Community College of Denver (CCD) held its Commencement celebration for the graduating class of 2025 on the Auraria Campus on a warm, sunny Thursday on May 15, 2025. In true CityHawk fashion, it was a day of absolute positivity and overwhelming amounts of joy.

CCD had over 450 graduates participate in Commencement and over 3,000 attendees. The remarkable turnout underscores the meaningful impact of our students' educational journeys and the strong support systems that stand behind them. As students walk through the final balloon arch outside of the Tivoli Turnhalle with familiar faces of faculty and staff cheering them on with pom poms, students are stepping into a new world of opportunities, perhaps unknowingly in the moment. It’s almost as if those balloons served as a portal, leaping into their next life adventure.

President Dr. Marielena DeSanctis and Provost Peter Lindstrom took to the stage to congratulate each individual student as they presented them with their degrees and posed for photos with their families. CCD’s Commencement is not “traditional” in that sense. Dr. DeSanctis has long made it tradition to detour from a regular ceremony. This is a true celebration of the impact these degrees have on graduates, their families, and their futures. Dr. DeSanctis continues to aim to make this monumental day more human-centric, more personal, more about knowing each and every constituent that passes through the doors of Community College of Denver.

Additionally, CCD proudly graduated its first cohort from the newly established High School Diploma Program at this year’s commencement ceremony. From the initial enrollment of 22 students, 19 participated in the graduation ceremony, with the remaining students completing their requirements shortly after May 15, 2025, and receiving invitations to participate in the 2026 commencement ceremony. This competency-based program, launched in early 2025, demonstrates strong community demand with 600 initial applications despite current capacity constraints.

Going forward, the college anticipates substantial program expansion to meet demonstrated community need. The High School Diploma Program serves as a strategic entry point. This approach reinforces the college’s role as an educational bridge, supporting students from basic credential completion through advanced academic and professional training. CCD is looking forward to seeing more High School Diploma graduates accomplish their goals and walk the stage in the years to come.

Commencement not only marks the culmination of our graduates’ hard work and perseverance but also reflects the collaborative spirit that defines the Colorado Community College System. The CityHawk community’s spirit shines particularly bright during this time of year. With the assistance of incredibly dedicated faculty and staff members who volunteered for this day, their primary goal was to make the day just as memorable as their own graduation ceremonies. 

Each Spring, commencement serves as a reminder of the transformative power of higher education as we witness tomorrow’s leaders “leaving the nest.” Community College of Denver wishes its graduates all the best as they spread their wings, get out there, and do big things. Once a CityHawk, always a CityHawk. 

Congratulations to the graduating class of Spring 2025!