Conflicting schedules have moved Palo Alto’s graduation ceremony up an hour. Graduation will now be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 11, at the Freeman Coliseum.

This year, including the summer 2006, fall 2006 and spring 2007 semesters, 860 degrees and certificates have been earned by more than 700 students.

Linda Cooke, Assistant Director of Records at Palo Alto College, said that is almost 200 more students than last year.

The top three degrees are Liberal Studies, 153 recipients; Psychology, 59 recipients; and Criminal Justice, 51 recipients.

Graduates must be at the Freeman Coliseum, 3201 East Houston Street, no later than 5 p.m. Graduates have been given a free parking pass, but for other vehicles parking is $5.

Richard Perez, San Antonio District 4 City Councilman, will be the graduation speaker.

Perez, a 1985 graduate of South San High School, earned his bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Texas State University and his master’s degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in City Management from the University of Kansas.

Completing all the requirements for an associate’s degree is by no means an easy task. It requires dedication, arduous studying and long hours of hard work.

Jessica Alvarado graduated from Palo Alto back in December of 2006 with an Associate of Arts in Communications as well as a Certificate in Web Publishing, and she plans to earn her bachelor’s degree in Communications.

Alvarado attended Palo Alto as a part-time student from the fall semester 2001 through the fall semester 2006. “It feels like a real accomplishment,” said Alvarado, who will cross the stage on May 11. “After being there as long as I was, it’s nice to have something to show for it.”

Nellie Olvera is graduating from Palo Alto this with an Associate of Arts in Social Work.

Olvera said, “It’s good to have that sense of accomplishment, and now I can move on to something else.”

Olvera started college as a pre-med major, but she switched degrees because of her job. “I work up at the school. It opens you up to people who don’t have all the advantages you do,” said Olvera, who plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin this fall. She hopes to use her education to help those less fortunate than herself.

Ashley Neer will graduate with an Associate of Arts in Psychology. This is her third year at Palo Alto, and she is glad to be moving on.

“It’s an accomplishment,” she said. Neer has applied to the Texas A&M at Kingsville branch located on the Palo Alto campus, and she expects to attend classes there in the fall.

For students, graduation marks the end of their time at Palo Alto, but it also symbolizes a new beginning.

“We know that our graduates have received a quality education here at Palo Alto College, and they are well prepared for their next stage in life,” said President Ana “Cha” Guzmán. “We wish them all the best, and we look forward to celebrating their future successes.”