On Friday, June 11, the Murdock Stadium will be swarming with the color blue; more than 1,000 EC students will be receiving their degrees and certificates.

Aleda Jackson, administrative assistant for student services, said that starting at 1 p.m., the graduates are invited to the front lawn of the Schauerman Library for the commencement ceremony.

“The ceremony starts at four in the afternoon at Murdock Stadium,” Jackson said. The graduation doesn’t last more than an hour, she said.

The keynote speaker will be Cliff Meidl, 2003 Distinguished Alumni and a 1995 kayaking gold medallist.

Most of the students will be graduating with an associate degree in arts and science, Director of Admissions Bill Mulrooney, said.

Although graduation approaches, graduates will have to wait longer than usual to receive their diplomas.

“Ordinarily, it will be mailed,” Mulrooney said.

“An outside vendor handles the diplomas; late summer is when it will receive them,” he said.

For graduating students interested in continuing to study here, they can still register for classes this summer, Mulrooney said.

However, students will have to apply again if they want to take a class next fall, he said.

As June 11 approaches, students reminisce over the time spent here, but they also look forward to the new experiences awaiting them.

Abby Tatlilioglu, 21, will soon be graduating but reflects on her time spent here.

“I’ve taken classes here. I’ve have worked here, I’ve made good friends,” she said.

Tatlilioglu will be attending CSU Long Beach, but would like to return to EC as a math professor. Titlilioglu has been a supplemental instructor here.

“I’ll miss students’ reactions,” she said, referring to the students she tutored. “I’ve been seeing the success of students.”

Nevertheless, Tatlilioglu looks forward to and is ready to leave EC.

“I’m ready to move on; it’s time to leave,” she said.