KENTFIELD / NOVATO, CA—May 23, 2019—College of Marin (COM) will celebrate the accomplishments of graduates and transfer students at the Commencement and Transfer Recognition Ceremony on Friday, May 24, at 6 p.m. in the Irwin P. Diamond Physical Education Center.
The College will award 512 degrees and certificates to students in the 92nd class of graduates—a 10 percent increase from last year. The 431 graduates in the class of 2019 range in age from the youngest at 19 years old to the most mature at 73 years old.
This year, COM invited all students who are transferring to a four-year college or university to participate in the commencement ceremony regardless of whether they will be receiving a degree from the College.
“In our mission, the success of students who enter COM with the goal of earning a degree or certificate and those earning transfer credits is equally important,” said Superintendent/President Dr. David Wain Coon. “As such, we wanted to elevate the level of celebration for our transfer students to that of our degree and certificate earners.”
Graduates Samuel Chavez and Juweria Mehtar were selected as the 2019 student commencement speakers. They will share their inspiring journeys with fellow graduates and attendees.
Samuel Chavez was born in San Marcos Lempa, Usulután, El Salvador. He was brought to the United States when he was three years old. He graduated from Redwood High School in 2016. While at COM, he was part of the Puente Program, Mapping Academic Pathways for Success (MAPS), 10,000 Degrees, and Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS). Chavez works at the TAM Adult School as a para-educator helping students with ESL, GED, and high school graduation courses. Chavez is receiving two associate degrees; one in communications and the second in social and behavioral science and will be furthering his education at Sonoma State University where he will be double majoring in anthropology and Spanish and pursuing his teaching credential.
Juweria Mehtar was born in Doha, Qatar, and grew up in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., until the age of ten when she moved to Mill Valley to be closer to family. Juweria graduated from Tamalpais High School in 2017 and began at COM as a psychology major. She served as vice president of the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society, president of the Model United Nations Club on campus, and as a student ambassador. Off campus, Mehtar is a domestic violence advocate for the Center for Domestic Peace and volunteers her time as a board member for the Marin Chapter of the United Nations Association (UNA-USA). Mehtar is receiving two associate degrees; one in psychology and the other in sociology. She plans to further her education by pursuing a double major in psychology and sociology and is hoping to minor in international relations.
92nd Annual Commencement and Transfer Recognition
Friday, May 24, at 6 p.m.
Irwin P. Diamond Physical Education Center
700 College Avenue
Kentfield Campus
No large bags, food, or drinks are allowed in the gym during the ceremony. Large bags will be searched. Additional information is available online at www1.marin.edu/commencement.
Established in 1926, College of Marin remains committed to educational excellence, providing equitable opportunities, and fostering success in all members of its diverse community. With campuses in Kentfield and Novato, students of all ages have affordable access to an exciting variety of credit and noncredit courses as well as community education classes for lifelong learning. College of Marin is one of 115 public community colleges in California and nearly 14,000 credit, noncredit, and community education students enroll annually. College of Marin is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 10 Commercial Boulevard, Suite 204, Novato, CA 94949, (415) 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.