Under a beautiful blue sky with cheers echoing across the University Amphitheatre, Stanislaus State kicked off its 65th Commencement Tuesday, May 27, with a rousing celebration of graduates from the College of Science — the first of four ceremonies honoring the Class of 2025.
Thousands of family members, friends, loved ones, supporters and guests filled the outdoor venue in recognition of graduates earning their degrees. The in-person celebration was also livestreamed for hundreds of viewers on YouTube.
During her first commencement address at Stan State, President Britt Rios-Ellis, who joined the University in July 2024, praised the graduates and gave a special shout out to those who were the first in their family to earn a college degree.
“I am so thrilled to share this moment with you,” Rios-Ellis said. “Commencement is without a doubt my greatest honor. Every graduate reflects a potential game changer in a world that is highly in need of compassionate change.
“You all represent our collective why. It marks the pinnacle of all you have poured into this journey — your time, your talent, your persistence, your belief in yourselves, your honoring of family and your ability to achieve something greater. Today is a moment to pause, to breathe it in, and to celebrate. This is the beginning of you living with your degree, which is now your superpower.”
Rios-Ellis also highlighted key milestones and achievements among the college’s graduating scholars.
“Nearly 68% of you are the first in your family to earn a college degree, showing what’s possible through hard work, community and purpose,” Rios-Ellis said. “You come from the Central Valley and from around the globe. Together, you’re exploring the frontiers of science and technology. Whether you’ve studied psychology, nursing, biology, computer science or chemistry, your work matters. You are the innovators, healers and problem solvers our world desperately needs.”
Immediately following her remarks to the graduates, President Rios-Ellis conferred an honorary Doctor of Science degree to José Hernández, a former NASA astronaut and first-generation college graduate who worked alongside his migrant farmworker family in the fields of California before pursuing his dream of spaceflight.
Hernández, whose journey has inspired millions and was depicted in the movie “A Million Miles Away,” was recognized for his contributions to science, education and advancing opportunities for underserved communities.
“Let me begin by saying congratulations, Warriors. ¡Felicidades! You did it,” Hernandez said. “It’s a true privilege to be here, celebrating such an important chapter in your lives; one that marks not the end, but the beginning of your next journey.
“I like to think of each of you as an agent of change. But here’s a reminder: Changing the world doesn’t require fame. It doesn’t require fortune. Change can happen anywhere, and it can be sparked by anyone — including you.”
During his address, Hernández also spoke with pride about his family’s humble roots and his father Salvador Hernández.
“My pops will be honored tomorrow,” Jose Hernandez said. “He only has a third-grade education, but his advice has carried me all the way up into space. We were migrant farm workers, traveling from Michoacán, Mexico, up through California, following the harvest. We picked crops on the weekends and seven days a week during the summer.
“The other times, we went to school. Every November, we’d return to Mexico armed with three months of homework. All that changed when my second-grade teacher visited our home and convinced my parents to settle in Stockton. That’s when our education finally began to take off.”
Along with sharing his father’s receta, his five-ingredient recipe for success based on vision, preparation and passion, José Hernandez added a sixth ingredient: perseverance.
“Don’t ever give up on yourselves,” he said. “NASA rejected me 11 times. It wasn’t until the 12th time that I was selected.”
José will return for Wednesday’s ceremony, where he will join Rios-Ellis in honoring his father Salvador Hernández and graduates from the College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
In her speech to fellow College of Science classmates, student speaker Brenda Vega of Ripon, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, highlighted their shared journey.
“Each of us has our own Stanislaus journey, filled with laughs, tears, obstacles and achievements that together make us a mosaic of everything we are and have grown to become,” Vega said. “Feel proud of the person you are becoming, the past version of yourself and the person you aspire to be.”
Also recognized during the ceremony were the college’s two Metzger-Geiger Award recipients, Haley Burdo, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, and Paola Campos of Ceres, who completed a Bachelor of Science in mathematics. The Metzger-Geiger Award is given to graduating students with the highest undergraduate grade-point average based on coursework completed at Stan State.
Campos is also the recipient of this year’s J. Burton Vasché Award, the University’s highest honor for a graduating senior.
This week during Commencement, Stan State is recognizing more than 3,000 graduates and credential recipients and is expected to host more than 20,000 guests over four days.
Ceremonies for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Education, Kinesiology and Social Work and College of Business Administration take place Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, respectively.
