COMMENCEMENT EDITION
City Times sdcitytimes.com
Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945
Volume 77, Issue 2
May 25, 2023
FIRST CLASS San Diego City College celebrates AAPI students in historic graduation ceremony B Y J OEL N EVAREZ , Multimedia Journalist
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tudents along with their loved ones and member s of the San Diego City College community gather ed for the campus? fir st Asian Amer ican Pacific I slander gr aduation celebr ation at the A building patio on May 15. The histor ic occasion br ought together AAPI students and faculty fr om differ ent backgr ounds to celebr ate student achievement and success with a focus on r epr esentation. The r ecognition kicked off with the awar ding of scholar ships to students for both academic achievement and community involvement.
Above: Savat hna Em r eceives a gr aduat ion cor d dur ing t he AAPI celebr at ion. May 15, 2023. Below: Mat ilda Chavez, left , hands Sammit t a Em, r ight , a cer t ificat e dur ing t he same event . Phot os by Joel Nevar ez
?I t?s just something that was r e?I r epr esent,? Ondevilla said. ?And ally special for me,? said Sam- I 'm ver y pr oud.? mitta Em, who r eceived a scholThe celebr ation was one of many ar ship and is tr ansfer r ing to UC events happening at City College for San Diego to pur sue a degr ee in AAPI Her itage Month, which was celinter disciplinar y computing and ebr ated for the fir st time at City. the ar ts. ?I t took 100-plus year s since school For Em, gr aduating star ted,? said Masahir o at an AAPI - themed ?We want to Omae, dean of Behavior al ceremony made her and Social Sciences and a feel at home and offer a different City alum. ?We want to hopeful for mor e a differ ent oppor tuopportunity for offer events like it in the nity for students to celefutur e. br ate who they ar e.? students to Thr oughout the cerI t meant a lot for Omae to emony, students wer e celebrate who see AAPI students get pr esented with their r ecognized and he wants gr aduation cor ds and en- they are.? those students to know cour aged to speak on the - Masahiro Omae, dean of that they ar e seen. podium to attendees. Behavioral and Social After the cer emony was ?I ?m still pinching myover all attendees wer e Sciences City alum self now,? said Nilo Shaw invited to the cafeter ia Ondevilla, a fine ar ts major who is for the r eception. leaving for Yale and has been attendThe cafeteria was filled with loved ing City since 1990. ?I t?s a big deal. ones of graduates enjoying AAPI cuiEducation is the key in solving sine, including calamansi while compr oblems.? ing together to dance to music in celOndevilla has cher ished his time at ebration of the student?s achievement. City and will continue to advocate for ?I t's gr eat to see, people (of) differhow special of a place it is. He hopes ent cultur al backgr ounds, upbr ingto come back and teach at City Col- ings, coming together and celebr ating lege after his time at Yale. students' success,? Omae said.
C rossing the stage These grads among the many who have overcome obstacles to complete their degrees NILO ONDEVILLA Fine ar t gr aduate r etur ns to City after 30 year s motivated by per sonal tr agedy to r ealize life-long dr eam
SHALAYAH-NAOM I WEBB MESA Pr ogr am gr aduate with a love for science pur sues aer ospace engineer ing with a goal to wor k for NASA
KELLEY WESTLEY The 56-year-old fir st- gener ation college gr aduate over comes challenges with liter acy to help childr en r ead
Read more about these grads in the digital edition - visit sdcitytimes.com/class-of-2023 or scan the QR code