El Camino College Celebrates the Class of 2025 at Inspiring Commencement Ceremony
TORRANCE, Calif. – In a powerful demonstration of resilience, achievement, and community pride, El Camino College presented its 2025 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 13 at 4 p.m. in Murdock Stadium. Over 1,200 graduates crossed the stage in front of a capacity crowd of more than 8,000 family members, friends, and loved ones who gathered to celebrate this important milestone.
The 78th commencement ceremony also made history when it awarded the college’s first-ever bachelor’s degrees. Twenty-five students received a Bachelor of Science in respiratory care after completing the degree requirements to prepare them for careers as respiratory therapists. With their new bachelor’s degree, students can also find positions in leadership, education, and case management. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for respiratory therapists is highly positive, with employment expected to grow by 13 percent from 2022 to 2032.
El Camino College President Dr. Brenda Thames, along with the El Camino Community College District Board of Trustees, welcomed several distinguished guests to the celebration, including Ara An, representing Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell of the Second District; Torrance Mayor George Chen; and Torrance City Councilmembers Jon Kaji and Bridgett Lewis.
Board of Trustees members Trisha Murakawa, Nilo Vega Michelin, Katherine Steinbroner Maschler, and Brett C.S. Roberts joined President Thames, members of her Executive Cabinet, and distinguished faculty and staff in honoring the Class of 2025 and extending their congratulations to graduates who have persevered through academic challenges, economic headwinds, and global uncertainty.
“The Class of 2025 has demonstrated extraordinary resolve, compassion, and excellence,” said Dr. Thames. “This moment is not only a celebration of academic success, but a testament to the power of education to uplift, empower, and unite. We are so proud of every graduate who walked the stage and of the families, faculty, and staff who supported them every step of the way.”
Student speakers were also featured at the event. El Camino’s 2024-25 Associated Student Organization President Danielle Kabboul reflected on how the college played a role in her self-actualization.
“After being immersed in the student organizations, academic programs and vibrant communities that El Camino has to offer, I know a lot more about what community colleges can do,” said Kabboul, who plans to transfer to Yale University this fall and pursue her interests in global affairs and international human rights. “The peers, friends and mentors who I have met here believed in me way before I believed in myself and helped me become someone who I truly never knew I could be.”
Wesley Marshall, El Camino’s 2024-25 student trustee, also shared how his college experience prepared him to transfer to Stanford University this fall, where he plans to continue his studies in management science and engineering.
“I hope to enter engineering leadership to use technical engineering and advocacy for policies to enable scientific discovery,” Marshall said after the ceremony.
After students turned their tassels from the right to the left, signifying the crossing from one academic achievement level to the next, they proudly exited the stadium as graduates and the latest alumni of El Camino College. The ceremony closed with cheers, music, and a renewed sense of hope for the future – reminding all in attendance that even in challenging times, achievement and unity prevail.
El Camino College offers hundreds of in-person, online, and hybrid courses to help students meet their academic and career goals in a welcoming educational environment. Registration is now open for summer and fall 2025.
The schedule of classes, in both digital and searchable formats, can be viewed online: www.elcamino.edu/schedule. Students may register online 24 hours a day at www.elcamino.edu by clicking on MyECC. Financial aid is available to qualifying students – go to www.studentaid.gov/ to apply. For more information, view www.elcamino.edu or call 310-532-3670.