CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Friday Yuba College Clear Lake Campus conducted its 31st annual commencement ceremony.
This year, the college awarded a total of 46 associate degrees in both arts and science as well as 111 certificates of achievement in the areas of accounting, business computer applications, business management, clerical, child development, culinary arts, chemical dependency and welding, according to Dean Annette Lee.
The college chose four student speakers to represent the graduating class of 2015.
At the morning celebratory breakfast, Alisa Burris and Samantha Ambrecht delivered inspiring and touching speeches.
Burris, a graduate of Middletown High at age 17, spoke of her quick two-year completion of the transfer course work that led to her acceptance as a junior in Sonoma State University's psychology program.
She shared her struggles as a low-income student and months of riding the bus for 45 minutes each way to reach the Clear Lake Campus. Eventually, scholarship awards enabled her to afford a vehicle and transportation to the campus.
“All the support and encouragement of the staff and faculty here made graduation a reality,” Burris said.
Samantha Ambrecht shared her experience as a high school graduate who never thought she would want or need to go to school again. She traveled and worked odd jobs until she realized she needed skills in order to support herself.
Ambrecht came to the Yuba College to acquire certificates in office skills. Her early success inspired her to work toward an associate's degree and now she has been accepted to Marymount California University where she will pursue a bachelors in liberal studies and complete a teaching credential.
At the noon certificate ceremony Chuck Howell spoke to the 90 students receiving certificates. He told his own story of stops and starts and his completion of five associate degrees.
Howell encouraged fellow students to continue their education. “You can do it,” he said. “I’m proof.”
Scott Bowman, student speaker at the evening associate degree ceremony, was also recognized with the Yuba Medal for outstanding scholarship.
A reentry student, Bowman came to Yuba College after leaving the construction industry. He took more than a full-time course load each semester while earning a 4.0 grade point average and a chemical dependency counseling associate's degree.
He has been accepted to Humboldt State University as a junior where he will earn a bachelor's and master's in the online social work program.
All of the student speakers stressed the accomplishments of their fellow graduates and encouraged all to continue on for higher education.
Lee said the number of degrees awarded since the 2007-08 school year have held relatively steady year-over-year, with a big spike of degrees awarded in 2011-12, which she said is a result of enrollment being counter-cyclical with the economy.
The same type of historical trend can be observed for the certificates awarded at the Clear Lake Campus, but this year the college had a very large number compared to the numbers of certificates awarded in the past eight years, Lee said.
“We have developed a very robust Career Technical Education program at CLC, which is partly the reason for this. Increasing demand is part of the criteria for all of our CTE programs,” she explained.
In particular, there is a lot of demand for emergency medical technician training and fire science classes, which is why those courses were added to the campus schedule, Lee said.
“Our culinary program is building quite a name for itself and is very popular right now,” she added.
The Clear Lake Campus business department awarded the most certificates this year, Lee said.
She said that this year the campus awarded nearly $18,000 in scholarships to its students. The past two years have grown slightly compared to recent years when it comes to scholarship awards.
Clear Lake Campus is currently registering students for summer classes. The summer session begins June 8.
For more information call 707-995-7900 or visit http://clc.yccd.edu/admissions/default.aspx .