COD Graduation Ceremonies Tonight

Hundreds of students are expected to graduate tonight from College of the Desert.

Commencement is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the school's Boone Field,
with a reception for the graduates following at Wright Gymnasium. More than 600 students are eligible to walk and at least 325 are expected to participate,
college spokeswoman Pam Hunter said.

"The college continues to have crowds of 1,700 observers turn out to
cheer on family members and friends,'' Hunter said.

College President Jerry Patton, who is retiring this summer, will give
welcome remarks. Fred Jandt, dean of Cal State San Bernardino's Palm Desert
campus, will address the graduates, many of whom will transfer to the campus,
Hunter said.

The student speakers, who are both graduating with highest honors, are
Lisa M. Gomez and Anthony Mariano.

Gomez, who studied liberal arts, is a graduate of Palm Springs High
School and has lived in the Coachella Valley for more than 40 years. She has
worked for Desert Sands Unified School District for 11 years as a para-educator
for special needs students. After graduation, she plans to attend Cal State San
Bernardino.

Mariano, who studied business administration, graduated from South River
High School in New Jersey and joined the Navy the same year. He retired from
the Navy in 2005 as a senior chief petty officer. He and his family moved to
the desert in 2009. After graduation, he plans to attend Brandman University to earn a bachelor's degree in business management.