SLIDESHOW: Commencement 2012

Wanna see even more photos? Go to our Facebook page: Ccsf Guardsman

Howard Cunningham shows off a lei that his wife made for him. He's graduating from City College with an A.S. in Criminal Justice and two other A.A.s. and will be transferring to USF to study criminal justice. He said that he hopes to become a probation officer. "I wanna help the community and make a living for myself," he said. His wife, kids brohers and parents came to support him at the Commencement Ceremony at Ram Stadium, City College, May 26, 2012. SARA BLOOMBERG / THE GUARDSMAN

 

Dean of Student Activities Samuel Santos directs graduates at check-in before the Commencement Ceremony begins at Ram Stadium, City College, May 26, 2012. SARA BLOOMBERG / THE GUARDSMAN
Kirk Linn (left) is graduating from City College with an A.S. in Social and Behaviorial Sciences and is applying to the London School of Economics and Political Science. Eventually, I wanna work at the United Nations on LGBT rights, he said. Meeting (Dean Samuel) Santos and Miss Bob (Davis) was a highlight of his time at City College. Seeing a "strong LGBT (presence) in that level of academia is nice to see when you're originally from Fresno," he said. Charrisse Wells (right) is graduating with an A.S. in Health Education and will transfer to SFSU to become a diabetes specialist. "My teachers (here at City College), they were so great," she said. "Some were challenging but there's nothing like a good challenge." Commencement Ceremony at Ram Stadium, City College, May 26, 2012. SARA BLOOMBERG / THE GUARDSMAN

 

Commencement Ceremony at Ram Stadium, City College, May 26, 2012. SARA BLOOMBERG / THE GUARDSMAN

 

 

The graduating students take their seats. Commencement Ceremony at Ram Stadium, City College, May 26, 2012. SARA BLOOMBERG / THE GUARDSMAN

 

 

Lerone Matthis, a single father who was previously homeless and incarcerated, was selected to be this year's student speaker. City College changed his life, he said. It gave him hope and a community to belong to. "Never stop having faith in yourselves," he said. "I am a City College success story." Commencement Ceremony at Ram Stadium, City College, May 26, 2012. SARA BLOOMBERG / THE GUARDSMAN

 

 

Valedictorian Lindsey Roberts talks about struggling with learning disabilities and her identity, as well as being homeless for a semester. Services such as Disability Student Programs and Services and the Learning Assistance Center were vital to her success, she said. She always felt supported. Commencement Ceremony at Ram Stadium, City College, May 26, 2012. SARA BLOOMBERG / THE GUARDSMAN

 

 

Commencement Ceremony at Ram Stadium, City College, May 26, 2012. SARA BLOOMBERG / THE GUARDSMAN

 

 

A canine companion attends the ceremony with his owner and dons an honorary cap and tassle. Commencement Ceremony at Ram Stadium, City College, May 26, 2012. SARA BLOOMBERG / THE GUARDSMAN

 

 

The joy and excitement was infectious as the graduates prepared to turn over their tassles. Commencement Ceremony at Ram Stadium, City College, May 26, 2012. SARA BLOOMBERG / THE GUARDSMAN

 

 

John Tuapola (right) is graduating with an A.A. in Social Work and will transfer to SFSU to pursue social work. He was working at James Denman MIddle School in San Francisco but lost his job when they laid off workers without degrees. He said he decided to attend City College after that and wants to keep working with kids. He can barely be seen under the large candy lei that his family made for him. Commencement Ceremony at Ram Stadium, City College, May 26, 2012. SARA BLOOMBERG / THE GUARDSMAN