(Santa Ana, Calif.) – Santa Ana College (SAC) will hold its 2023 commencement ceremony at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on June 2 at 5 p.m. The keynote speaker will be award-winning KTLA journalist and meteorologist Vera Jimenez ('98), a SAC Alumni Hall of Fame inductee.
KTLA journalist and meteorologist Vera Jimenez (Class of '98)
Commencement speaker Jimenez – who has earned four Emmys, three Golden Mike Awards and three Golden Pylon Awards – returns to her alma mater following her SAC Alumni Hall of Fame induction in 2020. That year, Jimenez took part in a virtual Town Hall for SAC during Hispanic Heritage Month, where she was celebrated as a Latina who emigrated from Mexico to the United States as a little girl and attended SAC in the 90s. During the Town Hall, Jimenez encouraged SAC students “to persevere and never give up" and to “push forward through their education to reach their goals."
“As a SAC alumna, Vera Jimenez embodies the ambition and focus we celebrate here on our campus," said Dr. Annebelle Nery, president of SAC. “As a successful Latina, media professional and business owner who remains deeply bonded to her community, Vera is an example of the perseverance, grit and generosity that is so relatable to our student body. I look forward to her commencement address because I know our students will feel a personal connection to her story."
More than 5,400 degrees will be conferred to the class of 2023's graduating students who have completed bachelor's degrees in occupational therapy, associate degrees of science or the arts, and certificates of achievement, as well as those who have completed high school diplomas or the equivalent from SAC's Continuing Education.
“Our graduating class of 2023 represents the best and brightest from our diverse community," said Nery. “Each graduate is well-prepared and ready to make a difference as they continue their educational journey or enter the workforce here in Santa Ana, Orange County or beyond."
Commencement is a special time to celebrate educational accomplishments with family, friends, mentors and classmates. At Santa Ana College, the staff, faculty and administrators are proud of all students and impressed by the way they are able to balance work, family and college.
For more information about SAC's 2023 Commencement ceremony, visit the Commencement 2023 dedicated page.
At Santa Ana College, students can work toward completing an associate degree, university transfer, career training or a bachelor's degree in occupational studies. Summer classes start June 12, and Fall classes start August 21, enrollment is currently open. To learn more, please visit www.sac.edu.
As part of Santa Ana College, Continuing Education has FREE classes for those 18 years or older living in California. Continuing Education offers programs, including English language, high school diploma, career training, citizenship and more. To learn more about SCE, please visit www.sac.edu/sce.
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About Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College (SAC), which turned 100 years old in 2015, serves about 18,000 students each semester. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions and provides invaluable workforce training for business and industry. In addition, another 11,000 students are served through the college's School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation's top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.
