The Grossmont College community celebrated the college’s 44th annual commencement June 1, in the Main Quad. It was the second year ceremonies were held in the newly refurbished Quad. In the intervening year, the lawn filled in and landscaping matured, making the setting even more impressive.

This spring, about 1,200 students completed the requirements for graduation, and approximately 500 opted to participate in the ceremony, which featured keynote speaker Dr. Michael Vidal, an optometrist in La Mesa who was a 1971 graduate of Grossmont. Other speakers included Debbie Yaddow, a member of the nursing faculty who is also a Grossmont College graduate, and Dawn Monday representing the graduates.

Monday, a re-entry student, spoke emotionally about the new opportunities and support she found at Grossmont College.

Graduation Committee members were Howard Kummerman, Jack Peters, Brandi Dunn, Joel Castellaw, Joel Javines, Josie Amon, Julie Schwab, Lucy Price, Marlene Jansky, Pat Murray, Rick Walker, Robert Isner, Rosalind Scott, Sirkka Houvila, Steve Baker, Susan Herney, Tim Flood, and Walter Sachau.