Glad to Be Grads: Southwestern College 2012 Commencement

Proudly, an excited crowd of the Southwestern College community, parents, children, friends and family proudly cheered on 625 graduating students at Chula Vista's Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre Friday night. Celebrating the achievements of earned associate degrees and certificates of achievements thunderous applause, smiles, laughter and tears of joy filled the stadium as students dominated the Pomp and Circumstance March, moving forward in their quest for higher education, superior jobs and hopes of a better future.

Southwestern's new permanent Superintendent Dr. Melinda Nish certified her first class of graduates. Honorary degree recipients included the college's well-loved Denise Whittaker, former interim-superintendent and multi-hall of famer 37-year Southwestern veteran Baseball Coach Jerry Bartow.

From Fall 2011 to Summer 2012 semesters, Southwestern College awarded more than 1,700 associate degrees and certificates of achievement to its diverse population of students with more than 300 accredited degree and certificate options.

Southwestern College, the only community college in South Bay, provides education to the cities of Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Coronado, San Ysidro, National city and surrounding communities.