2024 Coyote Graduation Walks Record Number of Students
June 28, 2024
On Friday, June 28th, Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) celebrated its 49th commencement ceremony with more than 150 students in attendance and upwards of a thousand friends and family members cheering them on. It was a festive evening filled with special moments of laughter, celebration, and tears of joy.
A record-breaking number of students earned their Associate of Arts degrees, with almost 160 students walking proudly across the stage to accept their diplomas. Another 88 students earned their Foundational Skills Certificates and/or Certificates of Achievement.
Graduates enjoyed a warm evening on Coyote Field, which was specially decorated for
this celebratory event. Large screens provided a live feed for the record number of
attendees, and professional photographers were on hand to capture this special evening,
offering free portraits to every graduate.
Several student groups were well represented in this graduating class, including Promise, Pride, Student Athletes, Veterans, and several international students from countries like the UK, Italy, and others.
A special congratulations went out to the 47 Rising Scholars students who earned their Associate degrees during this ceremony, 11 of whom were in attendance. The Rising Scholars Program provides access to education while fostering confidence in currently and formerly incarcerated students.
Lina Caro, a double major in English and Psychology, beautifully sang this year's National Anthem.
"It's you bringing your talents, your determination, your passion to our College Community that makes this exciting. We want to use this ceremony to thank you, to celebrate you, and encourage you to bring forward this sense of community and this camaraderie that you built here at LTCC into the world," President and Superintendent Jeff DeFranco said in his formal remarks.
"The fact is our community, our state, our nation, and most certainly our planet need each and every one of you more than ever. You are well on your way, class of 2024. My full congratulations—the world is better off because you are in it," continued DeFranco.
"Please embody all of the qualities of the coyote. Be smart. Be flexible. Know that you can do a lot alone, but you can do a lot more with your pack. Remember that you are resilient in any setting. Don't worry about being underestimated; you can surprise people too. And take all of the valuable lessons you've learned from your pack with you." —Michele Siqueriros
This year saw LTTC's youngest graduate of the Class of 2024, 16-year-old Lake Tahoe High School student and concurrent LTCC student Autumn Ellingford Rhodes, speak about South Lake Tahoe's strong community. "One valuable lesson I have learned from attending this college is that no matter your community, you must always take advantage of the opportunities it provides you with," Rhodes said.
World Languages faculty member Catalina Goralski, who has been part of the LTCC team for more than 15 years, said, "As you move forward, I encourage you to remain curious, continue learning, and stay true to your values. Embrace change and be willing to take risks. Do not be afraid to fail, for it is often through our failures that we learn our greatest lessons."
Keynote speaker Michele Siqueriros, President of the Campaign for College Opportunity, spoke of resilience, diversity, and important work to be done in higher education. A first-generation college graduate, Siqueriros has created enormous opportunities in higher education throughout California for students of all diversities.
In her closing remarks, Siqueriros said, "Please embody all of the qualities of the coyote. Be smart. Be flexible. Know that you can do a lot alone, but you can do a lot more with your pack. Remember that you are resilient in any setting. Don't worry about being underestimated; you can surprise people too. And take all of the valuable lessons you've learned from your pack with you."
Current Board of Trustees President and alumnus Jeff Cowen spoke about keeping one eye on history and one on the future. "You are writing LTCC's history as you are writing your own. Now, as you move on, I really encourage you to not forget this history. We must hold on to it and not let it fade with the passage of time."
A special moment came when President DeFranco honored two students who were on track to complete their education but whose untimely passing prevented them from completing their degrees. A moment of silence was held for Cory Benton and Destiny Lizeth Ambriz Corea, whose mother, Yesenia Corea, walked in her place.
The night's final student speaker and South Lake Tahoe native was Daniella Valdivia-Guzman.
Valdivia-Guzman, the Student Trustee this past year, has represented LTCC both locally
and at the state level. Her inspirational speech highlighted her mother, her family,
and her path through her LTCC experience. She said, "No matter how old you may be,
it's never too late to start or finish your education. As my mother said, every achievement
begins with the decision to try."
Another highlight of the ceremony was the highly anticipated Student Choice Award for Teacher of the Year. For the third year in a row, this honor went to Dr. Wynn Walker. She summed up this award perfectly, saying, "I want to thank you guys for the greatest honor I have ever received in my entire life. You don't know how much this means to me. I love you all and I'm so blessed to have this job. Thank you."
Graduates celebrated their achievements on Coyote Field, walking through a faculty tunnel of hands after the ceremony. They celebrated with friends and families, took selfies with faculty and fellow graduates, and embraced their hard-earned degrees with smiles on their faces.