Of the hundreds of graduates who accepted associate degrees and completion certificates Wednesday evening at Glendale Community College, the youngest graduate was 19 while the oldest was 74, said David Viar, superintendent/president of the college.
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“We always want to emphasize we’re here for everyone,” Viar told the hundreds of family members and friends who sat in the bleachers on Sartoris Field to watch their loved ones accept degrees.
Among the graduates were friends Talen Madatoyan and Elen Siradegyan, both mothers of young children who enrolled at Glendale Community College and juggled family responsibilities with school.
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Superintendent and President of Glendale Community College David Viar, who shakes the hand of every graduate, embraces Lyn Ribisi after she graduated at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Yovani Hernandez points his finger into the air to show off his graduation moment at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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President of the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees Anita Quiñonez Gabrielian applauds the graduates after asking them to turn their tassel at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Anahit Kardzhyan holds her diploma cover up high at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Kardzhyan is the former editor of the school newspaper El Vaquero. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Dr. Troy Davis, Psychology, pumps his hands into the air at the head of the line, leading graduates into the stadium at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Natalie Colmenares waves to the audience as she processes into the stadium at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Graduate Akram Abdulrahman gives the student commencement address at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Graduate Jessica Chavarrian holds up her diploma cover at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Parents make cell phone photos and video at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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President of the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees Anita Quiñonez Gabrielian and the 2015-2016 GCC Man of Distinction Akram Abdulrahman shake hand as he is the first to graduate this evening at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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A lone young man stands on a dirt pile behind the stadium watching the ceremony at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Jennifer Rankin shows off her diploma to family after graduating at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Audience members at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Graduates make their way down the hill at Vaquero plaza on their way to the stadium at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Faculty, on both sides of the graduates, applauded them as they walked passed at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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President of the GUSD Board of Education Armina Gharpetian smiles to the audience at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Audience members at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Graduates at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Superintendent and President of Glendale Community College David Viar welcomes the audience at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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A graduate waves to the audience at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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The bleachers at Sartoris Field was full at Glendale Community College’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
While Madatoyan focused her studies on social work, Siradegyan studied accounting.
“It’s exciting,” Siradegyan said before the ceremony began. “It’s hard, but we did it.”
Both women plan to continue their studies at a four-year school.
“We’ll do our best,” Siradegyan said.
Fellow graduate Aaron Vartany accepted his degree after completing his studies in sociology. He initially enrolled in the college to become an emergency medical technician, but decided he didn’t want to pursue that field.
After taking a semester off, he returned with a new plan to work in law enforcement.
During his time at the college, he worked closely with counselors and professors, he said.
“I had a great time here. The professors, if you follow up with them, you develop this friendship. They really push you forward instead of just giving you a grade and telling you what to do,” he said.
The ceremony marked the 87th commencement since Glendale Community College was established in 1926, Viar said.
Students earned associate degrees or certificates for completing programs to put them on the path to becoming machinists, flight attendants, computer programmers or animators, among other professions.
When Christine Ovasapyan, president of the student body, took the microphone, she thanked students’ family members for supporting them in their path to graduate.
Then she cheered on her fellow classmates.
“You have worked tirelessly and truly deserve to be honored,” she said.
Academic Senate President Andy Young, on behalf of the college’s faculty, expressed one last wish for the class of 2016.
“It is our sincerest hope that we prepared you for whatever your next step may be,” he said.
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Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com
Twitter: @kellymcorrigan
