The warm sun radiated down on the Carmen Castellano courtyard as San Jose City College celebrated the commencement of the Latinx community on Friday, May 9.

“Esperanza. I think that’s what you all represent. The hope of our community, of our future.” Jesus Covarruibias, an SJCC faculty member said on stage. 

The ceremony is SJCC’s 27th bilingual graduation, aimed to highlight the Latinx community. It welcomed friends and family of the 2025 graduates, who enjoyed traditional foods like red rice, beans, fajitas, hand-made tortillas and aguas frescas.

Folclórico dancers from a local high school and L.U.Z, the Latinx Unity Zone, performed in their traditional, brightly colored dresses. The baile folclórico was followed by an indigenous procession as graduates made their way to their seats. 

“¡Aquí sabemos que los Mexicanos y Latinos son chingones!” Bryan Castillo said enthusiastically during his speech. Castillo is a METAS intern and business administration major.

Xiomara Martínez, an SJCC alumni and co-chair for the Latinx Education Association, otherwise known as L.E.A. also gave a speech at the commencement.

Times staff spoke with Martínez about what went into planning the event.

 “We’re really proud of being able to have a bilingual cultural celebration for our students,” Martínez said. “It is chaotic …We get support from the district and our administrators. They were all present today and they look forward to this event every year too.

Many of the grads also had the title of being first-generation graduates. Ruby García Aguilar, who is a child and adolescent development major, was one of them.

Aguilar smiled ear to ear as she said she felt “really proud and very grateful for this moment.” Aguilar, an aspiring teacher said, “I want to be that motivation and support system for our future generation.”

Times staff also spoke with Aguilar’s parents, who expressed their gratitude for the support SJCC has provided for their daughter. “Truthfully, she’s been reaching her goals more and more every day thanks to the team she has here,” said her dad, Jesus Garíca.

Ana Domínguez, a medical assistant major, had this to say about being Latinx. “It’s very empowering. I feel like it demonstrates that no matter our background, we can do whatever we put our minds to.”