Press Release

CONTACT: Cathy Summa, Director, Marketing & Communications
(831) 479-6158
casumma [at] cabrillo.edu

May 26 , 2005

Cabrillo ECE Graduate Excels Despite Challenges

Graduation Ceremony to Highlight Outstanding Students

APTOS, CA—When Cabrillo student Maria de los Angeles Garcia graduates June 3, with a Certificate of Proficiency and an Associate in Science degree in Early Childhood Education with honors, it will be a celebration of determination, perseverance and spirit.

de los Angeles Garcia, 40, is one of several Cabrillo College students to be recognized this year for her outstanding academic achievement. She began school in the evenings after working all day in the fields cutting and bunching spinach leaves. The mother of five children, de los Angles Garcia struggled with a hearing disability to learn English as a second language. She will be one of 839 Cabrillo students graduating in June.

“She did it to help her family,” says Eva Acosta, Cabrillo academic advisor. “She didn’t want to quit because she wanted to improve herself and give her family more opportunities.”

Of course, there were times she wanted to quit, de los Angeles Garcia admits. There were times she couldn’t hear well enough to understand her classmates because of her disability and at one point she told her instructor that she had to quit.

Early Childhood Education Instructor Ofelia Garcia, however, encouraged her to stay in school and guided her to campus counselors who helped her qualify for assistance and get a hearing aid.

Again in 2001, when her 13 year old son, Diego, suffered a stroke and his right side was paralyzed, de los Angeles Garcia had to leave her studies to live with him at a hospital in Santa Clara for a semester. Her 14 year old daughter helped at home as much as possible but it was a difficult time. She still managed to return to school when he did.

“Ofelia Garcia wouldn’t let me quit,” de los Angeles Garcia says. The community sorely needs qualified and competent infant-toddler teachers.

“Maria is a truly outstanding student,” Garcia says. “She has worked extremely hard to overcome daunting personal circumstances. Maria and her husband are extremely hard-working parents who are intent on providing educational opportunities for their children despite a harsh financial situation.”

de los Angeles Garcia says she plans to get a better job after graduation but hopes to keep studying and learning as well. The program has helped her understand her own children as well as infants and toddlers.

“When I was working with the children, I discovered that I love to work with them,” she says. “Now that I know that I will be graduating in June, I feel proud of myself.”

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Cabrillo College Graduation Ceremony

Friday, June 3, 5 p.m.

Carl Conelly Stadium

Cabrillo College

6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos

The ceremony is expected to last about 1.5 hours. Following the ceremony there will be a catered reception for graduates and their guests.