Cal Poly Pomona Class of 2026 Urged to Dream, Do, Become
For Lorraine Truguerro, earning her college degree was an opportunity to make a long-delayed dream come true.
The 63-year-old Diamond Bar resident, who received her bachelor’s in human resources management, had always wanted to earn a college degree, but then life got busy.
Between a successful career in the staffing industry, raising a family and taking care of household responsibilities, the goal of going to college kept getting pushed further into the future. In 2020, Truguerro decided that someday was now and began taking classes at Mt. SAC. She transferred to Cal Poly Pomona a couple of years ago.
“It was during the pandemic that I realized that I really want to go to college, and with my family’s encouragement, I started,” she said, adding that she juggled work, family and school with caring for her 97-year-old mother. “I am so excited (to graduate). I am hoping I don’t cry through the whole ceremony.”
Truguerro was one of the approximately 6,900 students from the class of 2026 who earned doctorates, master’s and bachelor’s, and teaching credentials during the 12 Commencement ceremonies held May 15-17. More than 60,000 family members, friends and supporters turned out to cheer on the graduates.
Seizing Future Opportunities
For Ariana Afzali, earning her doctorate degree means saying goodbye to a place she has called home both as a student and an employee. Her doctorate is her fourth degree at Cal Poly Pomona. She earned bachelor’s degrees in organization communications and ethnic and women’s studies in 2019 and a master’s in public administration in 2023. She worked as a student assistant in the financial aid office and later became a tech and counselor after graduating. In 2024, she took a position in the financial aid office at Cal State Long Beach.
“It’s a combination of mixed emotions,” Afzali said. “I am sad to be done with Cal Poly Pomona, at least as a student. But I am excited to have made it so far and done it so quickly too.”
Afzali hopes to use what she has learned as a doctoral student to make an even deeper impact on the students she serves.
Ethan Nurtjahja, who earned his hospitality management degree, plans to continue to work in food and beverage. The Pasadena native, who moved back to California in 2022 for college after living in Indonesia for 11 years, has been working at a boba shop in San Gabriel called BOPOMOFO.
He has an opportunity to move up into management at his current job, he said, adding that baking is a particular passion of his—baking birthday cakes for friends, cookies and tiramisu.
“I love making food for other people,” he said. “If I didn’t have to work another day in my life, I would still be making food for my friends.”
Moments of Celebration
Commencement also was a time for reflection and rejoicing for family members and friends there to cheer on the graduates.
Gabriella Sihombing took leave from her U.S. Army post to see boyfriend Tom Solomon cross the stage to get his degree in computer engineering. The pair began dating as students at Fontana High School and have weathered the storms of dating long distance to keep their relationship going. Sihombing leapt to her feet and excitedly yelled when Solomon came down the ramp.
“I am so happy, and I want everyone to hear how proud of him I am,” she said.
Sihombing came with Tom’s mother, Noribeth Solomon, who said she was equally proud of her son, the salutatorian of his college. She held up fans, one with a photo of her son in preschool and another from college.
“He already had this goal ever since high school,” she said of her son’s choice to study engineering at Cal Poly Pomona.
Solomon already has a job in LA’s water and power department and plans to pursue a master’s degree at USC.
The family of Ella Shepherd—which included dad Jerry, mom Maria and grandmother Doris—cheered for Ella as she received her degree in electrical engineering.
“We are beyond excited, especially since 2020 was the year she graduated high school and because of the pandemic she missed out on all of graduation,” said Marie Shepherd. “For her, this is the graduation.”
Words of Wisdom
Commencement featured several student and guest speakers, including honorary doctorate recipient Susan Kellogg Bell, a veteran fashion industry executive and the great-great-granddaughter of W.K. Kellogg.
Also awarded an honorary doctorate were Michael Beckage (‘87, engineering technology), a College of Engineering Hall of Famer and co-founder of Diversified Technical Solutions (DTS) and his wife, Bridget Spanier, a retired teacher. Beckage and Spanier were recognized for giving their time and funds to support scholarships and programs for students in the College of Engineering and the College of Education and Integrative Studies.
