U.S. Senator Adam Schiff to address Class of 2025
U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) will speak at the commencement ceremony for Fresno City College on Friday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. in Fresno.
Nearly 3,000 students have applied for graduation as part of the Class of 2025. Degrees to be conferred include Associate in Science, Associate in Arts, and Associate Degrees for Transfer.
Sen. Schiff, a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School, has served California in public office for nearly three decades. In 2024, he was elected to the U.S. Senate following more than 20 years in the House of Representatives, where he earned national recognition for his leadership on issues ranging from national security to civil rights. U. S. Senator Schiff also taught political science at Glendale Community College, giving him a direct appreciation for the role community colleges play in transforming lives.
He became the first U.S. Senator from California in more than 30 years to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee, deepening his commitment to supporting the state’s rural and farming communities. A year into his first term, he has championed efforts on affordable housing, wildfire resilience, student mental health, and expanding federal investments in infrastructure and job training programs.
Sen. Schiff’s commencement address marks a historic moment for Fresno City College as he becomes the first U.S. Senator ever to deliver a graduation speech in the college’s 115-year history. His appearance underscores the growing recognition of the Central Valley’s vital role in California’s future and the importance of community colleges in advancing opportunity and economic mobility.
State Center Community College District Chancellor Carole Goldsmith said, "We are truly honored to have Senator Schiff join us for this year’s Fresno City College commencement. His presence sends a powerful message to our graduates—that they are seen, their hard work matters, their voices matter, and their futures matter. We’re grateful Sen. Schiff is taking the time to celebrate this milestone with our students, families, and college community.”
Fresno City College is California’s first community college, established in 1910. Generations of residents have earned degrees from the college, which today serves nearly 25,000 students annually.
