TURLOCK, Calif. — With hundreds of parents, family members, friends and supporters looking on with excitement and pride, Stanislaus State honored graduates from the Class of 2022 Thursday, May 26, during the first two of four Commencement ceremonies to be held this week in the University Amphitheater.
The festivities began with the College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences ceremony in the morning followed by the College of Business Administration commencement at 4 p.m.
For the 2021-22 academic year, Stanislaus State will recognize 3,130 graduates and 306 credential recipients. This week’s ceremonies, which are being live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube, are the largest in-person events to take place at Stan State since 2019. The University postponed Commencement in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commencement was held in 2021, but the in-person ceremonies were smaller, and graduates were limited to two guests.
This year, graduates saw the return of a few Commencement traditions, including walking across the stage as their names were announced with faculty members joining them in their academic regalia, cheering and celebrating during the ceremony.
President Ellen Junn commended the graduates for their achievement.
“I am lucky to be amongst some of the most incredible, determined, brilliant, hardworking and extraordinary students — all of you, our graduating Class of 2022,” Junn said to rousing applause. “We honor you today for earning your degree. And we are lucky that this pandemic, while still present, is not stopping our students from gathering on one of the most important and pivotal days of their lives.
“Each of you epitomizes what it means to be Warrior Strong. You made it through the mayhem of COVID-19, and you did it with a positive attitude. Despite the upheaval and uncertainty, you did not let that stand in the way of continuing your education.”
Resilience, sacrificing to achieve goals, uplifting others through words and actions and overcoming difficult circumstances were some of the recurring themes mentioned by speakers at the podium.
Living with multiple sclerosis did not deter Stan State’s Katrina Thomas-Grey from pursuing higher education. The military veteran, wife and mother of four is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. She arrived at Stan State during the 2020 fall semester — five months after the University transitioned to remote operations because of the pandemic.
“I felt like a fish out of water because I hadn’t been in school for 20 years,” Thomas-Grey said. But with support from her family and others, she was able to reach her goals, including making the Dean’s List while working a full-time job.
“Today we are leaving Stan State with our heads held high because we all had the will. Even when times got tough, we found our inner strength,” she said.
Kayla Lindquist, the student speaker for the College of Business Administration ceremony, had completed two years at Stan State when COVID-19 hit. She recounted the challenges of transitioning from campus life to an online world.
“Graduation is validation that we have come, conquered and showed up for ourselves every step of the way,” Lindquist said. “We may not know exactly where we’re headed, but we know with a diploma in our hand, we have the potential to make something amazing of ourselves.”
On Thursday, during the morning Commencement ceremony, President Junn conferred the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to exemplary community members John and Jeani Ferrari of Turlock. She lauded the couple stating their “service and support have shifted attention and strengthened impact on many significant issues in our community.”
“The students, faculty, administration and staff at Stan State have changed this rural community for the better,” Jeani Ferrari said. “It is a better place because you shared your ideas, customs and energy with the people of Turlock. The diversity you bring makes our community more vibrant, more equitable and a better place to live.”
Stanislaus State’s 62nd Commencement continues on Friday, May 27, with ceremonies for graduates in the College of Science at 8 a.m. and the College of Education, Kinesiology and Social Work at 4 p.m.
Recordings of Thursday’s ceremonies and photo galleries are available on Stan State’s Commencement website.
