Class of 2025 Participates in 58th Commencement at Cypress College
Some 650 students, 100 employees, and thousands of guests attended the 58th Commencement at Cypress College on Friday, May 30. The celebration began in the pond area with the ceremonial crossing of the bridge and took place in Gateway Plaza where the graduates crossed the stage and received diploma covers from NOCCCD Trustees, Dr. Byron D. Clift Breland, and Dr. Scott W. Thayer.
During the event, honors were presented to the nine Presidential Scholars of Distinction and the 2025 Outstanding Graduate of the Year, the Cypress College Foundation’s Alumnus of the Year, the Academic Cypress College President’s Office Senate’s faculty award recipients, and the Associated Students’ selection for the Orange County Teacher of the Year award process.
The seventh cohort of Presidential Scholars of Distinction are: Bryan Pham, Business/CIS; Esmeralda Alba, CTE; Natalia Mindru, Health Science; Benjamin Alarcon, Kinesiology; Christina Guadarrama, Language Arts; Dominique Waddell, Science, Engineering, and Math; Chase Curnow, Social Sciences; Fernando “Sushi” Lizarraga, Visual and Performing Arts; and Candyce Young, We Journey Together.
The 2025 Outstanding Graduate of the Year is Hannah Kampitan. She is a lead peer tutor in the English Peer Tutoring program, co-editor-in-chief of The Cypress Chronicle, and president of the Honors Club.
The Outstanding Alumnus is Aaron France, city manager of Buena Park and 1994 Cypress College graduate. France’s journey from standout student-athlete to public servant exemplifies the values of leadership, service, and excellence fostered at Cypress College. A pitcher for the 1994 State Champion Cypress College Charger Baseball team, Aaron was drafted three times — by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992, Baltimore Orioles in 1993, and Pittsburgh Pirates in 1994 — and played professionally in the minor leagues until 2001.
Faculty awards were presented by Academic Senate President Kathleen McAlister for: Outstanding Full-Time Faculty to Kendyl Covey, English; Outstanding Adjunct Faculty to Raymond Gibson, Theatre Arts; Charger Award to Jennifer Coopman, Mathematics, along with Francisco Perez, the campus nominee for the OC Teacher of the Year.
The commencement live stream video was viewed in 32 states and 27 countries, including Peru (78); Mexico (59); Philippines (42); Colombia (36); and other (169 total views).