ASU Local celebrates largest graduating class in LA
ASU Local Los Angeles and Long Beach graduates gather onstage during ASU Local’s largest graduation celebration to date at the ASU California Center Broadway in downtown Los Angeles on May 4. Photo by Matt Palanca
By Maira Hernandez
The ASU California Center in downtown Los Angeles was filled with celebration, reflection and pride as families, friends, staff and community partners gathered for the ASU Local End of Year Celebration on May 4 — marking the graduation of the largest cohort in the Los Angeles region to date.
This year, 17 students graduated across the region, including 12 from ASU Local – Los Angeles and five from ASU Local – Long Beach, representing a milestone moment for a program that continues to grow its reach and impact.
ASU Local is a hybrid program pairing online coursework with in-person coaching and mentorship. Across six ASU Local sites — Los Angeles, Long Beach and Chula Vista in California; Yuma, Arizona; Washington, D.C.; and West Hawai‘i — the program served more than 350 students this academic year.
For many graduates, the celebration represented more than the completion of a degree. It was a celebration of persistence, identity and community support systems that carried them through complex personal and academic journeys.
Ina Seok, interim executive director for ASU Local, opened the celebration with a message centered on access and possibility.
“Wherever you come from doesn’t determine where you can go,” Seok said, highlighting the program’s commitment to first-generation and nontraditional students navigating higher education.
That commitment is reflected in the student population itself — 77% of ASU Local students identify as first-generation college students.
Through dedicated coaching, flexible programming and consistent mentorship, students are supported in balancing work, family responsibilities and academic goals. This year, 95% of ASU Local students remained in good academic standing, underscoring the strength of that support system.
Peter Murrieta — Emmy Award-winning writer and producer, associate dean, deputy director and professor of practice at The Sidney Poitier New American Film School — delivered the keynote address, reflecting on his own experience as a first-generation student and the power of community in shaping student success.
“It’s bigger than a program, it’s bigger than a meetup once a week,” Murrieta said. “It’s a community. It’s people showing up for each other, because that matters a lot.
“You had people, you had a cohort, you had a place to come back to, you had mentors, you had a system that said you belong here. Being a part of a community should be a big piece of how you define what success looks like to you.”
His words echoed throughout the celebration as graduates crossed the stage, surrounded by families and supporters who had witnessed their journeys firsthand.
ASU Local’s growth reflects its mission of meeting students where they are. From its California sites to its expanding national footprint, the program has become a model for flexible, community-centered higher education designed for students balancing full lives outside the classroom.
The celebration also highlighted individual student stories that embody the spirit of ASU Local. This year’s graduates include students who are working parents, first-generation scholars, community leaders and aspiring professionals whose paths reflect resilience and purpose.
- Lawrence Carroll (Los Angeles) — Graduating summa cum laude and on the Dean’s List, Carroll returns to education after a 20-year hiatus while balancing fatherhood, nonprofit leadership and advocacy work. He graduates in public service and public policy with a deep commitment to community impact in Los Angeles. Read more about Carroll’s story.
- Martha Fabiola Garcia (Los Angeles) — A Mexican immigrant and mother of two graduating magna cum laude and on the Dean’s List, Garcia earned her degree in international relations while building a legal advocacy initiative and supporting immigrant families through her work and internships. Read more about Garcia’s story.
- Jocelyn Rios (Los Angeles) — A first-generation communication graduate and Dean’s List honoree, Rios balanced full-time work in medical diagnostics, motherhood, wedding planning and academic life as part of ASU Local’s inaugural Long Beach cohort. Read more about Rios’ story.
- Lily Chalais (Long Beach) — A first-generation history graduate and Dean’s List student, Chalais helped shape ASU Local – Long Beach in its first year while working two jobs and commuting from Orange County. Her work in public history deepened her commitment to education and storytelling. Read more about Chalais’ story.
Together, these graduates represent the breadth of ASU Local’s mission: expanding access, supporting working students and redefining what college completion looks like in communities across California and beyond.
As the celebration closed, families gathered for photos, graduates embraced mentors and peers, and the energy of accomplishment filled the ASU California Center. For many, it was not just a graduation, but a reminder of what becomes possible when students are supported by a community built to help them succeed.
Learn more about ASU Local at asulocal.asu.edu.
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