Cabrillo College will celebrate a major milestone this year as it honors 1,599 graduates at its 66th annual graduation and transfer ceremony — one of the largest in the college’s history. The graduation, set for Friday, May 30 2025 at Cabrillo’s Carl Conely Stadium in Aptos, also marks the first graduating class from Cabrillo’s Apprenticeship Program.
Among the 1,599 graduates, 11 are completing apprenticeship tracks — a new achievement for the community college. Two students are graduating from the Computer Information Systems (CIS) track, while nine are earning their credentials as Community Health Workers (CHWs). These students are entering high-demand fields, reflecting Cabrillo’s growing emphasis on workforce development.
“I’m incredibly proud of our students,” said Cabrillo President and Superintendent Dr. Matt Wetstein. “Not only do we have one of the largest graduating classes in recent history, but we have our first class of graduates from Cabrillo’s Apprenticeship Program, who will enter the workforce in high-demand fields of Healthcare and Computer and Information Systems.”
The Class of 2025 is made up of students ranging in age from 17 to 79, with an average age of 28. Approximately 52.5% of the graduating class identifies as Latinx, and nearly 60% are women. The college will confer 1,287 Associate in Arts degrees, 578 Associate in Science degrees, and 365 Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T) — the latter offering guaranteed admission to the CSU system for qualifying students.
Cabrillo will also recognize 312 Certificates of Achievement and 56 Skills Certificates earned this year. Notably, 330 students are graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Another 1,096 students will graduate with honors, high honors, or honorable mentions.
More than 360 graduates and non-graduates will transfer to four-year universities this year, including UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and others.
This year’s scholarship honors include Abigail L. Hinds, recipient of the Peggy and Jack Baskin Award which recognizes a female Cabrillo graduate transferring to a UC, and Renee DeLisle, who received the prestigious UC Santa Cruz Karl S. Pister Award, valued at up to $20,000.
The commencement ceremony will include remarks from Cabrillo leadership, faculty, staff, and student representatives. Performances from the Cabrillo Chorale, led by Cheryl Anderson, will help mark the occasion.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony and celebrate the Class of 2025 — a group that represents both academic excellence and the evolving mission of Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz County and beyond.
About Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College is a leading California community college serving Santa Cruz County with locations in Aptos and Watsonville. It is ranked #1 in transfers to UC Santa Cruz. Founded in 1959, the college offers over 100 academic and career technical education programs that serve multiple educational goals such as A.A. and A.S. degrees, certificates of achievement, skills certificates, transfer to 4-year institutions or for lifelong learning and personal enrichment. With a commitment to quality and equity, Cabrillo connects all learners to pathways that propel them from where they are to where they aspire to be, including: academic, personal, and career growth.
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