The Messenger – July 2025
Student Success
2025 Commencement Ceremony Photo Gallery
Compton College celebrated the academic achievements of its students at the 2025 Commencement
Ceremony on June 13, held at the Dignity Health Sports Center Tennis Stadium in Carson,
Calif. Addressing the Class of 2025 was keynote speaker Russlynn Ali, CEO and co-founder of the XQ Institute and managing director of the Education Fund
at Emerson Collective. Compton College 2025 graduate Corinthia Mims served as the
student speaker during the ceremony. View a gallery of photos from the 2025 Commencement
Ceremony on the Compton College Flickr account here.
2025 Nursing Graduates at Pinning Ceremony
Compton College hosted a Nursing Pinning Ceremony on June 11, 2025 to celebrate 30
students who graduated with associate of science degrees in nursing. View a gallery
of photos from the ceremony here.
“Nursing is a profession that impacts so many people’s lives,” said Compton College
Interim Associate Dean of Nursing Wanda Coleman-Morris to the graduates. “As a nurse,
I encourage you to look beyond the illness or injury and embrace the humanity of everyone
who crosses your path. Every patient is unique; their stories, fears, hopes and dreams
are distinctive, as well. It is your duty to listen attentively, offer solace and
provide care that goes beyond physical, embracing the emotional and spiritual aspects
of healing.”
Compton College’s Nursing Program is approved by the California Board of Registered
Nursing (BRN). Compton College student nurses are supported by counseling, opportunities
to further their education and referrals to jobs in the community. Upon completion
of the program, graduates earn an associate degree and are ready to take the National
Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN). After passing the exam,
graduates are eligible to seek employment as registered nurses and work in health
care fields such as intensive care, pediatrics, obstetrics, geriatrics, rehabilitation,
oncology, cardiology, and occupational health. Compton College partners with area
hospitals and medical centers for clinical rotations and mentoring. Many program graduates
go on to obtain their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing, in addition to obtaining
a job as a registered nurse in the area.
“There is a growing need for qualified health care providers in the workforce,” said
Compton College President Keith Curry. “Compton College offers comprehensive nursing
and biomedical science programs and a state-of-the-art Allied Health Building complete
with a simulation lab. We hope to continue to inspire and educate a new generation
of leaders in nursing and other medical professions.”
For information about the Compton College Nursing Program, please call 310-900-1600,
ext. 2700. Visit the Compton College Nursing Program webpage at: compton.edu/academics/health-public-services/nursing.
Student Scholars Honored at Academic Awards Ceremony
Compton College held its annual Academic Awards Ceremony on June 3 and recognized
the academic achievements of five Presidential Scholars, 56 scholarship recipients,
and 363 honors students. Scholarships awarded to the students totaled $67,300.
The 2025 Presidential Scholars are Alison Brown, Efrain Jimenez, Brittney Rodriguez,
Laverne Simmons, and Keiry Wenceslao. Presidential Scholars represent students who
have shown academic strength, singular focus and the desire to reach their highest
potential, while overcoming obstacles in the pursuit of their dreams. The Presidential
Scholar program recognizes outstanding students who are graduating with a 3.7 grade
point average or higher. Read more here about the accomplishments of each Presidential Scholar.
Athletics Celebrates Excellence at Annual Awards BBQ
The Compton College Athletics Department concluded the school year with an Athletics
Awards BBQ on June 5. Over 100 student-athletes, coaches, and campus support members
attended to celebrate the following awards:- Male Academic Athlete of the Year: Puttinan “Patrick” Kongpul (Cross Country & Track & Field)
- Female Academic Athlete of the Year: Serena Velez (Softball)
- Male Athlete of the Year: Zoe Holman (Men's Basketball)
- Female Athlete of the Year: Serena Velez (Softball)
- Freshman of the Year: Edu Beltran (Men's Soccer)
- Sophomore of the Year: Jordan English (Men's Basketball
- Performance of the Year: Men's Soccer – 1-0 win over #1 nationally ranked and defending 3C2A state champion El Camino College.
- Staff Excellence Award: Amankwa McKenzie
- Team of the Year: Men’s Basketball - Compton captures its first SCC Men's Basketball Championship in 8 years.
