Native, Latino Students Honored in Multiple California Graduations

Several ceremonies across the United States recently honored graduating students from diverse cultural backgrounds, emphasizing both academic achievement and cultural heritage. At UC Berkeley School of Law, Assemblymember James C. Ramos and his wife were recognized for their leadership in Native American communities during a Native American Law Student Association event that also celebrated Native graduates and highlighted tribal sovereignty. Similarly, Fresno Unified School District held a culturally significant ceremony honoring Native American high school graduates, doubling participation from the previous year and incorporating tribal traditions like honor songs and stoles. The Town of Chino Valley celebrated its Class of 2025 with a community-wide commencement, noting their scholarship achievements and community service, with support from local police and officials. In Santa Barbara County, Latino high school seniors received scholarships and recognition at the Mariachi Festival, which has awarded nearly $1 million in scholarships over 28 years to support Latino students. Fresno State hosted its 49th Chicano-Latino commencement, one of the nation's largest, celebrating over 1,000 students and marking a significant milestone for the community.