College of Alameda's 2024 Commencement Ceremony
The College of Alameda (COA) held its 2024 commencement ceremony on Friday, May 2, 2024. More than 200 students, faculty, administrators, district leaders, Board of Trustees members, Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson, and COA Acting President Pamela Luster participated in the procession.
Chancellor Gilkerson and Acting President Luster delivered moving speeches with a touch of humor. Royl L. Roberts, the former PCCD Chief of Staff and General Counsel and current Chief Assistant District Attorney of Alameda County, gave the keynote address.
This year's honorees included valedictorian Christy Sangpolsit, salutatorian Henry Lee, and president's medallion winner Nathaly Alfaro.
Natay Myers, the outgoing president of the Associated Students of College of Alameda (ASCOA) and a graduate, received recognition for her dedication and efforts to effect change throughout the campus.
Despite challenging weather conditions, the spirit of the occasion was not dampened. Participants, displaying dedication and resilience, remained enthusiastic throughout the ceremony. The event concluded with a warm reception, providing an opportunity for farewells and good wishes.
The Market at COA Serves Thousands of Students Annually
For the 2023-2024 academic year, The Market at COA served approximately 2,490 students. It assisted 1,374 students at its bi-weekly outdoor Market, where students could pick up fresh produce and a variety of grocery staple items. Additionally, it helped 1,116 students at the indoor pop-up version of The Market, which also offered a rotating selection of personal care and hygiene products. The Market is integrated into the programming of COA's weekly Tasty Tuesday events, providing free lunch for students. The bi-weekly outdoor market occurs on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month during the fall and spring semesters, while the indoor pop-up market operates on most other Tuesdays. Starting in fall 2024, COA will have a permanent indoor space where students can pick up groceries, personal care products, and gently used clothing at The Boutique.
Mobile COA Helps High School Students Transition to College
Since mid-March 2024, an enthusiastic team of enrollment services staff members, student workers, and counselors have worked together to provide Mobile COA services to local schools and community centers. A total of 102 students from Alameda High School, Encinal High School, Oakland High School, Fremont High School, and the Alameda Community Learning Center were served by Mobile COA and received assistance with application submissions, counseling, and information on special programs and resources at College of Alameda. As the Spring 2024 Semester Mobile COA services conclude, the College extends special thanks to the following individuals who contributed to this year's efforts. The success of Mobile COA underscores the importance of teamwork, including staff team members: Nickey Heredia and Juliana Garcia; student workers: Antwa Rodriguez, Diana Arregoitia, Elisa Bautista, Evessa Long, Julie Deap, and Josh Estrada; and counseling faculty members: Charles Washington, Cynthia Lopez, Julie Saechao, Marissa Nakano, Marvin Thompson, Nadeesha Dias, Teresa Castro, and Vivian Virkkila.
This article is an excerpt from the President’s Report, written by Dr. Pamela Luster, College of Alameda Acting President, that was presented to the PCCD Board of Trustees during their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. To view it as a PDF, click here.