- Coaching Staff of the Year: Head Coach Keith Hollimon; Assistant Coaches Idris Jones, Marcus Bryant, and Ronnie Winbush.
- Compton College Character Awards: Ryan Bobich (Baseball) and Erik Garcia (Men’s Basketball)
- Most Inspirational Award: Raul Mexicano (Football)
2025-2026 Associated Student Government Officers Elected
Each spring semester, Compton College holds elections for its Associated Student Government
Officers. Congratulations to the following new officers elected by their peers for
the 2025-2026 academic year:- President: Breale Johnson
- Vice President: Jasmine Stokes
- Commissioner of Athletics: Sadiq Bolden
2025 Graduate Makes Career Change to Auto Collision Repair
Compton College 2025 graduate, mom, and non-traditional student Corinthia Mims is
a master of reinvention, and her next chapter involves launching an auto collision
repair clinic business with her twin sister.
“Auto-related fields are traditionally underserved for women, and often we don’t step
into those spaces because of fear of bias related to how male and female career roles
might be defined,” said Mims. My twin sister, Cynthia, and I decided we are no longer
going to allow those stigmas and unwarranted opinions to exist in our space and the
auto collision repair business we want to create.”
At Compton College’s 2025 Commencement Ceremony on June 13, Mims earned an associate
degree in auto collision repair and painting, and two certificates of achievement
in auto painting and refinishing, and auto collision repair. She has also studied
auto collision forensics, or accident reconstruction, a scientific method used to
analyze and understand the details of car accidents. Her twin, who is also a Compton
College student, will earn her associate degree in auto collision repair and painting
in June 2026.
Mims had the honor of auditioning and being selected as the student speaker for the
college’s 2025 Commencement Ceremony. The key message of her speech was an extension
of the college’s motto “Every Student is a Success Story” coined by Compton College
President Keith Curry. Mims encourages her fellow graduates to continue writing their
success stories that extend well beyond the accomplishments celebrated as they graduate.
“I’m not just sharing my story,” said Mims. “I’m living it boldly, and I’m using it
to inspire others to rise, rebuild, and reclaim their power.”
Compton College Alumni in Medical School to Become Emergency Room Physician
At the halfway mark of medical school, Ángel Ibarra can see his future coming into
focus – he’s headed toward working as an emergency room physician. At the same time,
he recognizes how far he’s come: from Compton College to UC Berkeley and now UC Davis
School of Medicine. It’s been a long journey, but with inspiring mentors, perfectly
timed volunteer work, and a supportive academic environment, he’s taking each new
challenge in stride.
Growing up in Inglewood, Calif., Ibarra graduated from Hawthorne High School, then
enrolled in Compton College, initially interested in pursuing an associate degree
in nursing.
“Initially, I saw nursing as a practical and meaningful career – a stable path that
would allow me to support my family while giving back to my community,” said Ibarra,
the first in his family to graduate from college. “But everything changed at Compton
College when my physiology professor, the late Dr. Boatwright, challenged me with
a simple yet powerful question: ‘Why not more? Why not become a doctor?’ He was the
first person to ever pose that possibility to me. In my community, these conversations
were rare, so having someone believe in my potential so openly was truly transformative.”
Ibarra graduated from Compton College and then majored in sociology at UC Berkeley,
where he took sociology and pre-med courses concurrently. He believes his undergraduate
background in sociology empowers him with a unique understanding of complex health
disparities.
“Beyond having an ability to understand the science, sociology gave me a critical
lens by which I view the world and the countless systemic obstacles people of color
face,” Ibarra said. “For example, in low-income communities where there is limited
access to resources, I need to meet patients where they are. I also learned to think
critically about the impact of health care policies, dissecting how they shape our
system and whether or not we’re effectively addressing the needs of our most vulnerable
patients.”
He got a firsthand look into the medical profession as a volunteer at St. Francis
Medical Center when he was a Compton College student. This opportunity changed the
course of his education and paved his way to medical school. The first time he experienced
a trauma code in the ER, he saw how everyone had a purpose and then worked together
as a team, led by the physician.
