The event will highlight the resilience and achievements of this year’s 1,933 graduates, ranging in age from 16 to 85 and representing diverse backgrounds, experiences, and aspirations. Approximately 30 percent of graduates identify as first-generation college students, 366 graduates are affiliated with the military, and many are working parents, returning adult learners, and students preparing to transfer to some of the nation’s top universities or enter high-demand careers. The ceremony will also recognize 24 students graduating from the eighth cohort of MiraCosta College’s biomanufacturing bachelor’s degree program, California’s first community college bachelor’s degree in biomanufacturing.

“The Class of 2026 represents resilience, determination, and hope,” said Dr. Sunita “Sunny” Cooke, superintendent/president of MiraCosta College. “Every graduate has a story, and each story reflects the transformative power of education to change lives, strengthen families, and uplift communities. We are incredibly proud of what these students have accomplished and excited for the positive impact they will have throughout our region and beyond.”

Among the graduates recognized during the ceremony is student commencement speaker Alexander Aurich, whose journey reflects academic excellence and a deep commitment to service.

For Aurich, the milestone is rooted in family history. His mother immigrated to the United States from Sinaloa, Mexico, at age 15 and attended MiraCosta College, but was unable to complete her education due to financial barriers.

“To continue what she started—that’s everything to me,” Aurich shared. “She’s my ‘why.’”

Pursuing a degree in political science with an emphasis in international relations, Aurich aspires to become a Foreign Service Officer focused on fostering global stability. During his time at MiraCosta, he used campus support services, including counseling services and the food pantry, and scholarships to stay focused on his academic goals.

“These weren’t just services,” Aurich explained. “They made me feel like my goals were actually within reach.”

Aurich has been accepted to several top-tier universities, including the University of California, Berkeley, Princeton University, and Vanderbilt University. He is excited to continue his academic journey at Princeton University this fall.

Adding to his accomplishments, Aurich was recently named a recipient of the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Selected as one of only 60 students nationwide and one of just 14 from California, the scholarship provides significant financial support and advising resources to high-achieving community college students transferring to four-year institutions.

“In the last two years alone, I wouldn’t have believed I’d be where I am now,” Aurich said. “But MiraCosta helped me see what’s possible.”

Also featured during commencement is MiraCosta College’s 2026 Student Artist of the Year, Rebecca Segura Reeves, who is graduating with an associate’s degree in photography.

Segura Reeves began her educational journey at MiraCosta College in 2012, taking noncredit courses at the Community Learning Center before transitioning to credit coursework in 2016. Over the past decade, she has remained committed to her creative goals while navigating a nontraditional academic path.

She first studied traditional art forms before expanding her practice through MiraCosta’s Media Arts Department, where she earned a certificate of achievement in graphic design. Along the way, she developed a diverse body of work grounded in storytelling, design, and creative problem-solving.

Following graduation, Segura Reeves will transfer to San Diego State University to pursue a degree in interior architecture with a minor in woodworking. Her goal is to design functional, meaningful spaces that positively shape how people experience their environments.

Segura Reeves’ selection as the 2026 Student Artist of the Year reflects both her creative accomplishments and her persistence throughout her educational journey.

The Class of 2026 graduates enter a rapidly evolving world equipped with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to make meaningful contributions across industries and communities. MiraCosta College continues to serve as a critical educational and workforce development partner for North San Diego County by expanding access to affordable, high-quality education and hands-on career preparation.

“Commencement is a celebration not only of academic achievement, but of possibility,” Dr. Cooke added. “Our graduates leave MiraCosta prepared to lead, innovate, serve, and create positive change. They remind us why community colleges matter and why investing in students transforms entire communities.”