Graduation and Commemoration Rolled Into One

The county’s original community college conferred degrees on its 75th commencement class Thursday in a ceremony that celebrated the institution nearly as much as the 350 graduates assembled in its gym.

Ventura College President Larry Calderon used the occasion to commemorate the 1925 founding of the campus--the oldest institution of higher learning in the county.

“When Ventura College was starting out, both World War II and the Great Depression were looming in the distant future,” Calderon told the crowd of thousands who turned out to support friends and relatives in the graduating class. “Babe Ruth was still playing ball and Knute Rockne was the football coach of Notre Dame . . . But in this little town of about 9,000 people, there was insight and trust in the future to build Ventura College.”

Keynote speaker Jim Moore, a former superintendent of the local college district, praised the school--one of three the district operates.

“It’s one of the finest community colleges in the state,” said Moore, who was Ventura College’s head football coach from 1957 to 1967. “You should be proud.”

The ceremony also took on a decidedly romantic twist when moments after receiving his diploma, Somis resident Kenny Tomimitsu knelt onstage to offer his hand in marriage to fellow graduate Kimberly Lewis, standing nearby.

To hoots and hollers from the audience, Tomimitsu pulled a diamond ring from his sock, and with a nod from a tearful Lewis, placed it on her finger.

“I love surprises,” said the 26-year-old Tomimitsu, who had secretly arranged it so that he and his girlfriend were the last two graduates to receive diplomas. “I’m closing one chapter of my life, and opening another, and I wanted to do it hand in hand with her.”

The couple, who have been dating for three years, both plan to finish their education at Cal State Northridge and become teachers.

“I had always hoped for something special,” said Lewis, 24. “He’s so romantic.”

Other graduates talked excitedly of their plans.

Trishia Tuazon Bigornia, 19, who received an associate in arts degree, said she intends to return to the college in the fall to start in the nursing program.

Bigornia, who works at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard monitoring EKG machines, said she had not planned to attend the graduation ceremony until her family urged her to do so.

“They told me it was something to be proud of,” she said.

Her father, Ambrosio Bigornia of Oxnard, with his camera in hand, said he felt lucky to have two talented children.

“My son will graduate from UCLA next month,” said the beaming father, who loads ships at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme.

Typically, only a fraction of those who are eligible participate in commencement exercises. This year, the campus has issued more than 900 associate degrees.

But for Oxnard resident Marguerite York, it was an occasion not to be missed.

York, 44, walked to the podium with her 19-year-old son David, a fellow graduate who will transfer to San Diego State University in the fall.

The mother of two said she postponed a college education until her children were older. Now she intends to work on a degree in childhood development at CSUN’s satellite campus in Camarillo.

“I can’t believe it after all this time,” said York, fighting back tears. “My first responsibility was to my children and my husband. Now it’s my time.”

Outgoing student body president Antonio Murillo, a construction worker, said he also took a break from school before returning for a college education at the age of 29.

“I graduated from high school with a D+ average,” said Murillo, who said he will transfer to UC Santa Barbara in September. “Now look at me--I graduated with honors. I turned into a man and applied myself.”