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College Students Reach Milestone : Education: About 330 participate in Ventura graduation. Another 700 were eligible in school’s largest class.

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SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

No one in Julio Hernandez’s family had ever finished college--until Thursday.

The 22-year-old Oxnard man was among more than 300 Ventura College graduates who walked across the stage, shook hands with the college president and moved their tassels from right to left to symbolize their success.

“It was difficult at times, but I made it,” said Hernandez, clutching a black diploma cover. “I’m very proud because I’m the first one in my family to graduate from college.”

Hernandez isn’t done yet.

In addition to the two degrees bestowed upon him Thursday--an associate of arts in liberal arts and associate of science in general studies--he plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Cal State Long Beach.

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“I’m really persistent,” said Hernandez, who studied for three years at Ventura College while selling shoes at an El Rio footwear shop. “I never give up until I finish.”

Hernandez was not the only success story at the college on Thursday.

Besides about 330 students who participated in the graduation ceremonies, another 700 were eligible, making the Class of ’94 the largest ever, college President Jesus Carreon said.

“It’s a fabulous accomplishment,” he said in an interview before the commencement.

“Frankly, living through the economic times of today is tough,” Carreon said. “A great majority of our students work full or part time, and for these students to get an A.A. degree is a real triumph.”

Graduation ceremonies are scheduled today at both Oxnard and Moorpark colleges. Also, graduates of the Ventura campus of Cal State Northridge will celebrate their achievements at the satellite campus’ first-ever commencement May 27. .

During his address Thursday, the Ventura College president congratulated students for ranking in the top 25% of state community colleges for student transfers to four-year universities.

For Rob Stewart, a 23-year-old Ventura man who works full time as an insurance adjuster, Thursday was the culmination of years of night school.

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“It took me five years, but I made it,” he said, sipping punch in the quad after the ceremony. “This fall I’m going to Sonoma State to study film production.”

Others were able to concentrate full time on their studies.

Frank Dorenkamp, a 39-year-old nursing graduate who has taken a job at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, finished in two years with the support of his wife, who works full time.

“It seemed to go by so fast,” he said, still wearing his white cap and gown. “I think it’s because the pace of the learning is so quick. They’re always throwing new information at you.”

Dorenkamp said he first entered nursing because of the salaries and job security nurses enjoy. “But then I got to like helping other people.”

Alan Thomas, 39, also took a different path to Ventura College. He was a carpenter for 15 years before injuring himself in a work-related accident.

Armed with an A.A. degree in liberal arts, he plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the Ventura campus of Cal State Northridge and someday teach.

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“There’s something about academic settings that’s kind of nice,” said Thomas, who complained that his was the only name mispronounced as he crossed the stage. “It’s not like the real world.”

Graduate Christin Destito, 20, plans to use her A.A. as a steppingstone to a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Even so, she took a few minutes Thursday to toast her achievement before once again working toward her long-term goal.

“I’m incredibly excited,” said Destito, who finished her Ventura College course work in December and now attends Cal State Northridge. “It took a lot of work, but now I’m ready to move on to the next step.”

A handcrafted banner with a slight misspelling hung on the campus bulletin board during the reception that followed the commencement exercise.

It read: “You came. You saw. You transfered.

FYI

Graduation ceremonies for Oxnard and Moorpark colleges will be held today at the respective campuses. The Oxnard College commencement will begin at 1 p.m. in the campus quad, and the Moorpark College ceremony is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. in that college’s central quad. The Ventura campus of Cal State Northridge will for the first time host a graduation ceremony. It will be held in the gymnasium at Ventura College at 10 a.m. next Friday.

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