Congratulations to the Class of 2020!

De Anza's 53rd Annual Commencement

Friday, June 26, 2020  


Watch the 2020 Celebration Video Here

You can watch the special 2020 Celebration Video on this webpage, or use your smart TV or any device with the YouTube app – just search for the De Anza College channel. You can also


Here's what you will see:

First, the preliminaries

  • Welcome from Christina G. Espinosa-Pieb, Interim President
  • Celebratory remarks from student and college leaders
  • Commencement address by student speaker Tamara Williams
  • Conferring of degrees

After the speakers, remember to keep watching for the main event – our special celebration video!


 

Slideshow of Graduates' Photos and Messages!


Look for Your Friends!

Click the arrow in the lower left corner of the slides to watch the complete slideshow with all grad-submitted photos and messages, or use the search box to search by name or department! 


    View Fullscreen

    another option: click here to Watch the Slideshow – with music – on YouTube!


     

    2020 cover

    Download the Program

    You can download a printable PDF version of the souvenir program for this year's event.

    You can also view the flipbook version online.

    CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

    View Flipbook

    Tamara Williams

    Tamara Williams, Student Speaker

    Meet the 2020 Student Grad Speaker

    Each year, a student scholarship winner is chosen to deliver the commencement address. This year, at the invitation of the President’s Office, the Black Faculty, Staff and Administrators Network (BFSA) selected Tamara Williams to be the student speaker.  

    Tamara, 26, is graduating this year with degrees in Early Childhood Education and Liberal Arts. She plans to continue taking online classes at California Baptist University, focusing on child psychology and African American Studies.

    Congrats Cards, Award Winners and More!  


    Congrats Cards

    • Remember to check out the online Congrats Cards from family, friends and members of the De Anza College Community

    Student Speaker and Awards


    Congratulatory Messages

    Eric Esparza

    Eric Esparza, President's Award Recipient

    Shelly Michael

    Shelly Michael, President's Award Recipient


    Two students were named as recipients of the President's Award by Interim President Christina G. Espinosa-Pieb

    • Eric Esparza is transferring to the University of California, Berkeley and wants to become a lawyer.
    • Shelly Michael is transferring to Columbia University and plans a career in public service. 

    Four students were selected for awards by the Black Faculty, Staff and Administrator's Network

    • W.E.B. Du Bois Awards for Academic Excellence
      • Alaric Hill is graduating with a Liberal Arts degree and a football scholarship from Waldorf University
      • De'Von Johnson is graduating with degrees in Business Administration and Liberal Arts
    • Sankofa Awards

    Genevieve Kolar, who served as student representative to the Foothill-De Anza board of trustees for 2019-2020, was awarded the A. Robert DeHart Scholarship, named for De Anza's founding president.

    Alaric Hill

    Alaric Hill

    De'Von Johnson

    De'Von Johnson

    Abdelkareem KhogaliAbdelkareem Khogali

    Billy McNealBilly McNeal

     



    Messages From Community Leaders

    Here are some special messages to the Class of 2020 from members of the De Anza College community. (Click the box in the lower-right corner of each video to watch in full screen.) 

    Judy Miner, Chancellor, Foothill-De Anza Community College District

    Pearl Cheng, President, Foothill-De Anza District Board of Trustees

    Peter Landsberger, Vice-President, Foothill-De Anza District Board of Trustees

    Patrick Ahrens, Trustee, Foothill-De Anza Community College District

    Ro Khanna,
    U.S. Representative, D-Santa Clara

    Evan Low,
    Assemblymember, D-Cupertino

    Shyamoli Banerjee, President, Foothill-De Anza Foundation Board of Directors

    Orrin Mahoney, Co-Chair, De Anza Commission

    Savita Vaidhyanathan, 
    Co-Chair, De Anza Commission

    You'll find an assortment of these on Giphy.com and your favorite social media app by searching for deanzagrad2020 or the hashtag #deanzagrad2020 



    Friends and Family Can Send Congrats Cards!

    young woman arms crossed smilingWe've got a great way that friends and family members can send congrats and best wishes to their favorite grad – or to the entire Class of 2020.

    Classmates, instructors or anyone in the De Anza community can also use our online form to submit a message, and optional photo.

    We'll post these on a special section of this website, where everyone can enjoy them.

    SEND A Congrats Card


    Grad-Themed Zoom Backgrounds

    zoom background celebration wavesVisit the Office of Communications Zoom Backgrounds webpage to view and download specially designed background images that you can use for online grad celebrations – or anytime you want!


    Share Your Grad Cap Decorations!

    Decorate your graduation cap and share a photo on Instagram or Twitter. This is your chance to show off some of the creativity, humor or inspiration that helped you get through college and earn your degree. Be sure to use the hashtag #deanzagrad2020 so we can regram and retweet our favorites.

    Here are some of our favorite caps from recent years.

    cap: It's Dangerous To Go Alone

    cap: Cal Bears symbol

    cap: Dedication, Hard Work + Patience

    cap: La Primera Pero No La Ultima

     

    cap: profiles

    cap: 2 degrees hotter

     

    cap: drawing of young woman

    cap: the rose that grew from concrete

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