Record number graduate from Cerritos College

Annie Gutierrez delivered this year’s commencement speech for Cerritos College.

For the third consecutive year, Cerritos College honored its largest graduating class in the campus’s history.

During its 66th annual commencement ceremony held on May 17, the college conferred nearly 8,000 degrees and certificates. The Class of 2024 overwhelmingly surpassed last year’s record-breaking number of degrees and certificates by 1,800 awards.

Student commencement speaker Annie Gutierrez congratulated the Class of 2024 for their accomplishments and shared her story of perseverance and resilience.

Gutierrez’s passion for art led her to pursue animation and graphic design studies at Cerritos College in 2016. Her path took an unexpected turn in 2019 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, prompting a temporary break from college.

After returning in 2020, she resumed her coursework in animation and graphic design amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic. In 2021, she faced yet another obstacle when a tumor was found in her brain, putting her education on hold a second time.

After nearly two years of treatment and recovery, she returned to Cerritos College in 2023 with a new determination to pursue a career in dental assisting and received her associate degree in just three semesters. This summer, she will participate in an internship at a dental office to gain hands-on experience working with patients.

“Yes, I have a neurological disability, and I’m a cancer survivor, but I am also a dental assistant. I have much more than what I believe was an unexpected setback in my life,” Gutierrez said. “What you may see as the end of the world does not define who you are and what you choose to do in life.”

Cerritos College recently set a goal to graduate 50 percent of its students within five years or less by spring 2029.

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate another historic year at Cerritos College,” said Dr. Jose Fierro, Cerritos College president and superintendent.