The energy on the Laney College football field was electric as family, friends, faculty, and community partners gathered to honor the incredible journeys of the Class of 2026. This wasn’t just a graduation; it was a mass celebration of collective triumph, stubborn resilience, and the deep-seated Oakland pride that defines the Laney spirit.
A Legacy of Champions
The ceremony opened with a grounding land acknowledgment and a poignant tribute to a local legend: Coach John Beam. Master of Ceremonies and Laney instructor Terrence Green took a moment to honor Beam’s massive imprint on the campus and the community, describing him as “a winner,” “a leader,” and “a firm believer in student achievement and students reaching their goals.”
That theme of fighting through adversity took center stage when Peralta Community College District Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson stepped to the podium. Looking out at the crowd, she delivered a powerful acknowledgment of the hidden battles fought behind closed doors:
“Today, as I look out at this graduating class, I see possibility,” Chancellor Gilkerson said. “I see first-generation students, parents, and caregivers. Students who worked full-time while pursuing their education. Graduates who overcame poverty, housing insecurity, self-doubt, grief, violence, addiction, incarceration, and circumstances that at times may have made this moment feel impossible. And yet here you are.”
Chancellor Gilkerson reminded the crowd that this grit is exactly what the institution stands for. “Laney College has never simply been a place where people just come,” she reflected. “It’s always been a place where people rebuild, reinvent, rise. A place where education becomes transformation.”
By the Numbers: A 10% Surge in Success
Laney College President Dr. Rebecca Opsata shared her profound pride in the sheer scale of what this year's cohort accomplished, calling on the entire stadium to join in the applause. “Graduates of Laney College, I am so proud of you,” President Opsata beamed. “The faculty is proud of you... and your family and friends are proud of you, and I hope you’re proud of yourself as well.”
The data backed up the celebration. President Opsata revealed that 831 students were approved to walk across the stage, collectively earning a staggering 1,484 degrees and certificates—marking a phenomenal 10% increase over the previous year. Highlighting the beautiful diversity of the student body, she noted that the youngest graduate of the day was just 16 years old, while the oldest was 78.
The Power of Inclusion and Community
In one of the morning's most moving segments, the ceremony spotlighted students from the Oakland Unified School District Young Adult Program, who earned certificates in Foundations of Art through Laney. Dr. Nate Failing from the Student Accessibility Department formally honored Brian Alvarenga, Raul Tapia Garcia, Vumason Nguyen, and Malissa Sayavong with a reminder of why their work matters: “Art is communication. Art is courage. Art is a way to show the world who we are when words may not be enough.”
From Washington D.C., Congresswoman Lateefah Simon sent a special video address to the stadium, explicitly tying the day’s achievements back to the local culture. Echoing Coach Beam’s famous philosophy—“I believe in you so that you can believe in yourself”—Congresswoman Simon declared, “Laney builds champions. You represent the best of Oakland. Resilient and beautiful and brilliant and determined.”
Voices from the Stage: Humility, Grit, and Second Chances
The true heart of commencement echoed through the words of the student leaders, who rejected easy platitudes in favor of raw honesty. Associated Students of Laney College President Val Axtle set the tone early, reminding her peers of the collective heartbeat of the class. “Today we’re able to say that after all of the work we’ve done, we finally made it. I’m proud to say that today’s graduates are made up of resilience, culture, and love.”
Laney College Valedictorian Sebastian Del Castillo bypassed standard talk of GPAs to focus on a deeper virtue. “Today I don’t want to talk about grades, awards, achievements,” he urged. “I want to talk about something that this modern society is forgetting, and that is gratitude. Let us always remember to live in gratitude because gratitude keeps us humble in success and grounded through hardship.” 
Gateway to College Valedictorian Kimani Anderson spoke fiercely about the necessity of alternative academic pathways and the lifelines provided by specialized programming. “Every Gateway student has walked a very untraditional path,” Anderson noted candidly. “There are stigmas, stereotypes, and roadblocks placed against us to fail. But with the ample support from everyone at this program, we are able to push past anything in our way.”
A New Chapter Begins
Before the final walk, Vice President of Student Services Dr. Lily Espinoza took a moment to remind the Class of 2026 of the weight of their new credentials, stating, “Getting your associate degree is probably the hardest degree you’re going to get. But I will say this, you all did it.”
The milestone became official when Vice President of Instruction Dr. Inger Stark formally conferred the degrees and certificates. With a swift collective flip of their tassels from right to left, the stadium erupted.
The Class of 2026 leaves the Laney football field today as official alumni—ready to dream, flourish, succeed, and shake up the world.
Laney College extends its gratitude to Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson, Laney College President Dr. Rebecca Opsata, Vice President of Instruction Dr. Inger Stark, Vice President of Student Services Dr. Lily Espinoza, the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees, faculty, classified professionals, administrators, student leaders, and the many staff and volunteers who helped make the ceremony a meaningful celebration for graduates and their families. Special recognition is also extended to the Oakland Unified School District Young Adult Program, Gateway to College, and the Laney College community members whose support reflected the college’s commitment to access, belonging, and student achievement.
Congratulations to the Laney College Class of 2026!