More than 350 students crossed the stage during the fall commencement ceremony in December, celebrated by the cheers of friends, families and the faculty who supported them throughout their journey. The fall graduating class had a worldwide reach, including seven international students from South Africa, Myanmar, Mexico, Nigeria and Zambia.

“Every class of students brings a unique presence to our campuses and our Lancer community,” said CLC President Dr. Lori Suddick. “I am grateful to have been gifted this time with you, the fall class of 2025. I have learned from you. I have been influenced by you, and you have filled me with hope for our future. Every one of you leaves an imprint on the college's culture, and I hope your CLC experience has been inspiring and a fulfilling learning journey.”

Faviola Ceja of Waukegan is graduating as a nursing assistant, driven not only by her own goals but by a desire to set an example for her children. Even while attending Saturday classes, she found a strong sense of support that helped her stay on track.

"I actually never graduated middle school because I went to an alternative school, and I ended up dropping out from there,” she said. “With work and keeping up with my family, and I never got the opportunity to graduate. So being here wearing this gown, this cap, it’s emotional.”

Eusebio Mendoza from Gurnee is graduating with a degree in precision machining technology. He currently works in a shop and in the future, plans on continuing his education perhaps in engineering.

“My biggest motivation for me was my parents,” he said. “They passed away, but I wanted to keep doing better for them, even though they're not here. My family always motivated me, telling me that I'm almost there and I'm almost done, just to keep on going.”

Also graduating with a nursing degree is John Teodoro from Lake Villa. His next step is to find a job and then later pursue his bachelor’s degree. One of his biggest motivators are his grandparents in the Philippines.

“It was hard work,” he said. “I know I'll still be going to school in the future, but graduating is another steppingstone to the future.”

Katherine Torres, a graduate and student speaker, left her class with a final message.

“After you step out of these doors, you'll face a challenge, whether it be at home, in your career, your relationship, or at school, but it's important to truly be ready for anything,” she said. “I failed, and I will continue to probably fail more after this, and I failed way more times than I've succeeded. But I want to stress that the most important thing we learn comes from our failures. It's all about our willingness to keep on fighting and knowing it's never too late to achieve your dreams.”