SRJC To Award 1,900 Degrees At Commencement Ceremony May 27

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Santa Rosa Junior College is preparing to hold its 104th Commencement ceremony at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 27, at Bailey Field Stadium in Santa Rosa.

More than 1,400 students will receive degrees this year. SRJC officials expect to award more than 1,900 degrees, as many students earned more than one degree. The youngest student at this year's graduation is 16 years old and the oldest is 78.

Yet another 720 students who completed a career education certificate this academic year will be celebrated in a ceremony at 5 p.m. Friday, May 26 on Bailey Field.

Commencement Speaker Herman Hernandez

SRJC announced Thursday that Herman Hernández, who serves as the executive director of Los Cien Sonoma County, is the 2023 commencement speaker. Hernandez grew up in Guerneville and attended SRJC.

After graduating from San Diego State University with a degree in international business, Hernandez returned to Sonoma County. He and his wife Ariana and their dog Moose, live in Santa Rosa.

In 2014, he was elected to the Sonoma County Board of Education and currently serves as the board president. He also serves on the boards of the Made in Santa Rosa Foundation and the Sonoma County Family YMCA. In 2022, he was tapped to take over as executive director of Los Cien, a Latinx-led organization focused on civic engagement, education, and bridge-building between local communities.

Hernández’s other passions include reading, running, biking and golfing.

"Santa Rosa Junior College has been instrumental in helping hundreds of students graduate each year,” Hernández said. “Many graduates are first-generation college students just like myself. Due to the quality of education at SRJC, they are better prepared to meet their future. Santa Rosa Junior College students contribute to the brilliance of our community and the local economy in Sonoma County and beyond.

"I know firsthand how instrumental Santa Rosa Junior College was as a milestone in my preparation to transition to San Diego State University, and how special and valuable my formative years at Santa Rosa Junior College were. Now, I have the opportunity to share some words of wisdom and encouragement and to celebrate together with the graduating class. I am incredibly honored."

Student Speaker Danielle Ingargiola

SRJC also announced Thursday that the student speaker for this year's graduating class is Daniella Ingargiola, a Novato resident and biology major. She is a recipient of the Chemistry Department Scholarship, the Dream Big Scholarship, and the Harris Family SRJC Teaching Fellows Award.

Ingargiola is transferring to UC Davis and plans to apply to veterinary school upon completion of her bachelor’s degree.

In her spare time, she practices yoga and watercolor painting and enjoys spending time in nature with her dog, Blue.

“When I was younger, I believed I was incapable of succeeding academically,” Ingargiola said. “It wasn’t until I began taking classes at SRJC and met a particular professor, I realized it only takes one person to believe in you, to fuel your success. That’s just one of many challenges we community college students face.”

The Ceremony: What To Know

The graduation will be held outdoors and no masks, social distancing or vaccine verifications are required.

• Guests must have a ticket to attend the ceremony. There is no charge.
• Ticketed guests may access Bailey Field Stadium, 1501 Mendocino Ave. in Santa Rosa, after 7:30 a.m. Enter through gates at the northeast, northwest or southeast of the stadium.
• The ceremony will be live-streamed on YouTube for those without tickets. Watch the event from any device at live.santarosa.edu.
• The ceremony lasts approximately two hours.
• Please do not bring balloon bouquets, large signs, or noise makers into the stadium.
• In the event of inclement weather, the graduation ceremony will take place as planned.
• Parking for the day is available in the parking structure adjacent to the stadium or the nearby campus parking lots.

More information on 2023 Commencement.

More information on 2023 Celebrate CE.