Students, families and friends gathered on the A building patio to celebrate the graduation of their peers during Puente Noche de Familia on Thursday, May 8.
The event was organized by Puente, a student success program that focuses on Latine students, offering counseling, mental health support and professors to work with at San Diego City College. Attendees were encouraged to indulge in chicken mole, carnitas and rice before the ceremony began.
Students and faculty affiliated with Puente spoke before the crowd to talk about their experiences at City College. One such student, Luis Morales, spoke passionately about the progress he has made.
“I’m no longer just a plug,” Morales said at the end of his speech. “I’m a student, a fighter, a coach and a constant work in progress. And if I can change my story, imagine what we can do together for our community.”
During the event, the student cabinet for next year’s Associated Student Government was announced. Morales will be Treasurer for the 2025 – 2026 year.
Morales and others credited part of their success to Lisa Margo Garcia, the Puente embedded therapist at City College. She guided the crowd through a meditation at the top of the event and used the opportunity to thank the students for setting up the venue.
“I want to thank the students, because they did a lot of hard work,” Garcia said. “Everything that you see they did themselves.”
The ceremony was rounded out with students being adorned with sashes and having their degrees handed to them, but just before they did, Math professor Roberto Rubalcaba took to the podium to state how proud he was of his students.
“I’m beyond proud of our amazing Puentistas, beyond proud honestly,” Rubalcaba said. “They make me remember my why.”
Students interested in joining Puente can apply by completing a digital form after meeting the requirements, which can be found on their website.
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect a photo caption change as it was labeled incorrectly. City Times regrets the error.
