Relief, Joy and Tears : Hundreds of Graduates Say Goodby to Moorpark, Oxnard Colleges

Gayane Pogosyan stood and her daughter guided her lightly by the arm toward the steep concrete steps leading up to the stage, while her guide dog, Ayley, remained in the front row, paws crossed.

Moorpark College President Darlene Pacheco introduced Pogosyan as the recipient of the President’s Award, the highest honor given by the faculty to a graduating student who exemplifies the best that Moorpark students can be.

After three years at Moorpark College, Pogosyan, who is blind, graduated with a 3.88 grade-point average and a full scholarship to Cal Lutheran University.

“These three years, this college has been my home, my family, my everything,” the 47-year-old Armenia native, who came to this country 18 years ago, told the graduates and guests. “I take all of you in my heart forever.”

For students on both sides of the county, Friday was a day of both fulfilled dreams and dreams yet to be realized. Moorpark and Oxnard community colleges held their commencement exercises as students donned caps and gowns and marched--some looking somber and reflective, others appearing glad that it was all over.

Oxnard College held its 19th graduation ceremony in its shiny new gymnasium. While the faculty and graduates filed in punctually, families and friends continued to drift in throughout much of the four-hour marathon.

More than 200 graduates participated in the college’s ceremony while a packed house of about 1,500 looked on, bellowing and cheering as their loved ones marched across the stage.

A female vocalist sang the national anthem as the public address system struggled a bit to overcome the constant drone of the ventilation system. The Pledge of Allegiance was said. And then they sat. And listened.

“We need to reflect on the accomplishments of hundreds of students,” Oxnard College President Elise Schneider said in her comments to the graduates. “Oxnard College is truly a microcosm of the diversity that has enriched this nation. . . . Don’t be afraid to take that next step to fulfill your dream.”

As the graduates stepped to the podium, they took part in the college’s somewhat unusual ceremony. After having their names announced, each student was allowed 30 seconds to speak. The students thanked family, God and friends--much in that order. Nearly half of the graduates addressed the audience and their fellow graduates in Spanish.

And they were happy. And proud.

“I’m proud about me because I made it to this stage and I’m ready to finish my education,” said Vanessa Calderon, 20, of Oxnard. Calderon came to the United States five years ago from Mexico to pursue a college degree. She has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship to study education at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks and hopes to teach English as a Second Language.

Across the county at Moorpark College, graduates assembled outside in the central quad under majestic trees to collect their diploma covers and shake the hand of their college president.

Under clear, blue skies, about 300 of the 776 people eligible participated in the commencement exercises. Moorpark’s 1994 Teacher of the Year, Tomas Sanchez, offered observations and thoughts to the students, including: “The receiving of your diplomas is not the end of a journey, but the beginning. You can now began a lifelong quest for knowledge and learning.”

Commencement speaker Fred Kavli echoed Sanchez. “Learn, learn, learn,” admonished the Moorpark businessman, who is president, chairman and chief executive officer of Kavlico Corp., Moorpark’s largest employer.

Born in Norway, Kavli came to the United States decades ago and delivered a rather somber address, citing what he perceived as large threats to America’s standard of living: a soaring federal budget deficit, trade imbalance and overpopulation.

“Look out for your future, no one else will,” he said. “But I envy you. You’re living in a very exciting time. . . . In your lifetime, you might find life on other heavenly bodies or maybe even intelligent life.”

Moments later, like clockwork and as in every other graduation, the rows of students stood one by one and marched toward the stage to receive the hearty congratulations of college officials they very likely had never before seen.

One proud father was so excited that he simultaneously held a video camera to his left eye and a 35-millimeter camera to his right eye as his daughter walked across the stage.

The beach balls were out, blown up and bopped around; a few mortarboards were spun into the air prematurely, and then the grand release of scores of black squares spiraling upward. It was over.

And like those at Oxnard College, the ceremony was also a beginning for the Moorpark graduates.

“I feel fantastic. Absolutely fantastic,” said Peter Ruffing, 20, of Thousand Oaks. Ruffing will transfer to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to study soil engineering. As a tassel dangled off the brim of the black cowboy hat he wore instead the traditional cap, he said, with a broad smile, “And I’m ready to go on.”