VC ranks 34th in graduating Latinos

By Katrina Barnett and Millicent Failano

VCNC reporters

Ventura College was ranked 34th in the nation among community colleges granting associate’s degrees to Hispanic-American students. The ranking appeared in an article on “The Top 50 Community and Junior Colleges for Hispanics” in the March 10 edition of Hispanic Outlook Magazine.

The ranking for each school was based on the number of associate’s degrees given to Hispanic-American students. Ventura College reportedly awarded 912 associate’s degrees last year, about 325 of them to Hispanic students.

Alisa Moore, VC’s public information officer, is happy with the ranking. “That is impressive,” Moore said, noting that Ventura College is not a large school in comparison to many of the colleges on the list, nor has VC ever appeared on the list of the highest percentage for Hispanic student attendance.

VC’s ranking can be an inspiration to Hispanic students, said Mayo de la Rocha, department chair of Social and Behavioral Sciences. “This is opportunity; you can’t beat it whatsoever,” De la Rocha said, adding that such recognition is an “awakening” to all Hispanic American students that there is something more to be achieved.