Butte College
News Announcement

Butte College 50th Annual Commencement Ceremony Set for Friday, May 24

New Location This Year: Harrison Stadium, Oroville

Butte College will mark its 50th Annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 24 at 7 p.m., at Harrison Stadium, 1674 Third Avenue, in Oroville. A total of 1,669 degrees will be conferred. Butte College President, Dr. Samia Yaqub, along with the Butte-Glenn Community College District Board of Trustees will preside. The event draws thousands of attendees including faculty, staff, administrators, family and friends. Butte College had to relocate its commencement ceremony due to the construction activity taking place to build the Kinesiology and Athletic Performance Center building. (The 16,437-square-foot building is $10.5 million and is funded through Measure J, a $190 million bond measure approved by voters in November 2016. The facility will include three classrooms, a 5,450 square feet strength and conditioning area for student-athletes, new restrooms, faculty offices, and concession facilities, and allow for increased class offerings. The building is slated to open in October 2019.)

“This is my favorite time of year—when our graduates reach an important milestone in their lives,” said Samia Yaqub, Butte College president. “Our graduates have worked hard and they should be very proud of their accomplishments to better their lives.”

The ceremony will include participation from a number of graduates, including a student commencement speaker, student vocalist and three students who serve as commencement marshals who have been selected due to their grade point averages: Maria Padilla, 27, Hamilton City, receiving an AS degree in early childhood education and Sarah Reed, 32, Oroville, earning an AA degree in social and behavioral science. Faculty Marshals participating are retiring or retired faculty members which include counselors Debbie Reynolds and Debby McCurry.

Platform Marshals include Hannah Peters-Edwards, 21, Durham who also served as the Associated Students president, is earning an Associate’s Degree for Transfer in political science and Sean Kessler, a 4.0 student, 37, Chico, earning an Associate’s Degree in mathematics.

Butte’s 2019 student commencement speaker is Alys DiMercurio, 31, Chico. She attended Butte College for one and half years in 2006/2007 and transferred to San Francisco State University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in political science and international relations. Alys returned to Butte College in Fall 2016 and is earning an Associate’s of Science Degree in nutrition and food science. She currently works as a medical assistant at Oroville Hospital and is applying to various graduate-level physician assistant programs this summer, with the intention of beginning a program in Summer 2020. Alys describes her experience at Butte College as a “beautiful time of self-development and empowerment.” She is thankful to her instructors, mentors, and fellow students as they all inspired her to be a better person and to believe in herself. Alys said, “All the resources Butte makes available helped me develop into a better student that will be able to succeed at the graduate level.”

Commencement vocalist, Courtney German, 21, Orland, will perform the national anthem. Courtney has been attending Butte College for the past three years and is earning an Associate of Arts Degree in social and behavioral science. Courtney plans to transfer to Yuba College to become a radiologic technician. She was undecided on her educational pathway when she enrolled at Butte College. Courtney says “I’ve had amazing teachers and have met many interesting people at Butte College.”

Butte College’s 2019 graduates span a wide array of ages, ranging from 18–84. The college’s youngest graduate, Alexa Nicole Arbaugh, 18, of Grass Valley is earning an AA for Transfer Degree in psychology, while Butte’s most mature graduate is Virginia Lewis, 84, Chico, who is earning her AA Degree in social and behavioral science.

For more information about Butte College, visit dcsn.big5vn.com.