Citrus College this month celebrated the academic achievements of 1,425 graduates, the highest number in institutional history.

The Citrus College Class of 2016 is nearly 25 percent larger than that of the previous year and breaks a 100-year record for the total number of students receiving associate degrees.

Citrus College ranks 12th out of more than 1,100 community colleges in the United States in awarding associate degrees to Hispanic students.

Glendora resident Maxime Tondre was among those who received a degree.

Aplayer on the Men’s Basketball Team, Tondre, 23, said he enrolled as an average student who was mainly interested in the college’s Athletics Program. However, the business major experienced a transformation during his time at Citrus College and earned one of the highest overall academic performances during the 2015-2016 academic year.

Tondre will be transferring to a four-year university in the fall and hopes to educate students in Western Africa.

“I am convinced that Citrus College provided me with the tools I needed to reach my full potential,” Tondre said.

These impressive completion rates mark the continuation of an institutional trend that has resulted in Citrus College being ranked 12th out of more than 1,100 community colleges in the United States in awarding associate degrees to Hispanic students.

In addition to celebrating graduates, the 2016 Commencement Ceremony provided Citrus College with the opportunity to honor outstanding alumni. Cecil Brower, Class of 1993; John McHann, Class of 1959, and Douglas Tessitor, Class of 1967, were each presented with a 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award. Submitted by Citrus College