May 25, 2025, Santa Rosa, CA —The Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) 105th Commencement ceremony was held on Saturday, May 25, at 9:00 a.m., at Bailey Field Stadium. Mike McGuire, Senate President pro-Tempore and SRJC alumnus, was the 2024 Commencement speaker. The student speaker for this year’s graduating class was Daniella Orosco.
More than 1500 students will receive degrees this year. SRJC officials expect to award more than 2000 degrees, as many students earn more than one degree. The youngest graduate is 17 years old and the oldest is 71. Additional celebrations included the “Celebrate CE” ceremony on Friday, May 24 at 5 pm in the Haehl Pavilion The event celebrated students who have completed almost 900 Career Education Certificates over the past year.
SRJC’s 2024 Commencement Speaker, Mike McGuire was elected to the California State Senate in 2014, and re-elected in 2018 and again in 2022. He became the Majority Leader in 2022 and now serves as President pro Tempore of the Senate. Mike is a third-generation Northern Californian whose family farmed prunes and grapes in the Alexander Valley of Sonoma County for nearly a half-century. Mike served on his local school board, city council, and board of supervisors before being elected to the Senate. He represents the Second Senate District that stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border and includes Del Norte, Trinity, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin counties. Mike, his wife Erika, an elementary school principal, along with their son Connor, call Sonoma County home with their lazy pug, Gertrude.
“Ranked as one of the top community colleges in the West, the Santa Rosa Junior College is a gift to our community. And at the heart of this oak-studded campus we all love are the amazing students. Each one with a unique story of overcoming challenges and a relentless determination to make this community stronger. As a SRJC grad, I couldn’t be prouder and more excited to join the Class of 2024 and celebrate the big day with their family and friends,” said Senator McGuire.
Daniela Orosco is a first-generation college student majoring in Studio Arts. She is transferring to San Jose State University for the Animation and Illustration program in Fall 2024. Daniela aspires to work in video game and cartoon development to create worlds like she used to dream of being a part of as a child. She looks forward to one day sitting with her family and watching her own cartoons on the screen.
“I am so honored to be chosen to be the SRJC Commencement Student Speaker,” Orosco said. “There were many qualified students with stories to tell about how SRJC impacted their life. I believe my story will resonate with many of our students because we’ve all had a dream and SRJC has helped us reach it.”
More information on 2024 Commencement is available at SRJC Graduation 2024
More information on 2024 Celebrate CE is available at Celebrate CE 2024
