SQ residents receive their AA Degrees
Seven students of Mount Tamalpais College graduated in a ceremony in Chapel B June 28.
The commencement for California’s only private college inside the CDCR had the graduates walk up to the stage in a slow procession, proceeding with exactly four feet distance from one another, stepping to the gravity of Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance.”
“You are now graduates of Mount Tamalpais College. Graduates, please move your tassel from the right to the left,” said Amy Jamgochian, Ph.D., Chief Academic Officer of the school.
In an impromptu dance, the seven residents advanced, retreated, struck at one another’s palms, clutched one another’s torsos, spun round alone, and jumped up while attired in black robes. They graduated.
The new members of the Class of 2024, Ralph A. Cendejas Jr., Roberto Antonio de Trinidad, David Ditto, Gregory Eskridge, Wilbert Frank Jr., Jerry R. Gearin, and Ray Howard Jr. then engaged in the Recession of the Graduates. They exited while fistbumping guests to a standing ovation so loud it drowned out the band. A cupcake party awaited them outside.
“There is so much to learn; about life, about earth, and about the heavens. To me, college promotes the evolution of thought,” wrote graduate Cendejas in the event’s program. He said he worked as a math tutor for Robert A. Burton Adult School at San Quentin.
MTC has a large staff of professors from academic heavyweights like Berkeley, Stanford, and Yale who have volunteered their time to teach at San Quentin.
Yalie Peter Esmonde (Berkeley, 1980) said, “I feel thrilled for the graduates and the opportunities this provides for them.” Esmonde, now a documentary filmmaker, brought his vast knowledge to MTC this semester for the course Art 210 — The History of Photography. Esmonde put aside his reputation as a tough grader and gave the event an A+.
Graduate de Trinidad spoke as Class Salutatorian. “To every single teacher, staff, volunteer, peer, and alumni who gave so generously of their time, their knowledge, and … their love, I wish to give a most emphatic and respectful ‘Thank you,’” de Trinidad stated in his speech.
Valedictorian Ditto said, “I’m immensely honored and humbled to graduate among this fine group of colleagues today. I will never forget the thrill of overwhelming support our community displayed during today’s joyous celebration and throughout the past seven years.”
Ditto’s education at MTC had extended far beyond academics. “MTC helped me overcome much of my social awkwardness, asocial habits, and fear of rejection,” he said.
The 12-piece ensemble The Greater Good performed music for the event. Besides Elgar’s famous tune, they entertained the attendees with its wide repertoire of sounds that ranged from Greece, Mexico, Ireland, to American jazz and blues. “We are the only band that can pull off Elgar with a Salsa beat,” said pianist Mark Kinney, a resident.
MTC Board Chair Jeff Feinman said, “I look forward to this event every time. For me, it is one of the great inspirational moments. The graduates’ stories inspire and fascinate me every time.”
Registrar Jacob Kernodle added, “This event is the personification and accumulation of what it means to work with MTC students.”
Graduate Eskridge, helped himself to a traditional MTC celebratory cupcake decorated with the numbers of the class year and said, “This degree is the second greatest accomplishment I have ever had in my life — the first being found suitable for parole … which my college education aided in my achieving.”
Graduates Gearin, Frank, and Howard talked about their accomplishments in the event program.
“The college classroom experience gave me professional guidance, which changed my thinking, which empowered me to become a better person,” said Gearin, better known as Maleek.
The degree gave graduate Frank a definition for the future: “I proclaim this declaration: I will represent this class by being a living example in my community of the equal value of formerly incarcerated people.”
The program quoted graduate Howard as having said, “To earn my degree, I had to overcome the stressors that came with being incarcerated, while managing the challenges that come with completing each class. I never gave up.”
