![\"Van](\"https:\/\/www.palomar.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/05\/Commencement-first-picks-1024x683.jpg\")
Palomar College Governing Board Vice President Mark Evilsizer, left, congratulates a graduate during the 2021 drive-through commencement held Friday, May 28, 2021.<\/p><\/div>\n
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Participation in Friday\u2019s ceremony was optional, and virtually all of the vehicles that arrived via Comet Circle were decorated with supportive messages and balloons. All told, some 3,837 degrees and certificates were earned this year.<\/p>\n
Associated Student Government (ASG) President Kateri Mouawad focused on resilience in her address to her fellow graduates: \u201cYou\u2019ve graduated in a pandemic, overcoming one of the most difficult circumstances of the decade. You\u2019ve overcome economic, emotional, and social hurdles and are continuing forward on your journey to reach your goals, and hopefully make the world a better place.\u201d<\/p>\n
A few minutes before the event began at 5 p.m., Mary Handler sat in her sister\u2019s idling convertible, wearing full academic regalia and sunglasses.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just happy to be doing something to celebrate,\u201d said Handler, 17, who was receiving her associate degree in University Studies, with University of California and California State University transfer certificates.<\/p>\n
She said it wasn\u2019t the sort of graduation she had imagined, \u201cBut I\u2019m having fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
From the backseat, her mother, Carrie Handler, beamed with pride: \u201cI couldn\u2019t be more proud\u2014she\u2019s an amazing kid,\u201d she said. \u201cMary is unstoppable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nearby, Judith Munjuia waited in line with her family.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis means a lot,\u201d said Munjuia, who was receiving her associate degree in Business Administration. She said she joined the commencement procession because \u201cI wanted to feel like a part of my college\u2014to feel the spirit.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"