This email was sent to students who are registered for spring 2025
June 17, 2025
Meet Our Commencement Speaker
Dear Student,
We’re excited to announce that Aurelio Cardenas will be this year’s Commencement Speaker for the collegewide graduation celebration on Sunday, June 29. You can read all about Aurelio here – and keep reading below for some important grad reminders.
Student Grad Speaker
The first time Aurelio Cardenas came to De Anza, he didn’t think he belonged in college.
He’d been incarcerated as a teenager and young man, before an injury from gun violence left him partially paralyzed in his early 20s.
Now he’s graduating with an associate degree for transfer in History – thanks to his own hard work, his wife Jessica’s encouragement, and support from De Anza’s Rising Scholars program. This fall, Cardenas will transfer to the University of California, Santa Cruz, after winning the prestigious Pister Leadership Award, which provides $20,000 for college expenses.
His long-term goal is to work with young people as a counselor or teacher, he said. “I want to tell them, ‘If I can do it, they can, too.’ ”
We'll be featuring more students who are receiving major graduation awards in coming days. You'll find all the stories, photos and details about this year's celebration at deanza.edu/graduation.
Graduation Tips and Updates
De Anza's 58th annual commencement ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 29, in the Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara. Doors will open at 1 p.m.
If you're planning to graduate this year, please remember these deadlines:
- Send us your photo and message for the special Graduation Slideshow – no later than this Monday, June 23.
- Buy your cap and gown in person at the campus Bookstore by Thursday, June 26. (Not all sizes may be available. The deadline has passed to order online and have items shipped in time for graduation.)
- There is no deadline to participate in the ceremony, but you must apply for your degree by Friday, June 27 in order to have it awarded for spring quarter. (You must have filed your application by June 16 in order to have your name listed in the printed graduation program.)
Digital Congrats Cards
Everyone is welcome to submit digital Congrats Cards for your favorite grads – or the entire Class of 2025.
You can view these online now at deanza.edu/graduation/2025-congrats.
Disability Accommodations
Sign language interpreters will be present at the commencement celebration on June 29. For disability accommodations, please send an email to balduccilaureen@deanza.edu.
For general questions about graduation, send an email to communications@deanza.edu.
Commencement Livestream
In case you have family members or friends who can’t attend in person, the event will be livestreamed with captions, beginning at 3 p.m. at deanza.edu/graduation.