Excited families and friends filled La Playa Stadium on Friday evening as Santa Barbara City College celebrated its 2023 graduating class, with 1,472 students graduating and 3,629 associate’s degrees and certificates awarded.
“Here we are on the cusp of something new for you,” interim Superintendent/President Kindred Murillo said to the graduates. “As you look forward, I want you to know you are welcome here. You are wanted here. This — SBCC — is your home.”
Student speaker Andrianina Rajaosera addresses her fellow graduates and speaks about her experience at SBCC. Credit: Serena Guentz / Noozhawk photo 
A graduate waves as she walks back to her seat after walking the stage. Credit: Serena Guentz / Noozhawk photo 
Graduates walk onto the field at La Playa Stadium as Santa Barbara City College’s 2023 commencement ceremony begins Friday. Credit: Serena Guentz / Noozhawk photo 
An audience member cheers as her “bestie” passes by her while walking into Santa Barbara City College’s commencement ceremony. Credit: Serena Guentz / Noozhawk photo 
A graduate waves to supporters in the crowd as she walks toward the commencement stage. Credit: Serena Guentz / Noozhawk photo 
First-year SBCC student Iyana Brown sings the national anthem at the beginning of the commencement ceremony. Credit: Serena Guentz / Noozhawk photo 
A group of audience members holds up a sign as graduates begin walking into La Play Stadium. Credit: Serena Guentz / Noozhawk photo 
Graduates smile and wave to their families and friends in the crowd. Credit: Serena Guentz / Noozhawk photo 
A graduate waves as audience members excitedly look for their graduate. Credit: Serena Guentz / Noozhawk photo
The themes of Friday’s speeches appeared to be gratitude, perseverance and the community that SBCC can provide.
“I needed a community so bad,” student speaker Andrianina Rajaosera said. “I was told to join UMOJA, clubs, student government. … That made a difference. Being a student is overwhelming if we don’t have hope that we will get through the hardships, and my hope — SBCC helped me gain it.”
Born in Madagascar and raised in Belgium, Rajaosera was the college’s Board of Trustees student trustee and is a first-generation student graduating with an associate’s degree in mathematics and plans to continue her education to receive a bachelor’s degree.
Rajaosera was also the commissioner of accessibility for SBCC’s student government, president of the Women for Success Club and vice president of scholarship for Phi Theta Kappa.
“As a Black person, I was so used to entering a room thinking I should not speak, thinking that I should not even waste my energy trying to get my point across, but at SBCC, I became the student trustee,” Rajaosera said. “Let us all be individuals who offer opportunities to others, especially those who often were rejected, because we know what it feels like, but we also know what it feels like when someone helps us.”
With graduates ranging in age from 17 to 84, SBCC has served a variety of students coming from different backgrounds and locations. According to Amanda Jacobs, the interim executive director of public affairs and communication, 4% of the graduating students came from out of state and more than 4% were international students.
Murillo added that 60 students were graduating with honors, and about 64% of SBCC’s Class of 2023 are women.
The full livestream for Santa Barbara City College’s 2023 commencement ceremony can be viewed on the college’s website here.