​Celebrated Past. Boundless Future.

Discover the history of Santa Ana College. As we celebrate our centennial, take a journey through our long and storied history.

1960

The weekly newspaper El Don was recognized with the All-American rating for the 26th time.

The speech department presented four plays and sponsored the campus appearances of actors Agnes Moorehead and Vincent Price.

1961

Enrollment grew at a fast rate with the fall semester showing 3,880 students in credit classes, a 17% increase over the previous year. The faculty numbered 118 of which 67 were full-time and 51 were part-time. Instruction was available in 247 subjects.

October: Governor Edmund Brown spoke before a general student assembly. Later that same year, American author Cleveland Armory spoke at the college.

1962

In what is considered the best season in the history of Santa Ana College football, the Dons recorded a 20-0 win over Columbia Basin (WA) in the Junior Rose Bowl to claim the National Championship.

The college grew at a fantastic rate with 4,720 students in credit classes, an increase of 21% over the previous year.

1963

For the fourth time in six years, first place honors for the Bill of Rights Week went to Santa Ana College from among all southern California college and university entries. El Don won first place from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and All American from the Associate Collegiate Press.

1964

Fall: A new data processing center, equipped with the latest computers and business machines, opened.

1966

A new curriculum planned for young women wishing to qualify as airline stewardesses was approved. Those who entered the program had to be age 20-28, 62-68 inches tall, 100-135 pounds, vision 20-40 without glasses, and “be acceptable physically.”

The Automotive Shop was licensed as an official State Inspection Station for air pollution and smog control and as an official brake inspection station.

An agreement was reached with the Fire Chiefs of Orange County for the college to provide a Fire Academy for all new recruits in Orange County. The program was slated to begin in fall 1967.

1967

The new Don Bookstore opened and the “temporary” army barracks were removed to make way for parking lots.

March 12: Nearly 3,000 guests attended the Open House dedication of Russell Hall and Tessmann Planetarium. These buildings were named in honor of Herbert O. Russell, SAC physics professor from 1924 to 1951, and interim director from 1947 to 1949; and Jennie Lasby Tessmann, world-renowned astronomer and a SAC faculty member for nearly 30 years.

1968

Nearly half of the total SAC enrollment was comprised of those who attended the Extended Day College in the evening for purposes of occupational advancement, technical training for new fields, or pursuit of an academic interest. Science fiction author Ray Bradbury visited SAC.

January: The Santa Ana College Foundation was certified as a non-profit corporation and the foundation’s board of directors launched a supporting group called the Friends of Santa Ana College.

May: The Social Science Division sponsored the college’s first Mock Democratic National Convention in which 25 universities and colleges participated sending 400 delegates and faculty advisor.

1969

Fall: The Nursery School Assistant Certificate program was launched.

1969-1970

The Technical Building and the Music Building were completed to add 17,850 square feet of instructional and office space to the campus. Also, a partial remodel of Phillips Hall took place.