Santa Monica College to Hold 95th Commencement Ceremony June 17

Santa Monica College to Hold 95th Commencement Ceremony June 17

Second Largest Graduating Class in SMC’s History

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica College (SMC) announces that its 95th Commencement Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 17, at 4 p.m. at Corsair Field, located on the SMC Main Campus (1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica). The live on-campus ceremony will also be webcast live and available on the SMC Commencement webpage (smc.edu/commencement (opens in new window) ).

Families and friends from all over the world who are unable to attend graduation in person can go to smc.edu (opens in new window)  to enjoy the ceremony, congratulatory speeches, and “Move the Tassel Moment” for the graduates. The ceremony also features a "Salutation" by SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery; "Welcome" by SMC Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Nancy Greenstein; "Introduction of Special Guests" by SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery; "Faculty Challenge" by SMC Academic Senate President Jamar London, and the "Student Challenge" by graduating Student Speaker Victoria Salazar.

"Commencement is the highlight of each academic year and acknowledges a significant milestone that brings tremendous joy to all of us at Santa Monica College. With enthusiasm and gratitude, we welcome students, their families, friends, and our global community to bear witness to our graduates’ academic success as they close one door and move toward opening another,” said Dr. Jeffery. “This year, we will be honoring a class that persisted in achieving their goals during a period of extraordinary challenge and change. They will carry our best wishes and hopes that the same resolve leads them to embrace new opportunities. Congratulations to the graduating class of 2025!”

SMC will award 13,394 degrees and certificates to the second largest graduating class in SMC’s history. At press time, about 1,450 of the 7,248 students who have earned degrees and certificates are expected to take part in this year’s graduation.

The graduating class includes two 16-year-olds, each receiving four Associate degrees. The oldest graduate is 97 years old, and earned a noncredit certificate of completion in advanced English as a Second Language (ESL).

“Our graduates reflect the heart of what California Community Colleges stand for — access and transformation. Some came to SMC while still in high school; others returned after years away; and many came in search of a new purpose in life,” said SMC Enrollment Services Dean Esau Tovar. “And, today, they leave SMC as college graduates.”

SMC also holds a number of specialty graduation ceremonies, mostly in the weeks leading up to Commencement (details at smc.edu/commencement (opens in new window) ). The celebrations include:

• Lavender Graduating Students Celebration
• Transfer Toast
• APIDA Graduating Students Celebration
• Student Services Awards Celebration
• DREAM Program Graduating Students Celebration
• Veterans Graduating Students Celebration
• Respiratory Therapy Ceremony 
• Nursing Pinning Ceremony
• CMD Student Showcase
• Latinx/e Graduating Students Celebration
• Black Graduating Students Celebration
• Education & Early Childhood Graduation Celebration
• LA Mode 2025 Fashion Show
• Young Collegians Celebration

Santa Monica College (SMC) is a California Community College accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)

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