Thanks to a transformational $1-million gift from philanthropist Roger Frey, the San Diego Community College District is ensuring students completing healthcare degree and certificate programs can start their careers immediately.
Connie Renda, MA, RHIA, CHDA, Program Director and Assistant Professor for Health Information Technology and Management, was recognized by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) with the prestigious Leadership Award.
We are excited to share the members of Generation Hope's California Presidents Circle, the first in a new national initiative designed to equip higher education executives with tools, data, and peer support to truly champion parenting students and their families.
May 28, 2026
From Stepping Outside Her Comfort Zone to Center Stage: Meet Mesa College’s 2026 Commencement Speaker, Alina Vasilenko
Newsroom Student Spotlight
From Stepping Outside Her Comfort Zone to Center Stage: Meet Mesa College’s 2026 Commencement Speaker, Alina Vasilenko
For Business Administration student Alina Vasilenko, success began with saying yes to opportunities that once felt intimidating.
Selected as San Diego Mesa College’s 2026 Commencement Student Speaker, Vasilenko will address her fellow graduates with a message rooted in courage, growth, and embracing the unknown.
Originally inspired by her father, a successful entrepreneur and one of the most influential people in her life, Vasilenko discovered her passion for business through travel and global experiences. Growing up, she and her family traveled extensively around the world, exposing her to different cultures, innovative hospitality concepts, and meaningful connections with people from diverse backgrounds.
Those experiences sparked her interest in hospitality and business and inspired her long-term goal of creating her own global hospitality business.
“Seeing unique hotels, restaurants, and cultures made me realize how powerful hospitality and business can be in creating experiences people truly enjoy and remember,” said Vasilenko.
At Mesa College, Vasilenko strengthened both her academic foundation and her confidence as a leader. Through her involvement in Mesa’s Associated Student Government and campus activities, she developed communication and leadership skills that helped her grow personally and professionally.
“Mesa helped me become a more confident and open person,” she shared. “I’m very grateful to Mesa College for helping me move closer to my goals.”
As commencement speaker, Vasilenko hopes graduates and incoming students remember that growth happens when people challenge themselves beyond what feels comfortable.
“It’s scary, nerve-racking, and uncomfortable to put yourself out there,” said Vasilenko. “But stepping outside of your comfort zone can open so many doors for you.”
She encourages students to stay involved, apply for opportunities, volunteer, and remain open to new experiences, even when self-doubt creeps in.
“If you never try, you will never know what opportunities, connections, or talents you could have discovered within yourself,” she said.
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Anabell Pulido
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For Stephen Hidalgo, the path to higher education was anything but straightforward. Born in Chicago and raised in Mexico during the first years of his life, Hidalgo returned to Chicago where he faced years of hardship, trauma, and isolation growing up as a gay student. At 25, he and his mother made a life changing decision to move to San Diego in search of safety, stability, and a new beginning.
From Stepping Outside Her Comfort Zone to Center Stage: Meet Mesa College’s 2026 Commencement Speaker, Alina Vasilenko
San Diego, CA — San Diego Mesa College will honor its 2026 scholarship recipients during the 33rd Annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 recognizing the academic excellence, resilience, and aspirations of its students. This year, the college will award nearly $250,000 across 114 scholarship opportunities, resulting in 281 individual awards to 202 students. Sixty students will receive multiple scholarships, underscoring both their accomplishments and the Mesa College community’s continued commitment to student success.
