After a two-year hiatus, Norco College celebrated graduation in person at its commencement
ceremony on Norco College Soccer Field.
In 2020 and 2021, the three colleges – Moreno Valley, Norco and Riverside City — cancelled
the in-person ceremonies due to the COVID-19 pandemic, opting instead for virtual
and drive-through ceremonies.
For 2022, the colleges' ceremonies were celebrated this past Friday, June 10. Moreno
Valley College held ceremonies at College Park, adjacent to the campus, at 5:30 pm.
Norco and Riverside City's ceremonies began at 6 pm. Norco College's ceremony took
place at its sports complex. Meanwhile, Riverside City College celebrated commencement
in Wheelock Stadium. Each of the colleges honored their 2020, 2021 and 2022 graduates.
At Norco College, 1,296 students comprise its 2022 graduating class. The graduates
were awarded 2,399 associate degrees and 449 certificates. Thirty-five of the graduates
are individuals who progressed as part of the institution's Prison Education program
at California Rehabilitation Center. Overall, the class had 52 students earn a 4.0
GPA, with 316 graduating with Distinction and 269 with Great Distinction honors. The
class includes 27 Veterans and 38 John F. Kennedy Middle College High School graduates.
The District had temporarily suspended COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements
for attendance at commencement. The decision aligned with the California Department
of Public Health's (CDPH) guidelines. The CDPH does not require proof of vaccination,
nor a negative test, for outdoor events with less than 10,000 in attendance.
“We understand how special and important college graduation is to our students," Wolde-Ab
Isaac, chancellor of RCCD, said. “Mandating proof of vaccination or a negative COVID
test would have adversely impacted families looking to celebrate their student's accomplishment."
All three colleges had invited the 2020 and 2021 classes to participate in this year's
in-person ceremonies.
The decision to suspend proof of vaccination or a negative result aligned with other
higher education institutions in the area.
“Graduation is the highlight of the education journey," Isaac said. “And the journey
has not been easy for the last three graduating classes. These graduates learned a
number of lessons over the last three years, the biggest perhaps being how to make
adjustments in order to stay the course. The pandemic has had a damaging effect on
education in this country, but these students fought hard to stay enrolled to meet
their dream of becoming college graduates.
“So, I and the Board of Trustees, our college administrators, faculty and professional
staff are particularly proud of the graduating classes represented this year at the
commencement ceremonies. My hope is that each graduate will realize what their accomplishment
means to themselves, their families and their respective communities."