College Honors 1,144 Graduates in 2026 Commencement
Moreno Valley College held its 2026 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 12, at 6 p.m. at College Park, located adjacent to Parking Lot E at 16130 Lasselle St. The college recognized 1,144 unduplicated associate degree recipients for the Class of 2026, with a combined total of 2,214 associate degrees and 1,059 certificates awarded. Among those graduates, 377 earned Associate Degrees for Transfer. A total of 84 students graduated through the Middle College program, completing both an associate degree and their high school diploma simultaneously, and 52 students completed the program through Nuview Bridge.
Graduates earning academic distinction included 343 students who graduated with Distinction (GPA of 3.30 to 3.69) and 173 who graduated with Great Distinction (GPA of 3.70 or higher). The class ranged in age from 16 to 67 years old. Women accounted for approximately 62 percent of associate degree recipients, and Hispanic and Latino students represented 67.8 percent of the graduating class. Seventy-two veterans and 213 student parents were among the Class of 2026 graduates.
Workforce and career education completers were a major component of the class. Graduates included 223 from the Police Academy, 141 Emergency Medical Technician completers, 110 Basic Corrections graduates, 60 Fire Technology completers, and 50 Firefighter Academy graduates, along with completers in Paramedic, Dental Assistant, Dental Hygiene, and Human Services programs.
"This class reflects the true strength of Moreno Valley — students who balanced jobs, families, and obligations while earning degrees that will change the trajectory of their lives and their communities," said Rudy J. Besikof, Ed.D., president of Moreno Valley College.
The ceremony was headlined by student speaker Juan Alvarado Diaz and faculty speaker Adviye Tolunay, Ph.D., professor of psychology. Both shared messages of perseverance, resilience, and lifelong learning for graduates preparing to begin the next chapter of their journeys.
Alvarado Diaz, who earned an associate degree and plans to pursue a career in engineering, reflected on the challenges he overcame as a student and encouraged his fellow graduates to embrace uncertainty with confidence. "We've been built through everything it took to get here — through the sleepless nights, through the doubts, through the moments when we felt like giving up, yet we kept marching forward," he said. He urged his peers to move forward with courage and purpose, reminding them that challenges are often opportunities for growth.
Tolunay, who was recognized as the Riverside Community College District's 64th Distinguished Faculty Lecturer, challenged graduates to thoughtfully navigate the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence. She encouraged students to continue developing their critical thinking skills, and reminded them, "We should not forget what makes us human: our ingenuity, adaptability and resilience." Tolunay emphasized the importance of using technology ethically and intentionally while continuing to take ownership of one's education and personal growth.
The Commencement Ceremony was also attended by Moreno Valley and Perris city officials, local school district administrators, Riverside Community College District leaders, and hundreds of family members and friends celebrating the achievements of MVC's latest graduating class.
View the full Ceremony recording on MVC's YouTube Channel.
