When Louise Nicolei-Perez stood in front of a City College graduation banner, wearing a blue flowery blouse and white pants at the fourth annual AAPI graduation celebration, she expressed gratitude and delivered a cheerful message of hope.
“When we look at every student in this room, we see the very best of San Diego City College,” said Nicolei-Perez, who is a nursing major but also graduated with a degree in biology. “Each one of us is a living reflection, a legacy of the professors and the staff who poured their heart into us.”
That AAPI family gathered together to celebrate the achievements of City students at the AANHPI Connections Center, a recently dedicated space to foster culturally relevant stories and history for students identifying as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander.
“They say you don’t choose your family, but I think in this room, we did,” Nicolei-Perez said.
In her final address as president of the Asian & Pacific Islander Student Alliance Club, Nicolei-Perez thanked Josh Lindo, AANHPI student success coordinator, and the entire staff for their unyielding support.
“First of all, I would like to thank Josh, thank you for being our safe person and for always letting us have fun,” Nicolei-Perez said.
Lindo, who also teaches English at City, believes recognizing students’ accomplishments is vital.
“I just feel like a lot of this time our students don’t hear, like, ‘hey you went through hell,” Lindo said. “The fact that you’re still here, doing your best to succeed, really says something to who you are as a person.’”
To recognize the graduates, Nora Hinsley, an Inclusive City Achievement Network counselor at City, placed cords over the shoulders of each student honored and allowed them to share a few words.
Among those students who spoke were Elvis To and Lina Pagalan, both of whom were awarded scholarships to the “Come on down!” music of “The Price is Right” by DJ Cesar Gumapas.
Pagalan, who will be attending UC Berkeley in the fall, shared a heartfelt message of thanks to those who helped her along her journey and what the Connection Center meant to her.
“I want to emphasize the importance of the AANIPI Center,” Pagalan said. “The center is a safe and supportive space.”
Among the family and friends chatting and making candy leis was Marciano Perez, vice president of student services at City College, who reminded the future grads that this celebration was about them.
“Tonight we celebrate not only your degrees but your strength and dedication,” Perez said. “Never underestimate your impact on this world.”
Questions surrounding the future of the Connection Center were mentioned by the outgoing grads, but Perez said support to fund affinity groups like AANHPI, as part of the HH Bond and campus renovations, was in the works.
Following the completion of the affinity groups’ graduation celebrations, City College’s commencement will take place on Thursday, May 21, at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park from 5-7 p.m.
This story was edited by Tresean Osgood.
