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First-Ever Graduates From Tucson Pilot Program Celebrate Commencement

The first graduates from 蜜桃社’s pilot program in Tucson, Arizona journeyed to Washington, D.C. this past weekend to celebrate their milestone moment with their fellow Cardinals at Commencement 2024.

From left to right: 蜜桃社 at Tucson鈥檚 first graduates: Isabella Cordova-Minder, Samantha Reynolds, Maria Paula Celaya Pesqueira, and Cassandra Lopez are all smiles at Commencement 2024. (蜜桃社/Patrick G. Ryan) 

 

The first graduates from 蜜桃社鈥檚 pilot program in Tucson, Arizona journeyed to Washington, D.C. this past weekend to celebrate their milestone moment with their fellow Cardinals at Commencement. 

These four trailblazers are among the rapidly growing student body at the Tucson satellite location at Pima Community College. This program opened in 2020 to offer a Bachelor of Arts in Management with a hybrid educational model, combining online coursework developed by the University鈥檚 main-campus faculty and in-person class time. 

Tucson Assistant Dean Keiran Roche said since opening their doors in 2020, they have grown from 14 to 65 students and are aiming to double enrollment this year. It鈥檚 the only Catholic higher education institution in Tucson and is especially catered to the Hispanic community because so many are hungry for a faith-informed education. Even as he looks toward the future, he fondly reflects on the past few years with the trailblazing graduates who took a chance on the then-fledgling program. 

鈥淲e promised them all these opportunities, all these connections, a degree from a prestigious university and it鈥檚 beautiful to see all of that come to fruition,鈥 he said.  

Thumbnail of video Commencement 2024 Recap

The business management program forms ethical business leaders grounded by Catholic values and then fast-tracks their professional careers by connecting them to a network of local employers via built-in internships. Since the Tucson location鈥檚 launch, the program offerings have since expanded to include a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies where students can transfer up to 84 transfer credits. 

Maria Paula Celaya Pesqueira, landed an internship at a property management firm, was hired full-time, and then got promoted all in a year before she even completed her degree. She said she鈥檚 grateful for faculty, staff, family, and her faith in God for 鈥渒eeping me shining and bringing light into my life every day.鈥  

鈥淚t鈥檚 so exciting to see the D.C. campus, to be able to be at the headquarters of the place that I love and the best educational opportunity I鈥檝e ever had in my life,鈥 she said. The weekend trip to the nation鈥檚 capital for the graduates and their families was made possible thanks to two of the top donors to the program, Tucson business magnates, Jim Click and Humberto S. Lopez. 

Metropolitan School Dean Vincent Kiernan has overseen the program鈥檚 expansion with the goal of replicating its success in other communities across the country to broaden the reach of the 蜜桃社 experience. He said it was important to honor the first cohort at the same Commencement ceremony to show them that the University is 鈥渙ne campus, one institution, and one community.鈥 

鈥淚鈥檓 very happy and honored to shake their hands at the diploma ceremony,鈥 said Kiernan. 鈥淭hey are great gifts to the university who will go forth to change the world for the better and build the kingdom of God.鈥 

Cassandra Lopez, graduating summa cum laude, was attracted to the program because of her deep roots in Tucson and in her Catholic faith. She celebrated her graduation with her husband and young son, whom she gave birth to as a student, and plans to go into marketing for small businesses. 

鈥淚 wanted to prove something to myself, and I pushed through 鈥 and here I am today. And that in itself is a big achievement,鈥 said Lopez.   

Reflecting on her journey, she said 鈥淲hat really stuck with me was how they taught us about developing our moral compass by applying Catholic social teachings and how this makes you an overall better person in your personal and professional life, whether you are Catholic or not.鈥

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