A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION Vol. 144, Issue 14
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Graduation speaker follows in her mother’s footsteps By Abraham Elizalde Managing Editor
W
hile dealing with cultural changes, crossing continents and suffering through the death of her mom, Early Childhood Education and Social and Behavioral
Sciences major Essbell Eliana Pereira Almanza found her footing by attending Pierce College. Now, her path has led to the stage where on June 9 she will serve as the student speaker at the Pierce College Commencement. The 4.0 scholar has served as the president of the Child
Development Club and is a member of Alpha Gamma Sigma (AGS), where she has received the state-wide Virginia Coffey Scholarship for highest academic honors. Almanza grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she spent most of her time with her father. Almanza’s mother was also in the childhood
development business, where she had a preschool. She died when Almanza was 2. Due to her father remarrying and the economy not being helpful to the family, Almanza went to Bolivia, where she attended school and came to realize a cultural shock. “All of a sudden, the professors were hitting
children,” Almanza said. “Nobody explained what was going on, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, and that was, of course, a difficult experience for me.”
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Abraham Elizalde / Roundup News Early Childhood Education and Social and Behavioral Sciences major Essbell Eliana Pereira Almanza poses infront of the Child Development Academic Building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 29, 2026. Almanza will be the commencement speaker on June 9, 2026.
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Social and Behavioral Science Nick Crabtree / Roundup News Conference
Mom and son graduate together
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Jake Gregory / Roundup News
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Javier Ramirez / Roundup News