News & Events

San Diego Continuing Education will honor more than 900 graduates during Commencement at Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park on Wednesday, June 3 at 5 p.m.

The ceremony is a collaboration between San Diego Continuing Education, and the San Diego Unified School District. The graduates are a collective group, and many have fallen through the cracks of the traditional education system, and chose to re-enter classrooms to complete either their High School Diploma, or a GED. Others have completed specific job training skills as part of a certificate program and are eager to enter the workforce, and another group has mastered English as their second language.

"El conocimiento abre puertas y derriva fronteras,” is a Mexican expression that means "knowledge opens doors and flattens boundaries,” said Dr. Anthony E. Beebe, President of Continuing Education. “Commencement is the ultimate example of how we can change lives by helping people achieve their educational goals.”

Continuing Education will award 307 GEDs, 125 High School Diplomas and 484 certificates of completion for career technical education programs. More than 300 graduates are expected to participate in the ceremony.

Internationally-known Chef Ricardo Munoz Zurita will address the graduates as the 2009 commencement speaker. Former student and graduate from Continuing Education, Zurita lives in Mexico City, and has been recognized by Time magazine at one of the top 20 persons in his country for changing the face of his nation with fine dining and culinary tradition. More than $15,800 in scholarships has been awarded to 51 graduates to help them with additional educational goals.

Kenyotta Marie Leepier is the representative student speaker for the ceremony. Leepier came to Continuing Education through the CalWORKs program, and has overcome tremendous circumstances as a single parent. She will receive a GED at the ceremony and speak about her commitment to herself, and her educational goals.