News

They entered the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla years ago, emotionally wrung out by tragedy, criminal convictions and prison time.

When the Rising Scholars program began at Merced College in the spring semester of 2016, the mission was to remove as many obstacles as possible to assist currently and formerly incarcerated people to access and earn a college education.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education has recognized Merced College with a 2023 CASE Circle of Excellence Award for outstanding achievements in educational advancement.

The sparkling new Hermione Isakow Plaza at Merced College was the site of President Chris Vitelli’s annual State of the College address on Tuesday, May 30.

A pair of historic commencement ceremonies were held at Merced College last week to honor the Class of 2023, with hundreds of students crossing the stage in Merced and Los Banos.

Patrick Wollett graduated from Merced College on Thursday, May 18. He heard his name called, heard the cheers from his family and instructors, received congratulatory handshakes from dignitaries, and celebrated afterward with his classmates and loved ones.

If you find yourself staring at a line of students waiting to walk into a graduation ceremony this month, spend a few minutes considering how they arrived at that moment in the first place.

A “we can do this” attitude should be the ethos of any good community college. Merced College does impressive work living that philosophy, and the proof can be found in what must be considered one of the biggest wins of the 2023 graduation season.

More than 1,200 Merced College students are eligible to cross the stage at a pair of historic commencement ceremonies this month.

The ninth annual State of the College event at Merced College returns Tuesday, May 30, with a celebration of the Isakow Family and the unveiling of the new Hermione Isakow Plaza.