Class of 2025 Honored in Merced, Los Banos Commencement Ceremonies

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James Leonard
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Academics, Graduation, News and Features
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Hundreds of graduating students from the Merced Community College District crossed the stage in front of family and friends at a pair of commencement ceremonies last week.

A record 91 students participated in the third annual commencement ceremony at the Los Banos Campus on May 22. The following evening, nearly 600 were recognized at the Main Campus in Merced.

“Tonight isn’t just a ceremony,” President Chris Vitelli said. “It’s a tribute—a tribute to your determination; to the support of every parent, partner, professor, and peer who helped lift you along the way; and to the idea that community colleges like Merced College are where dreams don’t just begin—they’re built.”

The Class of 2025 included many students who received special honors and were recognized during the commencement ceremonies, including:

  • 60 students who earned Superintendent’s Honors by completing at least 36 units with a grade-point average of 4.0;
  • 384 students graduating with Honors, having completed a minimum of 45 units with a GPA of 3.5 or better;
  • 98 students earning membership in Phi Theta Kappa, the largest international honor society serving two-year colleges offering associate degrees;
  • 60 students graduating as permanent members in Alpha Gamma Sigma, the California honor society for two-year colleges; and
  • 14 students who earned membership in Alpha Delta Nu, an honor society for nursing.

Vitelli closed his remarks with appreciation for the effort required for each student to achieve this milestone.

“We know how hard you worked to be here, and we don’t take that lightly,” he said. “We see your sacrifice. We celebrate your resilience. And we hope you leave tonight not only proud of what you’ve achieved, but also proud to forever be part of the Merced College family.”

Los Banos Ceremony

Graduates of the Los Banos Campus heard a keynote address from Los Banos Mayor Michael Amabile, a Merced College alumnus.

In addressing the graduates, Amabile reflected on his own journey as a former student, crediting the college with shaping not only his career but his personal life. With humor and heartfelt encouragement, he urged graduates to view their diplomas not as a finish line but as a launch pad for lives of purpose and service.

“Merced College has changed quite a bit since I was here,” Amabile said. “There are new buildings, new programs, and a whole lot more coffee options. But its mission has stayed the same—to open doors, to challenge minds, and to lift people higher than they ever thought they could go. And looking out at you tonight, I can confidently say: Mission accomplished.”

In a heartfelt address to the Class of 2025, Los Banos student speaker Glayjel Calso challenged common misconceptions about community college and highlighted the resilience, strength, and unity found at Merced College. He reminded graduates that their path, though different than they may have planned, was no less meaningful.

“This place is not a backup—it’s a launchpad for future success,” Calso said. “As I look around, I see a graduating class that didn’t just make it through—you thrived.”

Calso reflected on the unique support and closeness found on the Los Banos Campus, a place he said was both literally and figuratively close to home. By weaving in the campus’s own history of growth and perseverance, he emphasized that both students and their college have overcome challenges and continue to rise.

Looking ahead, he expressed a desire not only to return, but to give back.

“I hope to come back to Merced College soon—not just to visit, but to give back and become the change I was grateful to see,” he said. “I hope you also consider returning back to the community that brought you in with open arms.”

Merced Ceremony

The keynote address at the Merced ceremony on May 23 was delivered by U.S. Congressman Adam Gray, a proud Merced College alumnus and lifelong Valley advocate.

Drawing on his own journey from Merced College to the halls of Congress, Gray reflected on the life-changing impact of accessible, affordable education and the responsibility that comes with achievement.

“You’re not just graduating—you’re stepping into leadership,” Gray said. “The degrees you hold are more than credentials—they’re tools to shape your lives, your families, and your communities.”

Gray, who will proudly wear a Merced College jersey at the Congressional Baseball Game in June, reflected on personal setbacks, community needs, and the transformative potential of every graduate seated before him.

“Merced College offered me an alternative,” Gray said. “It was a place close to home, with flexible schedules and affordable tuition. It was a place where I could work and attend classes, where I could explore ideas and develop goals. And most importantly, it was a place with faculty and staff who believed in me. That belief can change a life. It changed mine.”

The student speaker for the Merced commencement was Payal Nunes, who reflected on her personal journey from the Fiji Islands to Merced, drawing a powerful connection between early childhood education and the transformative experiences of college life.

Nunes, who is earning her degree in Early Childhood Education, highlighted how Merced College fostered not only academic achievement but also deep personal growth, resilience, and community.

“Merced College gave us a foundation, not just of knowledge, but of resilience, community, and purpose,” she said. “It’s where we discovered our strength, found our voice, and realized we are ready to shape the world.”

Nunes expressed gratitude to her family, professors, and peers for their support and inspiration, and encouraged fellow graduates to pursue lives of impact and meaning. She urged the Class of 2025 to see this moment not as an end, but as a new beginning—an invitation to go forward with courage, compassion, and the commitment to give back.

“Let’s go out into the world with the same curiosity and courage we’ve cultivated here,” Nunes said. “Let’s be the teachers, the leaders, the change-makers our communities need. And let’s always remember the place that brought us together—Merced College, where we found our voice, our moment, and our purpose.”