COMPTON- Compton College celebrated the academic achievements of its students at the 2023 Commencement Ceremony on June 9, held at the Dignity Health Sports Center Tennis Stadium in Carson, Calif. Addressing the Class of 2023 was keynote speaker Su Jin Jez, CEO of California Competes.
Compton College’s class of 2023 includes 347 students who earned associate degrees and 180 students who earned certificates. Among the graduates are 83 Compton Unified School District Early College High School students and 24 students from the Paramount Unified School District’s College and Career Access Pathways inaugural graduating class. A total of 107 graduating high school seniors from these two districts earned an associate degree or certificate while enrolled in high school.
Established in 2015, the early college pathway partnerships with local school districts provide highly motivated high school students at Compton Unified School District and Paramount Unified District with the opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and two years of college credit toward an associate degree. Local high school students who participate in these programs will be taking college classes offered by Compton College. During the first two years of high school, the program is more structured, however, during their junior and senior years, students have the opportunity to take classes that match their educational or career goals.
Since the first cohort graduation in 2019, a combined total of 290 students from Compton Early College High School and Paramount College and Career Access Pathways have graduated with both a diploma and an associate degree through Compton College’s partnership with the Compton and Paramount unified school districts.
At the Commencement Ceremony, Compton College President Keith Curry delivered opening remarks, “Graduates, this ceremony marks the completion of your work at Compton College. It gives you the chance to formally acknowledge your academic achievements. We are especially proud of the graduating seniors from both the Compton and Paramount unified school districts who have simultaneously earned both a high school diploma and an associate degree. The early college graduates have put in the hard work, saved time and money, while also following an accelerated path to earn a four-year degree.”
