San Bernardino Valley College saw its largest graduating class in the school’s history on Friday, May 23, 2025, when 1,765 graduates were honored for earning associate degrees and certificates.
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San Bernardino Valley College graduates smile at the camera prior to their commencement ceremony at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Courtesy of Valley College)
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San Bernardino Valley College graduates smile at the camera prior to their commencement ceremony at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Courtesy of Valley College)
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The commencement ceremony, held at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino, featured student speaker Jesse Chavez-Cordova, an SBVC graduate, community advocate, and former two-term council member in the city of Highland.
Graduation 2025: Dates, times for San Bernardino County high schools, colleges, universities
Chavez-Cordova made history in 2016 as the youngest openly gay, first-generation Latino elected to public office in Highland, where he served for eight years before stepping down in November 2024 to complete his education at SBVC. Now he is preparing to transfer to Cal State San Bernardino, to major in strategic communications with a pre-law minor.
Chavez-Cordova credits SBVC for helping him “find his voice, his direction, and the confidence to lead with purpose.”
