On Friday, Moorpark College celebrated the graduation of around 2,000 students who earned one or more associate degrees. The ceremony was held in Griffin Stadium, which was filled almost completely with supporting family members and friends of the graduates.
Moorpark College President, Dr. Julius Sokenu, led the ceremony and reminisced on what he believed made the class of 2023 distinguished.
“This class is incredibly diverse in their experiences and in their demographics; and this is like every class, where we always see students who just bubble out and who just shine,” Sokenu said. “This is a class that started during COVID so a lot of these students took their classes online, and then they transitioned to on-ground. And that resilience, I think, is what distinguishes this class.”
Among the class of 2023, over 100 students graduated from the Honors Program, over 50 graduated as inductees of the National Honor Society of Leadership & Success, over 170 graduated as inductees of Phi Theta Kappa and around 15 graduated as inductees of Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society.
The graduating class of 2023 ranged from students who had graduated from high school just days before to members of the Armed Services continuing their education. United States Marine Corps veteran Ronnie Juarez was among those continuing their education post military service. Juarez majored in game design.
“When I came back from military service, I lived in Thousand Oaks with my siblings,” Juarez said. “So trying to go back to college, Moorpark was easily accessible.”
Sokenu mentioned that many students of this year’s graduating cohort were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the affected groups from the lockdowns were student athletes who were unable to play during the initial shutdowns. The time away from the courts and fields didn’t stop Moorpark College athletes as out of the college’s 16 sports teams, 12 made it to the postseason this year, according to Athletic Director Matt Crater.
“I think they set a really good standard of what Moorpark athletics is, has been and will continue to be,” Crater said.
Natalie Romero, a graduating student athlete who will be transferring to Bushnell University, played both soccer and softball for Moorpark College.
“I’d say my favorite memory at Moorpark, besides having a really good connection and team bonding with my soccer girls, would be that I won conference with the softball team,” Romero said.
Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees Chair, Bernardo Perez, presented diplomas to graduating students as they came across the stage. Perez also provided a statement from the VCCCD to the Class of 2023.
“We wish you the very best wherever your next pursuits lead you, whether you are entering the workforce or transferring to a college or University,” Perez stated. “Your time with us has prepared you for whatever comes next, and we are proud and delighted to have been a part of your journey.”
Graduating students from Moorpark College, Ventura College and Oxnard College received either an associate’s degree or certificate of achievement on Friday, May 19. While some students will dive straight into the workforce, others will transfer to a four-year institution to continue pursuing higher-level education.
Regardless of whether they select these pathways or follow another, Moorpark College’s class of 2023 is moving forward from their community college experience and gearing up for whatever comes next.
