May 18, 2018
San Diego Mesa College to Confer First Bachelor’s Degrees in the History of the College
By Office of Communications
San Diego, CA. — On Saturday, May 19, San Diego Mesa College will make history by
awarding the College’s first Bachelor of Science degrees in Health Information Management (HIM) to sixteen students. The HIM Program is a continuation of the College’s Health Information Technology (HEIT) Associates
Degree program, and provides accessible, high-quality, industry-approved instruction
designed to prepare students to work at a management level in a health care setting.
“This is a truly historic year for Mesa College,” stated San Diego Mesa College President
Dr. Pamela T. Luster. “We will award the first Bachelor’s degrees in Health Information
Management, and our associate degree students are transferring to excellent colleges
and universities. We are also proud of our first set of San Diego Promise students,
many of whom are graduating with honors.”
Other “firsts” for the College this year is the graduation of the first set of students
whose education was funded under the San Diego Promise program. For the first time as well, Mesa College will be live-streaming the 2018 Commencement
at www.sdmesa.edu/mesalive so that family and friends who cannot otherwise attend, can enjoy from afar.
Nearly 2,000 students are earning degrees and certificates in 2018, an 8% percent
increase over 2017. Over 700 students are graduating with more than one degree, and
the Class of 2018 boasts 34 valedictorians and close to 600 students who are graduating
with Honors.
This year, Antonio Martinez is receiving Mesa’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Mr. Martinez
graduated from Mesa in 2005, and transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where
he earned a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Currently, Mr. Martinez
serves as the Director of Public Relations at Imperial Beach Community Clinic.
The Mesa College Commencement takes place at the Jenny Craig Pavilion at USD on Saturday,
May 19 at 3:00pm, with San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees, administrators,
faculty and staff are joining over 740 graduates and thousands of family members for
the ceremony.
Tags: Allied Health, Commencement2018, Press Release, Health Information Management, Baccalaureate
