Allan Hancock College celebrated 2026 graduates who will continue their education at four-year universities at its annual University Transfer Stars Celebration?on May 15. Photo courtesy Allan Hancock College.
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SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College celebrated the 2026 graduates who will continue their education at four-year universities at its annual University Transfer Stars Celebration on May 15 at the college’s Santa Maria campus.
Hosted each year by Hancock’s University Transfer Center, the event allowed Hancock’s transfer students to celebrate their achievements with their friends and family as they prepare for a new chapter in their educational journeys. More than 200 “transfer stars” were invited to this year’s celebration.
Participating students, many wearing apparel from their respective universities, received a commemorative?transfer?medallion, took photos with their soon-to-be university peers, and listened to messages of support from Hancock staff and their fellow?transfer?students.
“Each of you have earned your place at a university through hard work, perseverance, and courage,” Hancock Associate Superintendent/Vice President of Student Services Genevieve Siwabessy, Ed.D., told the students who attended the event. “Trust in the skills and experiences that brought you this far, because they will continue to carry you forward wherever your future leads.”
Early in their student journey, Hancock begins encouraging students to think about?transferring and provides resources and support through the UTC and other programs. This year, the college marked an unbroken 25-year streak of having the highest acceptance rate to Cal Poly, SLO. This year, 67 percent of Hancock applicants were accepted to become Mustangs, nearly triple the average rate.
Some of those new Mustangs will be earning their Cal Poly degrees at Hancock, thanks to the college’s partnership with the university to offer bachelor’s degree pathways in business administration and sociology at Hancock.
“The bachelor’s pathway made it possible for me to continue my education without leaving behind my support system, and that’s made a huge difference for me,” said Avari Gault, a 2026 Hancock graduate who will be pursuing a Cal Poly degree in sociology at Hancock thanks to the program. “Being able to stay local while earning a Cal Poly bachelor’s degree makes higher education feel much more accessible.”
Many of the transfer students at the event were also beneficiaries of the Transfer Admission Guarantee program, which helps California students earn guaranteed admission to any one of six University of California campuses.
Hancock will celebrate its 105th graduating class at a commencement ceremony on May 22.
To learn more about the UTC, visit www.hancockcollege.edu/utc.