Honors program students were recognized at Long Beach City College on Thursday, where a small ceremony in the P building courtyard was held to highlight the completion of taking honors level courses, as graduation is right around the corner.
Students, families and friends were also invited to attend the celebration.
Graduating students who completed the honors program at LBCC were able to sign their name on a board with different university flags to showcase their school of choice.
LBCC honors program student, Jordan Ofoegbu, signs her name on a UCLA poster during the honors banquet held May 21. A variety of college posters were placed for students in attendance to sign where they will be taking their educational journey next. (Jayleen Vasquez)
Before the ceremony to showcase honors students, president scholars would be highlighted at graduation and invited to a breakfast which normally would consist of five students, now that number has significantly increased with the ceremony celebrating fifty two.
About ten years ago the celebratory breakfast turned into a dinner that included not only president scholars but students who completed the honors program as a whole.
Professor Jeff Wheeler was in attendance, helping put together and coordinate the ceremony. He noted the celebration’s importance to acknowledge students who did more than they were expected to do.
“They’ve volunteered to do more than they needed to do in order to graduate and it’s actually really exciting too because so many of them have gotten into great schools, it’s just a nice pause to acknowledge that because when you go to the big graduation ceremony theres just, theres so many people but at this one we have enough time to basically stop and acknowledge each person who is graduating,” Wheeler said.
One graduating student, Aaron Diaz, is a psychology student at Long Beach City College and was admitted as a transfer student to study labor studies at UCLA. Diaz joined the honors program in his first year during the Fall of 2024.
Diaz noted the program contributed to his sense of accomplishment and self-esteem academically after successfully taking three honors classes his last semester at LBCC.
“Now I feel that sense of accomplishment, like, oh my god, I was able to do it. I passed those classes and so I think now I feel more of a sense of accomplishment. I was able to take on such a tedious task,” Diaz said.
An LBCC student’s parent in attendance, supporting at the honors banquet held on May 21. Honor students were recognized for their hard work and completion of the honors program. (Jayleen Vasquez)
Parents were also able to attend the ceremony in support of their students. Diaz’s mother, Abril Villanueva, was there to show her support for her son and expressed the pride she felt during the ceremony.
“I don’t want to get emotional, I’m just so proud of him. I feel like this campus was right for him. I think it’s so beautiful, calm, and peaceful and for him to have been able to do it in two years, it was incredible to me,” Villanueva said.
Having to commute to Long Beach City College was not easy for the pair as they drove to Long Beach from Compton, something they note was worth it for Diaz’s education.
“I feel like the college has made it so eventful leading up to the graduation, I feel like he is being celebrated and seen and you know there’s a transition here where it’s joyous so I am very happy… It is very challenging but it’s such a beautiful campus and a nice drive,” Villanueva said.
LBCC students and parents in attendance for the honors banquet held on May 21, where honors program students were each individually recognized for their hardwork and achievements. (Jayleen Vasquez)
The vice president of academic affairs, Dr. Lee Douglass, was also present at the event to show their recognition of the graduating students.
“The acknowledgment of the hard work and dedication that was taken to get to this point, no one got to this point alone- folks had support either internally or from their families, friends and loved ones so the opportunity to share this with others that have had the opportunity to go along with this journey is why this is so very important,” Douglass said.
As students prepare to graduate and transfer, the ceremony serves as a celebration of both their accomplishments and hard work throughout their time at Long Beach City College.
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