In my research, I noticed that little is ever published about commencement ceremonies in the school newspaper – I'm sure this is because the papers were not posted in the summer following graduation. By fall, they had moved on. So, my first article this fall is about OCC's graduation.
Did you know that OCC graduations were held indoors until 1958? OCC's first several commencement ceremonies were staged in the campus theater, a leftover military building from the Santa Ana Army Air Base. According to Barnacle's story, in June 1958, "due to turning away graduates last year for lack of room… they were going to hold the graduation at the Stadium/football field." That year, the expected number of grads was over 250.
From 1958 to 2003, OCC held graduations at LeBard Stadium, built in 1955. In 2004, OCC held commencement at the Pacific Amphitheatre at the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center, directly across Fairview Road from OCC's campus. Commencement was never staged off campus until 2004, when more than 2,000 OCC students were honored. In May 2023, Orange Coast College conferred more than 3,800 associate degrees and certificates of achievement at the 75th commencement ceremony.
A case could be made that we have never held a commencement event outside the original Santa Ana Army Air Base land since the Pacific Amphitheatre is in that area! Congratulations, class of 2023, as you join the 75 years of proud alums.