Kellogg Bell shared four lessons with students during her speech. No. 1: students are the only ones who can determine what their success looks like. No. 2: there are no excuses because some kind of work can always be found even in tough economic times. No. 3: hard work is imperative. No. 4: rely on the 7 Ps to get by—prior proper preparation perpetually prevents poor performance.
Beckage talked about his love of all things space and how the company he co-founded, DTS, right after graduating from Cal Poly Pomona provided sensors and data acquisition systems used to support development of the recent Artemis 2 mission around the moon.
“Very few people ever travel to the moon, but the engineering we do makes us partners in many of the greatest endeavors of humanity,” he said. “A part of me went to the moon in the form of circuits I designed inside of a small product that my company sold to NASA. You will feel the joy of being a part of teams that do great things together. That’s what makes engineering so special.”
Alumna Heather Povinelli (‘22, doctorate in educational leadership), the 2026 California Teacher of the Year, returned to campus to speak to the CEIS graduates, which for the first time included students receiving their teaching credential. Povinelli is a second-grade teacher at Bradoaks Elementary Science Academy in Monrovia.
Povinelli urged the crowd to share their stories. She shared her own—about how she almost didn’t become a teacher because of her dwarfism and anecdotes from her work with students. She also spoke of the benefits of diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Graduates, seek stories. Find yourself in the stories of others,” she said. “Inclusion is not just opening the doors to allow others in. It is knowing that as a collective, our disabilities and differences are not just accepted but also valued as essential and beautiful. It is when systems are built with us in mind.”
Interim President Iris Levine celebrated her final commencement at the university, at least as part of the administration. Levine has spent more than three decades on campus as a professor and academic leader, previously serving as interim provost and special assistant to the president before retiring in 2022. She was named interim president in 2025.
Levine said that she would always cherish her time as interim president and that she felt inspired by the students.
She urged them to not let the pressure to have everything figured out get to them. The path will become clear in time.
“Trust the skills that you have developed. Trust the resilience that brought you all the way to this moment, she said. “And most importantly, trust yourselves. Graduates you are ready.”
More Notable Quotables from Commencement 2026:
“As engineers, we’re taught to build systems, machines and technology, but as we leave Cal Poly Pomona, don’t just become engineers who build things. Become engineers who connect things, connect ideas, connect people, connect purpose to action because the greatest systems in the world don’t work because of one perfect component. They work because everything is connected.” – Andy Le, Julian McPhee Scholar and co-valedictorian, College of Engineering
“Today, you have earned this moment. Whether you are receiving a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree or being recommended to the state of California for your credential, the dream you pursue is now a reality. Today you join a proud legacy of educators, leaders and change makers who will shape the future.” – CEIS Dean Janelle Pitt-Parker
“Early on, I thought success came from having the best answers, the best model, the cleanest analysis, the most elegant solution, but that’s now what really moved the needle. What mattered consistently was understanding people, understanding the problem behind the problem and having the courage to act before everything felt certain.” – Travis Muhlestein, Product and AI Chief Technology Officer at GoDaddy
“You’ve chosen an industry that’s built on people, and that’s built on experiences that truly matter and shape the world. So, stay grounded, stay focused, stay resilient, keep learning and keep evolving.” – Bryan Churchill (’88, hospitality management), Senior Vice President, Hotel Sales Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board
“It may be challenging, and there are no guarantees it will be easy. But I want to remind you never to think that you are not capable, smart original or worth enough. And don’t be afraid to be the first. You are capable, worthy and amazing human beings. We need you. Your families need you. Your communities need you. This world needs you.” – Communication Associate Professor Ivana Cvetkovic
“This is something that I couldn’t have done without my family, the faculty, and above all, my friends, who were a constant source of support pushing me to achieve everything that I am capable of. All of us have that potential within us. And now it is finally our turn to go out into the world, to take risks, face rejection and inevitably make mistakes. But most importantly, to pursue everything we are capable of and more.” – Caitlyn Salvatov, Julian McPhee Scholar, The Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture
Watch a Video
