Graduation Speakers
Student Speaker: Salma Magdalena Medina
Salma Magdalena Medina is a graduate of Garfield High School in East Los Angeles. She began attending East Los Angeles College in June 2023 and will graduate in June 2025 with four Associate Degrees in Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Law, Public Policy and Society, and Political Science. She is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and will earn an honors certification. During her time at ELAC, Salma served as Vice President of the Transfer Club (2023–2024) and President of the Pathway to Law School Program (2024–2025). She was selected as a semi-finalist for the 2025 Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship. Salma is transferring to UCLA in the fall of 2025 and pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Her goal is to attend law school and become a legislative attorney focused on expanding equity through public policy.
Master of Ceremonies: Carmen Soto, Ed.D.
Dr. Carmen Soto, a Counselor at ELAC since 2015, is honored to serve as this year’s MC. Carmen is a first-generation college graduate and the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants! She earned a B.A. in Sociology from Loyola Marymount University (LMU) after transferring from Pasadena City College. At LMU, Carmen was inspired by the Jesuit idea that one’s education was meant to benefit others. It is this perspective that has driven her counseling in motivating students to use their success as a means to uplift their communities. Carmen also holds an M.Ed. in Educational Counseling and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Educational Psychology from the USC Rossier School of Education. At ELAC, Dr. Soto serves as a Co-Advisor for the Huskies Transfer Club, a Puente Mentor, teaches courses, and provides academic, university transfer, and honors counseling to students.