American River College Holds Graduation Ceremony

An estimated crowd of about 4,000 people attended the 56th annual commencement at American River College in the school stadium on Wednesday evening.

Melissa Brewer of Carmichael is a member of the 2011 American River graduating
class, earning an associate of arts degree in anthropology. A high school
dropout and the first in her family to attend college, she will transfer to the University of California, Davis to study anthropology, with a special focus on the culture of Native Americans. Brewer aims to earn a Ph.D.

What Brewer said she liked best about attending ARC was the “community
feel” of the school.

“Everyone is in it together and always there to help each other out,” Brewer said. “Especially Cecilia Mayer and Rick Ramirez in the transfer center, they have a real passion for helping out the students.”

This year’s American River commencement was also a family affair.

Mikalai Kalman graduated with high honors (a 3.5 grade-point average or higher), earning an associate of science degree in clean diesel technology.

“My experience at ARC has been a great opportunity to meet others and gain knowledge,” he said.

Kalman plans to attend California State University, Sacramento. His daughter Lana is currently enrolled there.

Lana Kalman, who was by her father’s side during the commencement, graduated ARC with honors (a 3.0 to 3.49 grade-point average or higher), with an associate of arts degree in liberal arts and social science. Asked her reasons for choosing to attend ARC, she noted the school’s scheduling flexibility and its close proximity to the family home.

American River’s graduating class of 1,608 for 2010 - 11 represents a
12 percent increase from 2009 - 10, school officials said. 

Carmichael Patch contacted Susie Williams, vice chancellor of communications research for the Los Rios District, whose 90,000-plus students attend ARC, Consumnes River College, Folsom Lake College and Sacramento
City College.

“District-wide we have seen a strong growth trend in the number of degrees and
certificates awarded by our colleges,” Williams said. “In part, this is probably due to the fact that for the past five or so years we have seen growth in enrollment of traditional age students and these students are graduating and transferring to four-year universities and colleges."

“We are also seeing the benefits of our Educational Initiative, which began in 2005, and was designed to focus attention on first-time freshman to increase their completion of their educational goals," she said. "We think we will see this trend
of increased completion rates continue in spite of very difficult budget
issues.”

It is no secret that California’s tax revenues are down. That in turn impacts state spending.

In ’s May revision of the state budget, he maintained the proposed to the for the 2011-12 year, according to a press statement from the office of Chancellor Jack Scott. Beginning in fall 2011, student fees will climb from $26 per credit unit to $36, a 38.5 percent jump. Community college student fees could rise higher if the Legislature and voters do not approve extensions of temporary taxes that expire on June 30. 

Back at American River, the ratio of female to male graduates in 2010-11 was 2:1 versus 1.75: 1 in 2009 - 10.

According to Williams, this could be just a statistical fluke of this year’s class of graduates.

“We need to see if these ratios continue into future years,” she said.

Meanwhile, ARC graduates are moving forward with their lives, while looking back at their time on the campus near Carmichael.

Anthony Sanchez graduated from ARC with an associate of arts degree in fire technology. He plans to take a break this summer before seeking work experience as an emergency medical technician.

“My ultimate goal is to be a fire fighter,” Sanchez said. To this end, he plans to return to ARC and enroll in its fire technology program.   

Asked what he liked most about attending ARC, Sanchez noted meeting “great people” of all backgrounds. His girlfriend tops that list.

His least favorite thing at ARC is a policy that bans students from using Facebook on library computers.

“But I understand why,” Sanchez said.