 26, at the Menifee Valley Campus for the Class of 2020 graduates.
Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) Graduate James Parker of Hemet celebrates his academic achievement during the college's Drive-Through Graduation Celebration for the Class of 2021 at the Menifee Valley Campus on May 27. He earned an associate degree in mathematics at MSJC in 2021.
Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) Graduate Tatyana Jones-Cabral celebrates her academic achievement during the college's Drive-Through Graduation Celebration for the Class of 2020 at the Menifee Valley Campus on May 26. She earned three associate degrees at MSJC in 2020: Liberal Arts -- Arts, Humanities and Communications; Liberal Arts -- Mathematics and Science; and Science.
Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) Graduate Anthony Smart of San Jacinto celebrates his academic achievement during the college's Drive-Through Graduation Celebration for the Class of 2020 at the Menifee Valley Campus on May 26. Smart earned an associate degree in English in 2020 and now attends UC Irvine, where he's studying to become a teacher.
Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) on Thursday, May 27, celebrated the largest graduating class in its nearly 60-year history with a drive-through graduation and a virtual graduation ceremony for the Class of 2021. The theme was "Today's Resiliency is Tomorrow's Hope." On May 26, the college district also celebrated the Class of 2020 with a drive-through celebration and a virtual ceremony. These four nursing students also celebrated during a Nurse Pinning Ceremony on May 26.
Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) Graduate Leah Allen of Perris celebrates her academic achievement during the college's Drive-Through Graduation Celebration for the Class of 2021 at the Menifee Valley Campus on May 27. She earned an associate degree in psychology at MSJC in 2021.