Skagit Valley College’s Class of 2023 will walk across the stage for their diplomas, degrees, and certificates this week.

SVC is proudly celebrating the 96th graduating class with two ceremonies at the Mount Vernon campus in the Dave DuVall Pavilion on June 15 and a ceremony at Whidbey Island Campus at Oak Harbor High School on June 16. All ceremonies will also be livestreamed and available on the SVC website.

SVC will be awarding a total of 885 degrees, certificates, and diplomas at its 96th annual commencement celebration to graduates ranging in age from 16 to 70.

“Commencement marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice,” said Dr. Christopher Villa, SVC President. “I am truly inspired by our graduates and I cannot wait to see what they will accomplish in the years ahead.”

The ceremonies at both campuses are featuring the SVC Showcase Singers and the Keith Highlanders Bagpipe Band. The Skagit Community Band and the SVC Mariachi Band will perform at the Mount Vernon ceremonies.

At the Mount Vernon campus ceremonies, Haeun ‘Hannah’ Kim, Mount Vernon campus’ President of the Associated Students of Skagit Valley College, will address the graduates. She is a 2023 Lewis Award finalist, a President’s Medal recipient, and received the International Student Achievement Award. Kim is graduating with her Associate in Science-Transfer Track 2 degree and plans to study chemical engineering at University of California, Berkeley this fall.

Alba Medina, Whidbey Island Campus Equity and Inclusion Representative of the Associated Students at Skagit Valley College, will address graduates at the Whidbey Island campus ceremony. Medina is the 2023 Yates Award recipient and is well-known as an inclusive leader on campus. She will be receiving an Associate in Biology DTA/MRP has plans to attend Western Washington University to study biochemistry and/or environmental science fall.

About the SVC graduating class of 2023:

• Total number of graduates: 1,132
• Bachelor of Applied Science Degrees: 24
• Associate Transfer Degrees: 416
• Professional and Technical Degrees and Certificates: 365
• High School Diplomas: 80
• Running Start students receiving a college degree and graduating from high school: 110
• President’s Medalists: 47
• Students who are first in their families to attend college: 63%
• International Students graduating from 2 countries (Japan and South Korea): 6

Alba Medina, a Whidbey Island Campus graduate, is receiving the Yates Award for showing outstanding leadership, community service, and academic achievement.

Cesar Osornio Ramos is receiving the Lewis Award which is awarded to the overall outstanding graduating student from the Mount Vernon Campus.

SVC awarded the President’s Medal to 47 students for having all A or A- grades and attending SVC for at least three quarters: Melody Ammons, Lea Bahner, Erick Ballesteros, Jacob Barkhurst, Megan Barton, John Biggs, Rachel Blanton, Raina Cheney, Amanda Dams, Hannah Dutton, Debra Eastman, Stephanie Eerkes Keylock, Bethania Flores Torres, Jessica Fydenlund, Gary Gotz, Katherine Hagstrom, Keller Hixson, Galen Hoffman, Gregory Kaplan, Violet Keresey, Haeun Kim, Kaylee Knight, Jillian Knoll, Genevieve Koche, James Kompare, Abigail Lanphear, Ziming Lei Lin, Nicolette Levai, Santiago Megallon, Yusuke Masuda, Shannon McAllister, Charles Montgomery IV, Kellyn Numair, Henry Olson, Siara Page, Angelina Perez, Kevin Pfeil, Victoria Pilling, Jillian Prince, Mercedes Rodriguez, Abigail Roll, Lauren Rudge, Claire See, Ava Shellenberger, Caden Tanis, Hannah Tewalt, and Kelly Weech.

For more information, visit skagit.edu/commencement.