“This was the first time I saw a lifesaving team effort led by a singular person;
it was a huge distinction as compared to the role of nurses,” he said. “Seeing this
cohesion and human effort to help a person they don’t even know and then everyone
is giving 110% to everyone who comes through those doors, it was amazing. Returning
to the trauma bay has become the focus of my medical education journey. It is one
of the few places where universal health care is truly practiced – where everyone,
regardless of socioeconomic status, receives equal life-saving care.”
Ibarra said his time at Compton College was an important part of his journey, giving
him a supportive community, life-changing mentors, the chance to discover what he
was passionate about, and an opportunity to learn from mistakes at his own pace.
“Looking back at some of my fondest memories of my time at Compton College, I immediately
remember my classmates and my professors,” he said. “I stand out from other med school
students due to my life experience and being from a community college. Everyone in
community college is on a different journey, but we all have one common goal and that
is to better ourselves. A lot of us first-gen students face many barriers and have
a lot of desire to go to college and serve our community; there are just not enough
resources to get people where they want to go.
“The community at Compton College is very unique and the professors were some of the
most endearing people I have ever had the privilege of learning from. Above all, Compton
College taught me how to translate grit into a life journey of being in service to
others,” he said.
Compton College Recent Alumna Excels in Welding Industry
After working for five months at North America’s largest steel manufacturer Nucor,
Compton College alumna Emily Rubio was promoted to beam welding lead, becoming the
first female production leader at Nucor’s Warehouse Storage Systems in Los Angeles.
“I started out as a temp hire welder at Nucor for three months. During that time,
I was given the opportunity to learn to program and run a million-dollar robotic MIG
welding machine,” said Rubio. Nucor opens doors for its employees if you work hard
and show your skills and potential. Out of all the companies I have worked for, Nucor
has offered me a lot of opportunities to learn, grow, and acquire new skills in my
career.”
As beam welding lead, Rubio oversees 25 welders, including 10 who operate the robotic
welders. They manufacture warehouse systems equipment and supplies such as large metal
shelving for companies such as Costco, Amazon, and Home Depot. Because of her skill
and knowledge in operating the mig welding machine, she was asked to train other employees
how to use the robotic welders at Nurcor’s new manufacturing plants opening in San
Bernardino, Calif. and Georgia. In addition, she has worked with the Spanish company
that manufactures the robotic welding machines, Inser Robótica, to have all the instructional
materials for the machines translated into English for welders at Nucor.
“When I started working at Nucor, I was the first female welder there and helped set
a standard and showed the other welders my capabilities, which led to more female
welders being hired at the company. There are four female welders on my team now that
I helped recruit,” Rubio said.
Read more...
Facilities News
Construction Begins on Physical Education Complex and Visual and Performing Arts Facilities
In May 2025, the State of California Chancellor’s Office and Department of Finance
approved awarding the general contracts for the construction phase of the Physical
Education (PE) Complex and the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) facility. Suffolk
is the General Contractor for the PE Complex and pool. Chalmers is the General Contractor
for the VAPA Complex. The contractors’ construction start date was June 21, 2025.
The Physical Education Complex will be new construction, replacing the former gymnasium,
locker rooms, and pool. It is a $52 million project with targeted completion in spring
2028. The $17.9 million Visual and Performing Arts project is targeted for completion
in fall 2026.
Temporary construction fencing was erected around the Y-Area, Row Buildings U, V,
W, and Trailer M3 as the construction work site including a portion of the Quad. There
will still be access to the St. John Student Health Center from the Quad, but no access
on the west side of the Emily B. Hart-Holifield Library-Student Success Center (north
and south entry will still be accessible). View map showing construction areas: compton.edu/about/docs/Compton-College-Map.pdf
The Gymnasium (Building X) will only be accessible from the south and east side with
an accessible ADA pathway from Parking Lots A and B. (No access on the west side of
the gym.)
The estimated construction durations are approximately 18 months for the VAPA project
and 30 months for the PE Complex. Please use caution around these areas.
