Maria Barragan

Commencement Student Speaker 2018

Tonight’s student speaker, Ms. Maria Barragan, is the current Associated Student of Norco College (ASNC) President. She was elected in the spring of 2017 to serve the campus as the primary voice for the more than 13,000 Norco College students and Maria has fulfilled her role as well as any student body president in the history of Norco College. Her relationships with faculty, staff and administrators is one of respect and admiration. Over her three years at Norco College she has gained the trust of her fellow students and has represented them on campus, at the state level, and even in Washington DC at the national Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.

Ms. Barragan was born in Mexico City and came to the United States at age of 5 with her mother and sister. She grew up all over California, but attended Charter Oak High School in Covina. Today, Maria resides in Jurupa Valley with her mother, sister and step-father.

Maria is a force to be reckoned with while at the same time has the sweetest demeanor. In her many leadership positions on campus, she has taken an active role in making a positive impact wherever she goes. She has been actively involved as a member of Dreamers and Leaders, Puente as a Peer Mentor and Historian, as well as ASNC. In ASNC, she has moved up through the ranks, starting as a Senator of Campus Activities, then Vice President of Campus Activities, and finally ASNC President for the 2017-2018 academic year. She is a member of the campus’ Academic Senate, Institutional Strategic Planning Council, and Committee of the Whole.

Ms. Barragan will be leaving behind many legacy programs, which she founded or co-founded, including Norco Fest, the Athletic Pep Rally, Silent Disco, and Chill Out (Snow Day), just to name a few. Maria is a Sociology major and will be attending the University of California, Riverside in the fall to pursue a B.A. in Sociology and one day a Guidance Counselor in Higher Education. Norco College’s Student Commencement Speaker Sub-Committee was proud to select Maria Barragan to give tonight’s keynote address.

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