Welcome Center Celebration Includes Our Supportive Oakland Mayor

(SEE MORE PHOTOS) Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf joined an enthusiastic group of administrators, faculty, staff, students, and guests who helped celebrate the First Annual Welcome Day of the newly reorganized Welcome Center, which has helped hundreds of students since opening at the beginning of the semester.

“This Center can make the difference of getting that degree or dropping out,” said Mayor Schaaf, who revealed that she, too, dropped out of college at a low point in her life when she couldn’t hold it together. “I got lots of support to pick me up.”

Welcome Center Director Margie Rubio introduced District Chancellor Jowel Laguerre, Merritt President Marie-Elaine Burns, and VP Arnulfo Cedillo, thanked her staff who were presented with certificates and ASMC who helped to coordinate the event, appreciated the Merritt’s veterans represented by Ryan Beall, and recognized grateful student, Portia Boutte, who spoke about the help she got from the Welcome Center. After the event, the crowd enjoyed a great lunch of barbecue chicken sandwiches, potato salad, and more!

“I’m very proud that the community was able to see a glimpse of the work that’s being done in the Welcome Center,” said Margie. “We serve each student with passion because we want them to leave feeling confident of the decision they made to attend Merritt College. I’m very grateful to the peer advisors for their diligent work and dedication.”

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