District News
2025 Distinguished Administrator, Faculty, and Staff Award Honorees Named
Compton College recently announced its honorees for the 2025 Distinguished Administration,
Faculty, and Staff awards. The annual awards recognize outstanding administrators,
faculty, and staff members for their commitment to Compton College and its educational
mission. Sheri Berger, vice president of academic affairs; Roza Ekimyan, instructor of human development; Samitha Givens, adjunct instructor of child development; and Travis Martin, administrative assistant for the Special Resource Center, were recognized for their
dedication to students, Compton College, and colleagues.
In addition, Compton College is proud to announce its 2025 Civility Champions: Janette Morales, instructor of counseling and human development, and Felecia Hatten, evaluations specialists in Admission and Records, who are shining examples of how
positive interactions with one another is critical to cultivating and maintaining
a meaningful and effective intellectual environment, as stated in Compton College’s Statement of Civility and Mutual Respect. The Compton Community College District introduced its Civility Champion Award in
2020 to honor outstanding employees whose contributions demonstrate a commitment to
self-reflection, care, empathy, and respect while acknowledging the culture and humanity
of others.
Read more here about each of the Distinguished Administrator, Faculty, and Staff Award honorees.
Compton College Introduces a New Mascot
The Mascot Development Workgroup has recommended that the new Compton College Coyote mascot be implemented on July 2, 2025. At its April 21, 2025 regular meeting, the Compton Community College District Board of Trustees approved Resolution No. 04-21-2025A to adopt the new Compton College mascot for campuswide representation.
The Mascot Development Workgroup has worked diligently this year to finalize a mascot that will represent our entire student body and align with our mission to be a welcoming and inclusive community.
Thank you to everyone who has been involved in the process, including the Consultative Council and the Associated Student Government (ASG). Compton College’s ASG brought forward the initial recommendation during the 2021-2022 academic year, and the Mascot Development Workgroup followed a comprehensive process for the mascot selection and renaming.
Please note that all iterations of the Tartar mascot and name will be officially retired effective July 1, 2025. This marks the completion of the implementation of Board Resolution No. 06-27-2022G - Resolution to Retire Current Mascot and Adopt New Mascot, which was approved by the Board on June 27, 2022.
CCCD Board Meeting Scheduled for July 21
The next meeting of the Compton Community College District Board of Trustees is scheduled
for Monday, July 21, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room, located in the Administration
Building at 1111 E. Artesia Boulevard, Compton, CA 90221.All regular session Board meetings are open to the public. Closed session begins at 5:00 p.m.
The Board Agenda is posted 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Agendas are posted on the BoardDocs website under the “Meetings” tab at: https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/compton/Board.nsf/Public.
Seeking Candidates for Foundation Manager
We’re hiring! The Compton Community College District is looking for a Foundation Manager. Under general direction of the Community Relations Director and working closely with the Foundation for the Compton Community College District Board President and Compton College President/CEO, the Foundation Manager will plan, develop, manage, and direct the fund development program for the Foundation for the Compton Community College District and the Oliver W. Conner Trust; perform all duties and functions of a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization operations manager; and perform special tasks as assigned. The Foundation Manager is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the Foundation, including the development of all Foundation records, scholarships, endowments, donations, and correspondence. The Foundation Manager works closely with the Community Relations Director to manage donor relations, fundraising, and special events and may represent the assigned administrator in his/her absence.
Click here for a full job description, required qualifications and how to apply online.
Other News
Compton College’s Goals for 2025-2026
The Compton College Goals for 2025-2026 were adopted by the Compton Community College
District Board of Trustees at its June 16, 2025 regular meeting. The Core Planning
Team worked during the semester to develop these goals as action steps aligned with
the objectives of the Compton College 2035 Comprehensive Master Plan. The goals will
help ensure that the college’s strategic efforts remain focused on student success,
equity, and campus advancement. Read the 2025-2026 Compton College Goals here: https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/compton/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DHHN6Z584A4B Compton College Annual Fact Book Published
Compton College's Annual Fact Book for 2023-2024 was published in June 2025. The Fact
Book contains information about enrollment trends, special programs, student achievement,
and employee characteristics. After opening the Fact Book, click a link on the Table
of Contents to go directly to that section of the report. Compton College 2023-2024
Fact Book: compton.edu/about/institutional-effectiveness/factbook
Campus Calendar
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