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³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ earned a spotless review from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) last week.

The Merced Community College District celebrated graduates from the Class of 2024 with a pair of commencement ceremonies last week.

For the second consecutive year, students from the Westside of Merced County will get a celebration of their own, as more than 80 graduates are expected to participate in commencement at the Los Banos Campus on May 23.

To celebrate someone, you have to see them. That was the goal and the point behind the inaugural Lavender Graduation celebration for LGBTQIA+ students at ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ on April 26. ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ sophomore Lukas Hammett, a transgender man, pushed for an event where people could applaud LGBTQIA+ students for their accomplishments.

During ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ’s Commencement ceremonies on May 23-24, we’ll celebrate hundreds of graduates who are joining the Blue Devil alumni family. In this article, we spotlight a special group: graduates who are children of ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ faculty and classified professionals.

In his distinguished 14-year tenure as president of ³Ô¹ÏÍ·Ìõ, Ben Duran led the construction of many of the college’s current buildings, creating much-needed space during a time of significant growth in student interest and enrollment.

Throughout April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the U.S., we’re reminded that survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and the like, come from all genders, socioeconomic strata, races and ages.