As the spring semester comes to an end and students get ready for graduation, LBCC Superintendent- President Mike Munoz started the celebration early on Thursday at this year’s Grad Bash held at the Liberal Arts campus.
With loud music, paletas (Mexican popsicles), and a big group of LBCC’s clubs and organizations came together for students to learn what resources and opportunities are available to them while enjoying a moment of community with free food.
Booths of the school’s clubs and organizations lined up in rows outside the welcome center. With a long line of people for food going one way and a group of people getting paletas going another way, this year’s Grad Bash did not disappoint.
As students walked around with their paletas, you’d see them visiting booths for UCLA, ASU, CSULA, CSU Fullerton and CSU Dominguez Hills.
These booths offered resources and opportunities outside of LBCC for students who may be joining those schools.
University partners of LBCC came out for the Dream Big Bash in front of the Welcome Center at LAC on Thursday. Multiple universities and LBCC clubs came together to support those graduating at the end of this semester. (Destiny Castillo)
Financial aid, one of the college’s most helpful and important assets, was present at Grad Bash with financial aid specialist Erandy Fuentes, who mentioned that this year the financial aid office had a lot of struggles because of so many governmental issues, so students passed by to express their gratitude for working through it and still being able to help them.
“Students come and say thank you to us now that they’re at the end of their educational goal. This year was difficult because of the [Trump] administration, and students were scared to lose their financial aid but we have a lot of support from Dr. Munoz, Dr. Corral, our director, and our manager to ensure that our students are being served well and transactions run smoothly.” Fuentes said.
Events like these are good for the school because it allows for students to learn more about what LBCC has to offer, as well as a chance to talk and connect with the faculty of these clubs and organizations.
As loud music was blasting through the speakers and people were dancing and having a good time, the event started to wind down with the last few paletas remaining. Dr. Munoz and his team were passing them out to all who walked by.
As students walked with paletas in hand around the booths at LBCC’s Grad Bash on May 7th, they also took a moment to have some fun and dance to the loud music playing over the speakers. (Destiny Castillo)
Graduates passing by to their classes stopped to talk with Dr. Munoz about their experiences here at LBCC and what they have planned for the future.
Dr. Munoz explains that the main purpose of this event is to uplift our graduates and encourage them for what’s ahead and to participate in commencement.
“That’s a huge milestone for students and you want to make sure they celebrate that moment. And that’s the closest to celebrating them as well as their accomplishments with their families,” Munoz said.
By showcasing and bringing out all these resources and activities, he hopes students will feel more supported. Also, give them that little push to see through their struggles and succeed.
According to Mike Munoz, we can expect to have another “Paletas With The President” next school year. “In the fall, we’ll have it the second week of the semester,” Munoz said.
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