Each of the Peralta Colleges held wonderful commencement ceremonies this year. Joe Sullivan from Peralta's marketing department put together this very nice highlights reel which Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson shared with the Board of Trustees during her Chancellor's Report on June 10, 2025. Congratulations Class of 2025 Graduates!
Peralta Colleges 2025 Graduation Highlights
Jul 1, 2025 3:20:48 PM / by Johnathan Freeman -->
Merritt College 2025 Graduation Celebration
Jul 1, 2025 10:23:53 AM / by Johnathan Freeman -->
On May 22, 2025, Merritt College held its commencement ceremony at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2025. The ceremony was filled with inspiring speeches and heartfelt congratulations.
Merritt College 2025 Track & Field Student Success
Jun 11, 2025 1:25:03 PM / by Brock Drazen -->
It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks with our state championship meet followed days later by graduation and then high school recruiting in overdrive with the OAL track and field championships, North Coast Section (NCS) Meet of Champions, and the high school state championships at Buchanon HS in Clovis. Onboarding new students, finding college homes for grads, and starting up our high school summer program with Oakland Pal (over 100 high school students this year!) has kept me movin' and groovin'.
2025 Raíces Latinx Graduation: Seguiremos Floreciendo
May 28, 2025 4:27:45 PM / by Mark Johnson -->
Berkeley, CA – On May 14, 2025, the Peralta Community College District held its fifth annual Raíces Latinx Graduation celebration at Berkeley City College. The event, open to all, honored the achievements of Latinx graduates from Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College, marking a significant milestone for students and their families.
Celebrating the African/African American Class of 2025
May 28, 2025 9:40:02 AM / by Mark Johnson -->
On Saturday, May 17, 2025, the Peralta Association of African American Affairs (PAAAA) proudly hosted its 17th Annual African/African American Graduation for the Peralta Community College District. The vibrant event, open to all, celebrated the rich tapestry of the African diaspora while honoring the remarkable achievements of graduates from Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College.
Peralta Colleges Celebrate 2025 AAPI Graduates in District-Wide Ceremony
May 23, 2025 1:51:00 PM / by Mark Johnson -->
OAKLAND, CA – On Friday, May 9, 2025, the Peralta Community College District hosted its second annual district-wide Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Graduation Celebration, bringing together students, families, faculty, and staff from Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College to honor the achievements of the graduating class of 2025.
Merritt College President's Report – May 13, 2025
May 21, 2025 3:43:52 PM / by David M. Johnson -->
Merritt College Hosts First-Ever Sneaker Ball
Merritt College closed out April and capped off California Community Colleges Black Student Success Week (BSSW) with our first-ever Sneaker Ball! The purpose of BSSW is to emphasize how institutions are supporting underserved students (including but not limited to Black and African American students), to ensure their success in community colleges and beyond.
“You Scholars are the Rising Sun”: Honoring Students at the PAAAA Scholarship Reception
May 9, 2025 2:14:08 PM / by Mark Johnson -->
On Thursday, May 1, 2025, on a glorious spring day in Oakland, we kicked off “Smile Season” and the month-long celebration of student successes throughout the district. Following the tradition of Libations by Kimm Blackwell, Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson warmly welcomed attendees to the Peralta Association of African American Affairs (PAAAA) Scholarship Awardee Reception, expressing her joy in celebrating the extraordinary student scholars. She began by acknowledging and thanking the PAAAA Scholarship Committee for their dedication in making the event possible.
Peralta Faculty Make Strong Showing at ASCCC Spring Plenary
May 6, 2025 3:52:10 PM / by Mark Johnson -->
A dedicated group of faculty representatives from the Peralta Community College District recently joined colleagues from across the state at the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) 2025 Spring Plenary Session.
Student View: From Survival to Stage
May 6, 2025 2:11:24 PM / by Johnathan Freeman -->
by Vila Phetsilasack, Merritt College Class of 2025 Graduate
This is a story of resilience, a refusal to let someone else’s prophecy become my reality.
I came to the U.S. at 13 years old, stepping into a life that was supposed to offer opportunity. But early on, someone said, "Raising someone else’s child is a bad idea." That wasn’t just a comment, it became a curse they tried to fulfill. Every barrier thrown at me felt like it was placed there to prove them right.