May 7, 2025, Santa Rosa, CA — Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) will celebrate its 106th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at Bailey Field Stadium. This year’s keynote address will be delivered by Tsione Wolde-Michael, a nationally recognized arts administrator and historian, and founding director of the Center for Restorative History at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. 

The student speaker is Osmarth Espejo Enríquez, a first-generation college graduate earning an associate degree in Communications. Originally from Texas, Espejo Enríquez has been a vocal advocate for student equity at SRJC, participating in programs such as EOPS and the Puente Project and speaking at the California State Capitol. “I am honored to represent not just my own journey, but the courage, persistence, and collective triumph of the Class of 2025,” he said.

Wolde-Michael, appointed by President Biden in 2022 to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, has led major initiatives in cultural policy and restorative justice both nationally and internationally. A graduate of Macalester College and Harvard University, she said, “It is a distinct honor to speak at Santa Rosa Junior College's 2025 Commencement Ceremony. SRJC’s record of academic excellence reflects the talents, perspectives, and ambitions of its students.”

More than 1,450 students are expected to participate in the ceremony, with SRJC awarding over 2,045 degrees. Graduates range in age from 15 to 79, reflecting the college’s commitment to educational access and lifelong learning. 

In addition to commencement, SRJC will host Celebrate CE on Friday, May 23, at 5:00 p.m. in Haehl Pavilion, recognizing 1,946 students who completed 2,317 Career Education certificates and majors. Top certificate programs include Emergency Care for First Responders, Business Administration, Nursing, Pre-Allied Health, Powers of Arrest, and Emergency Medical Technician.

The commencement ceremony is a ticketed event, with gates opening at 7:30 a.m. Bailey Field Stadium is located at 1501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA. Free parking is available in the adjacent parking structure and nearby campus lots. The ceremony will be held rain or shine and will be livestreamed at live.santarosa.edu. 

Visit SRJC’s 2025 Commencement and Celebrate CE for more information.