When Melissa Chavez walks across the stage at San Diego Mesa College on Friday, May 30, 2025, she’ll be celebrating more than just a degree in Culinary Arts. She’ll be celebrating a journey of growth, resilience, and newfound purpose made possible by the power of community college support.

I was born in Munich, Germany, but moved to California right before I turned a year old; so unfortunately, I do not speak German. I lived in San Jose until I was eight, then I moved to San Diego, where I have been for the latter half of my life.

San Diego, CA. — Today, Friday, May 26 at 2:00 p.m., San Diego Mesa College will host their 58th Commencement Ceremony, where nearly 700 of the 2,000 academic degrees and certificates earned this year will be conferred. Among them are the sixth set of students receiving Bachelor of Science degrees in Health Information Management (HIM), scores of first-generation students, and over 100 each of student-athletes and Promise students. Nearly 650 students are graduating with more than one degree, and the Class of 2023 boasts 110 valedictorians and over 700 students who are graduating with honors. Mesa’s youngest graduate is 17, and the oldest is 72.

Megan grew up all over San Diego, but has always called Logan Heights home. Her grandmother lives there and she spent a lot of time there when she was younger over summers and after school. Growing up in Logan Heights made Megan proud to be a Chicana. Megan knew she wanted to go to college because she recognized it as the best avenue to further her professional life and a platform to give her the opportunity to make a difference in her community. Megan chose Mesa College because she had a friend who was currently attending and her friend told Megan that the campus was beautiful and there were a lot of resources offered.

Danny Dunn took ASL classes offered at Mesa during high school when his high school did not offer them, in preparation of university application and admissions requirements. Unfortunately, he developed a severe illness that made completing high school a struggle, and he did not expect to graduate on time. Instead of completing 4-year university applications, Danny decided to attend Mesa and then transfer.