On Thursday, May 16th, Merritt College held its district-wide Raíces Graduation for Latinx students. "There were so many memories made that evening," said Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson. Raíces (Roots) celebrates the educational achievements of our Peralta Latina, Latinx, Latino & Chicana, Chicanx, and Chicano students and their families who are completing a certificate, degree, or transferring to a four-year university.
Chancellor Gilkerson continued, "I want to give a shout out to Student Trustee Naomi Vasquez for her wonderful bilingual speech. I was overjoyed to learn she will be attending UCLA in the fall – congratulations Naomi, and congratulations to all the graduating students. And the music? Wonderful! How many of you knew that Dr. Lilia Chavez, Merritt College Vice President of Student Services, is also the violin player in an all-women Mariachi band? We say Peralta People are full of Passion, Purpose and Possibilities, and that is certainly true with Dr. Chavez!"
A video of the Raíces Graduation is available on YouTube.
Photos from the event are posted on SmugMug here: https://peraltacolleges.smugmug.com/2024-PCCD-Graduations/Raices-Graduation-Merritt-College-May-16-2024
Many thanks to the Raíces organizing committee for putting on a fantastic ceremony.