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On Friday, May 20, 2022, 69 graduates joined by friends and families participated in the Latinx Cultural Graduate Celebration in the Chapel. Director of MFA Dance Program and undergraduate Performing Arts Professor Rogelio Lopez served as the master of ceremonies. “You have broken the mold that has been placed on us in this U.S. society. And by doing so, you’ve created a more just world. You have proved to the younger generation that sí se puede [yes, it can be done],” he shared with the class of graduating students. 

After Brother Michael Avila, FSC, a longtime mentor and advocate for Latinx students at Saint Mary’s, delivered a convocation, graduating Business Administration student Cecilia Estrada Navarro presented her keynote speech. “I came into SMC knowing the name of only one person, a Mexican alumna Barbara Ibarra,” she shared. “I wanted to be like her in my college experience, so my first week at Saint Mary’s, I got involved in La Hermandad, Ballet Folklórico Guadalupano, Hermanas, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Latinx Cultural Night, Latinx Business. All of this was thanks to a Mexican who broke barriers.”

Navarro also gave a special thank you to Sodexo and Able workers who provided a welcoming environment for many Latinx students at Saint Mary's. After graduation, Navarro plans to work while studying engineering and continuing to pursue her passion for comedy and entertainment. 

Navarro presented the Brother Manuel Vega Award to World Languages and Cultures Professor Alvaro Ramirez, who mentored Latinx students at Saint Mary’s for decades and was integral to starting the Latinx Grad tradition at the College 24 years ago. Psychology major Victoria Jacobo ’22 presented the Student Leadership Award to Communication major Stephanie Ramirez ’22, who served as a coordinator for the Bay Area Student Shorts Film Festival, a Financial Aid student ambassador, and Latinx Cultural Night co-chair, and was involved with student club Hermanas. 

After an emotional sash presentation, Global and Regional Studies and Spanish alumna Amaury Avalos ’15 gave graduates their alumni pins.

“Latinx Cultural grad is important because it helps create a space for people from the Latino community to come together and celebrate our accomplishments these past four years,” shared Navarro. “It also gave my peers a place to properly thank the people who helped them get to where they are, by giving them an opportunity to speak before getting their stole—which to me is very powerful and I really appreciate that we are given this opportunity at Saint Mary’s.”