A program called First Year Experience (FYE) had a great night of celebration for completing their freshman year of college onto their sophomore year.

Office specialist third student contact & FYE staff Jeanna Pina Bayaca said, “It was a great night we had a total of 58 students and parents attend the event, and that is the most we have ever had.”

The environment of the promotion was very joyful everyone had smiles on their face and the students were very glad they made it through their first year of college.

FYE is a program on Palomar campus for incoming, first-year students. Counselors in the TLC building tutor. They also teach students how” important it is to stay in school,” Cindy Anfinson said.

Anfinson is the the FYE coordinator who welcomed all the students who made it to the event and said, “We are celebrating your accomplishment of your first year of college.”

Anfinson said she was proud of the students who are part of the FYE program and was glad she was able to give the students the support they needed.

Carmelino Cruz took Rondolfo Jacobo’s place due to an illness. Cruz, a non-credit matriculation assistant, spoke at the event and motivated students to stay in school.

Cruz told the students what it was like growing up poor, with no parents, because they were back in Mexico while their son was being raised by his sister and her husband. He really preached to the student they should pay attention in class and do good in school so they can succeed in life.

The counselors decorated seven rows of tables with balloons on top of each table and flowers to celebrate the students hard work during their first year of college. At the end of the night each student was given a certificate of completion.

Regina Cervantes, a first-year student, said, “the event was really good, the decorations were very good.” Cervantes received an award for being a resilient student and was surprised by the award given to her.

“The reason why I got this award was because of the counselors in the TLC building helping me whenever i needed it and really pushed me to continue with my goals,” she said.

Several college deans were in attendance to celebrate the students accomplishment and encourage them to continue. The Deans lending support were Dan Sourbeer, dean of mathematics natural and health sciences, Shayla Sivert, dean of languages, and Wilma Owens, dean of career, technical and extended education.