GROSSMONT, CUYAMACA GRADS TO HAVE VIRTUAL EVENTS

Commencement online for the first time at both colleges

EL CAJON

This year’s graduates from Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges in East County will get their degrees and certificates through virtual ceremonies in order to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Thousands of students had to complete their courses online after both community college campuses were shut down in mid-march following statewide shelter-in-place orders.

More then 2,700 graduates

also worked on the successful effort to place a referendum on the November ballot that, if approved, would overturn the Oceanside City Council’s approval of the 585-home North River Farms development in the rural Morro Hills area.

The vote was 3-2 in November with Esther Sanchez and Ryan Keim opposed. The referendum signature drive started earlier and ended before the public health restrictions began. from the schools will receive their degrees and certificates next month. Cuyamaca’s commencement ceremonies are set for 5:30 p.m. today and Grossmont’s will be at 5 p.m. Thursday.

According to Grossmont-cuyamaca Community College District officials, digital processions of electronic slides featuring

A separate drive to recall Oceanside Councilwoman Esther Sanchez expired last week after its organizers failed to meet the May 27 deadline to turn in signatures.

One of the organizers of that effort, Gloria Ryan, said in an email over the weekend that the group will re-form as a campaign committee to oppose Sanchez’s campaign for mayor in the fall.

philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com the accomplishments of individual graduates will take the place of the traditional march of students, faculty, staff and administrators on the campuses in Rancho San Diego and El Cajon.

At Cuyamaca, 785 graduates are eligible to receive 1,180 degrees and 233 certificates; at Grossmont,

1,957 graduates are eligible to receive 2,822 degrees and 1,519 certificates.

Graduates and their families and friends can log on to www.cuyamaca.edu/ campus-life/student-affairs/commencement.aspx for Cuyamaca and www.grossmont.edu/commencement for Grossmont to watch the event.

Each college selected a student speaker to address their fellow graduates. Their speeches were recorded beforehand and will be included in the video that graduates will view.

karen.pearlman @sduniontribune.com Twitter: @karen_pearlman