As Valley College's graduating class of 2006 prepares for the road ahead, they can look back with pride at the hard work and dedication it took to reach their goals. Friends and family all over the world will also be able to join in on the celebration, as a live Web cast of the ceremony will be on Valley's web site.
"Look at the word commencement, it's the beginning of something new," said Tino Manzano, the dean of enrollment management. "It marks a beginning and highlights the people who work so hard."
This year's graduation ceremony, 'Building for the Future,' will be held on June 7 and will be the first event in Valley's newly renovated Monarch Stadium. The live Web cast will also be the first of its kind in the nine-campus Los Angeles Community College District.
"If [students' families] can't make it here they will be able to see their loved ones graduate," said Deborah Harrington, the Writing Center director who brought the idea to Valley.
"It's definitely the best day of the year," said Sherri Rodriguez, the associate dean of Student Services and chair of the commencement committee. "We try to encourage faculty to go out and support the students and enjoy the celebration."
The work for more involvement in the event across Valley has helped increase its attendance.
"It's a huge celebration," said Manzano, a member of the commencement committee. "The [faculty on] campus comes together."
The L.A. Valley String Quartet will play the procession march, Students Brian K. Smith and Carol Rodriguez will perform the National Anthem as a duet and Lusine Marukyan will play a violin solo of "Winter" from Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" as an interlude. The student speakers will be Sima Hakobyan and Felicia Parazaider.
Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick, a Valley alumna, will be this year's keynote speaker. Chick was the first and only woman to hold a citywide office in Los Angeles when she was elected on April 10, 2001.
LACCD Board of Trustee Mona Field will confer the degrees.
Valley President Tyree Wieder will greet each candidate as they cross the stage and move their tassel to the other side of their cap - a symbol that marks the culmination of lessons and experiences each person will take on their individual journeys beyond graduation.
"I am leaving Valley having numerous good memories and thoughts in my mind and heart that [in] no way will ever be erased," said Associated Student Union President Nelli Martirosyan, who plans to attend UC Berkeley this fall.
Commencement 2006 will be in Monarch Stadium Wednesday, June 7, at 4:30 p.m., with the reception immediately following in the parking lot adjacent to the stadium, complete with balloons, tents and trees for the festivities.
The event will be sponsored by Valley College and The Associated Student Union and more information on this year's commencement can be found at www.lavc.edu
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