[MUSIC PLAYING]
TIFFANY COLEMAN: The African American celebration
of graduates is a celebration where students and families can
come together and celebrate their graduates, the student's
accomplishments.
HENRY SHANNON: We're celebrating the African American students
graduating here.
Gives an experience for that community
to say congratulations to them as well.
ADRIENNE GRAYSON: It's a celebration
for all the hard work that our graduates have put in.
It's a celebration of their peers.
It's celebration of their friends.
It's a celebration of the community.
And it's a celebration of the culture.
TIFFANY COLEMAN: My favorite part of this celebration
is the drum entrance.
People get excited.
They see that graduates coming through the door,
and the drums, and it's kind of unexpected.
ADRIENNE GRAYSON: My favorite part of the ceremony
is when the students get to walk across that stage,
and they get to look out to their family and their friends
that are there to share in that moment with them.
And they get to say, we did it.
All of us did this together.
FARRAH BLANCANEAUEAX: Being a part of this celebration
I feel honored.
It's encouraging to see how far we've come.
It's amazing to know that we are going to go out in the world
and actually make a difference.
IBRAHIM BERETEH: Chaffey should continue
celebrating the African American graduates
because it encourages our black culture.
DONNA COLONDRES: It is important for this celebration
to continue because students from the African diaspora
will continue to attend Chaffey college,
and we need to make it a practice of our institution
to celebrate all cultures.
GLEN STANDFORD: Acknowledging the fact
that a lot of African American students
don't get the opportunity to graduate,
but you're taking this step to be encouraged enough
to go out what some family members couldn't do,
it's a great step towards succeeding in a path
that you want to succeed in.
HENRY SHANNON: Many of these students,
this is the first in their family to go to college.
Education is so important, and getting a higher education
degree sets the tone for themselves, their family,
and their community, and also for the state
as well as for the country.
SPEAKER 1: Our limitlessness is bound
in the realm of possibilities we're nurtured by.
This is our village.
This is our family.
We are living together.
[CHEERING]
TIFFANY COLEMAN: I want to say congratulations
to the graduating class.
I know, together, they can achieve anything
that they set out to achieve, and I'm proud of them.
GLEN STANDFORD: I'm feeling happy.
I'm feeling relieved that I'm getting closer
to my goal and my path.
FARRAH BLANCANEAUEAX: I'm so proud of you guys.
I'm so proud of all of us.
ADRIENNE GRAYSON: I'd like to say to the graduating class
that this is an amazing achievement,
but it's just one of many.
They are going to accomplish countless other successes
and achievements in their lifetime.
And this is just one stepping stone in their journey.
We want to hear about all the wonderful things they're
going to do because we know this is just the beginning.
[MUSIC PLAYING]