A Study in Diligence : Ventura College Ceremony Draws Small but Enthusiastic Crowd

It took Jo Ann Snapp nine years to graduate from Ventura College.

Because the 44-year-old manager worked 60 to 70 hours a week at an electronics supply company, she had time for only one or two night classes a semester.

But on Thursday, the Ojai resident finally donned a cap and gown to pick up her associate of arts degree in the 63rd annual graduation at Ventura College.

“I wasn’t even going to be here today, but they convinced me to get my degree,” said Snapp, who hugged her sisters and mother after the commencement ceremony. “I have to go back to work now.”

Snapp is the first of nine children in her family to get a degree, said her sister, Tammy. Snapp plans to get her bachelor’s degree in business and eventually hopes to open her own company.

“She gives me inspiration,” said Tammy Snapp, 29, who is in her second semester at Ventura College. “I don’t want to go to class sometimes, but she tells me to go.”

Of the approximately 950 students who received associate degrees in arts and science this semester, only 267 students attended graduation exercises, college officials said. The 90-minute ceremony was held in the college gymnasium, and proud families and friends cheered enthusiastically from wooden bleachers as each student’s name was read.

Arts and science graduates wearing blue gowns and nursing students in white gowns fussed with tassels, played with their hats and bounced a beach ball around as they waited for their turn to pick up their diplomas.

“You have persevered,” said Judith Valles, president of Golden West College in Huntington Beach and keynote speaker. “You have set a tremendous example for your family, for your friends, for your co-workers. Education is really the key to your future. You can’t stop now.”

Norma Martinez, 23, of Santa Paula said she will continue her education this fall at Cal State Northridge. It took the psychology student three years to earn an associate degree from Ventura College, but it was worth the time and effort, she said.

“My dad gave me a car, thank God,” said Martinez as she arranged her hair before marching into the gymnasium.

Clenching a video recorder, Luis Vargas watched proudly as his only child, Alexandra, graduated. She is the first one in the family to get a degree, he said.

“She said she gets a better education here,” Vargas said. “She gets more help from the educators because the school is small.”

Next year, his daughter will attend UC Santa Barbara, where she will study for her bachelor’s degree in math, Vargas said.

Dawn Kahlsdorf, a 26-year-old nursing student, wasn’t sure if she was happy or sad to be graduating.

“It’s not the greatest time to graduate because there aren’t a lot of jobs,” said Kahlsdorf, who will be sending resumes out soon. “But it’s a good time because it’s getting more expensive to be a student.”

Kahlsdorf worked part-time as a nursing assistant to pay for college and plans to eventually earn a bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

“We’re so proud of her,” said Ann Kahlsdorf, Dawn’s mother. “My husband and I both went to college, but we didn’t finish. You like to see your children do better.”