BC Hosts Juneteenth Celebration
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Last week, Bakersfield College hosted a celebration in honor of Juneteenth. Faculty, staff, students, and community members gathered in the Renegade Event Center to commemorate the legacy of Juneteenth while promoting unity, kinship, and joy. This year’s theme was Freedom, Family, and Fellowship and featured keynote speakers, games, food, and more.
The event kicked off with breakfast and a time for networking. There was excitement in the air as attendees gathered at the tables with food and beverages. Tiffany Sagbohan, Program Manager for Public Safety Training, served as the MC for event and provided the opening remarks. After the flag salute, Dr. Keith Wolaridge, Associate Professor of Business, spoke about the history and significance of Juneteenth. “Today as we gather to celebrate Juneteenth, which is a day that represents freedom delayed, freedom enforced, but freedom continuously pursued,” he said, “it is a reminder that progress comes through perseverance, courage, and determination. Juneteenth reminds us that freedom can move forward when people remain committed to its cause.”
The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Keith Curry, President and CEO of Compton College. He discussed the importance of Juneteenth, his career in education, and how to improve student success in our institutions. “As a family, we got to find ways to work together,” he said, “because the common goal is student success. Juneteenth is a celebration, but it is also about how we move forward.” He also discussed his involvement with the Black Serving Institution designation. “In 2022, I was in a conversation with some people, and I was talking about what we needed to do for black students,” he said, “and in the conversation I mentioned that we needed to be a black serving institution.” Those early conversations eventually turned into Senate Bill 1348, the California Black-Serving Institutions (BSI) Program Act of 2024. Dr. Curry a few moments to congratulate BC on being recognized as a BSI in 2026. “This designation recognizes the work that people are doing to support black students,” said he said, “and it can also give you a sense of pride because you are doing good work – it’s all about progress.”
The event continued with games, community reflections and closing remarks. The Juneteenth Celebration at Bakersfield College was a day full of fellowship, reflection, and shared purpose. The event embodied the spirit of this year’s theme – Freedom, Family, and Fellowship – and highlighted the power of coming together to inspire unity and progress.
