Long Beach City College (LBCC) hosted a virtual graduation for Asian Pacific Islander Desi (APID) students last Thursday where many faculty, staff students & Interim Superintendent-President Mike Munoz spoke and congratulated all of the APID graduating students.
The graduation began with LooLoo Amante who is a part of the outreach and recruitment specialist at LBCC.
Amante also serves as one of the three co-chairs of the Asian Pacific Islander Desi Heritage Month events. Amante was the Master of ceremonies.
Amante said, “We’re very excited because it’s our first and inaugural Asian and Pacific Islander Desi virtual graduation.”
Amante thanked everyone that was on the Zoom call for supporting and for attending the APID virtual graduation celebration.
The next speaker was Vincent Callup who is part of the computer & office studies department at LBCC.
Callup said, “Thank everyone for attending this event to show your support for this graduating class of 2021.”
Callup introduced Munoz who had some words of encouragement.
Munoz said, “ I have the great privilege of serving as the interim president of LBCC. I’m extremely honored to be here with you virtually tonight and community with our Asian Pacific Islander Desi community in celebration of our graduates. Tonight’s APID cultural graduation celebration is a historic occasion.”
“This is the first time, at least that I know of the 90 plus years from Long Beach City College and we are honoring our Asian Pacific Islander Desi graduates and families with this cultural graduation celebration at LBCC. We value the rich culture,history, experiences and contributions of our Asian Pacific Islander Desi students,” said Munoz.
The next speaker was Diana Ogimachi, president of the LBCC faculty association and professor at LBCC said, “During this pandemic graduating from college is hard under normal situations but to thrive in a pandemic in your last semester or last year is crazy.”
Ogimachi said that during this past year, everyone’s world has been turned upside down, but somehow students have managed to make it through.
Jake Kailahi-Knowles who is a part of the outreach & recruitment of student support services came up to acknowledge the honorary faculty and staff members, Diana Ogimachi and Margaret Antonio- Palomaresas. Both will be retiring from LBCC.
Ogimachi came up and accepted her award and her flowers. Ogimachi was very thrilled and thanked everyone for trusting and believing in her over the years.
Antonio-Palomares came up and accepted her award and her flowers. Antonio-Palomares was very thrilled and thanked everyone.
Antonio-Palomares said, “I’m truly going to miss working at Long Beach City College but I’m excited about my new chapter in life.”
The ceremony closed by honoring all the students who graduated and thanking everybody for coming and honoring the class of 2021.