Onward and upward Students and faculty prepare for June 6 graduation

Samantha Williams swilliams.roundupnews@gmail.com

As the spring semester comes to an end, faculty members throughout the Pierce College campus must begin getting ready for the commencement ceremony that will celebrate the students who have earned certificates or degrees.

The graduation ceremony will take place at Rocky Young Park June 6 at 6 p.m.

Admission to the event is free, and cars parked in Parking Lot 7 will not be fined.

Any student who has had their petition for graduation will be able to participate in the ceremony.

Faculty members began meeting back in February in preparation for this day, David Follosco, dean of Student Services, said. “At this point, we’re finalizing everything,” he said. “We’re going to have another meeting in a couple of weeks.”

But Follosco also believes that, aside from the planning, most of the preparation for the graduation ceremony occurs last minute.

It isn’t until about a week before the ceremony that members of the graduation committee hang up banners congratulating graduates, gardeners begin working on floral arrangements, and the rental company delivers the chairs for guests and sets up the stage for the graduates to cross.

Despite the banners and other signs, several students, like Francisco Maza, 20, are unaware of the upcoming event.

“I would [go],” Maza said. “You just don’t hear much about it. I’m going on vacation right after my semester is over anyway.”

Much like Maza, Matt Garcia, 35, a student at Pierce with an undecided major, had not heard about the ceremony.

“I can’t go,” Garcia said. “I have other schedules.”

On the other hand, other Pierce students