Fresno City College recently hosted the 10th annual Latino Graduation Celebration on May 3 at the FCC Theatre. The event recognized students united by their shared heritage and dedication to education.

Each of the nearly 60 students who participated was presented with a certificate and allowed to give a brief speech. The free event concluded with cake and refreshments..

FCC student Jesus Bravo received  the Dean’s Medallion of Excellence Award for the Applied Technology Division, an award that is given to eight students in each academic division along with a $500 scholarship.

Claudia Habib, FCC graduate and current Reedley College Interim Dean of Instruction for Agriculture and Natural Resources served as the keynote speaker. Habib is a Colombian native.

The bilingual event, first held at FCC in 2003, was sponsored by the Latino Faculty and Staff Association, which works as an independent organization to raise funds each spring for the graduation.

Lourdes Oliva, producer at radio station Radio Bilingue, served as Master of Ceremonies for the graduation, while Mariachi Tenochtitlan, a mariachi band, performed traditional Mexican songs to welcome students and their family.

LFSA president and Extended Opportunity Program and Services counselor, Sonia Lupian played an integral role in the event that had been in preparation since winter of last year.

Lupian said that her participation in LFSA allows her to spearhead an organization representing her peers and her students, and for that she is appreciative.

“I’m really honored to be a part of the association. It keeps me really busy,” she stated. “LFSA helps us have a voice as Latino staff and to help the students.”

Lupian serves as the Spanish-speaking counselor for many students at FCC, so the Latino Graduation Celebration is a way to display the proud and dedication all Latino faculty and staff members have for the graduating students.

“It’s a good feeling to know that we do advocate for our students and we are here gathering for our students,” Lupian explained.

Yet the celebration would never exist without Pedro Agustin Lango, the founder of the Latino Graduation Celebration in Bakersfield.

Lango, who was present at this year’s celebration, said he finds the casual atmosphere and bilingual ceremony to be an essential part of keeping the event distinctly Latino.

“I always wanted to keep our culture,” Lango said. “The one thing that was important to me was to let the students speak.”

As shown by the formal attire without caps and gowns, large RSVP limit and young children and babies, the Latino Graduation Celebration is a relaxed event, never meant to eclipse the importance of family in Latino traditions.

LFSA raise their funds throughout the year, with their annual wine-tasting event a continual success and breadwinner for their Latino Graduation Celebration financial needs.

The FCC faculty and staff members involved work on the annual graduation solely as volunteer work; aside from working at FCC, they do not get paid to contribute to the ceremony.For those that do help out, the outcome is always rewarding even with its challenges.

Francisco Corchado, Health Sciences counselor at FCC and chair for this year’s Latino Graduation Celebration, has learned to prioritize his schedule to keep him capable of working towards this end-of-the-year event.

“It’s just a matter of managing time because you still have to do your job, you have to make phone calls, contact a lot of people,” Corchado said. “You want to make sure everything goes well, so it can be stressful at times, but I always enjoy a challenge so it was fun.”

Franklin Jacinto, a Spanish major who graduated during the ceremony, first began attending FCC in 2009 after several years at California State University, Long Beach and Cerritos College. He plans to continue his education at Fresno Pacific University. His career goals include missionary work throughout Central and South America and becoming a translator for the United Nations.

Jacinto was relieved and excited when considering his educational accomplishment.

“It was a long road. Honestly I never thought I’d see this day … but the day finally came and I’m happy to be here,” he stated.

The Latino Graduation Celebration is an important and symbolic step for many students in their quest for education. Although the celebration is only a pause in their progression through the educational system, for many students it is a momentous and emotional occasion necessary to celebrate.

For Corchado, who is passionate about helping students, the ceremony is unique due to its ability to give students a voice before they move on to other academic institutions. In comparison to the large and lengthy traditional graduation ceremony held at FCC, the LFSA-hosted graduation is a special opportunity to congratulate students in an intimate way.

“I think it’s more personal, because again these students give up a lot,” Corchado said.

“They sacrifice a lot, and they know that.”