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.
1991
Dr. Vivian Blevins was named president of Rancho Santiago College and would serve until 1997.
1992
March 27: Emergency telephones were installed at the Santa Ana, Orange and Centennial campuses at a cost of $168,000. Installation enabled students to access security officers. Two 12-foot observation platforms, priced at $16,000 were to be built in strategic areas to further ensure campus safety.
November 13: Board approved a $12.5 million computer center. Although a budget crisis had left higher education across the state reeling from funding cutbacks, the $12.5 million business and computer technology building on the Santa Ana campus, was scheduled to be built with state money generated from a construction bond approved by voters the previous June.
1993
February 5: DuringBlack History Month, the Black Student Union sponsored many events that raised awareness of African-American culture and history.
1994
September 9: The dream of a new business building turned into a nightmare as construction costs forced delays in the groundbreaking of the $10.8 million complex.
1997
Middle College High School opened its doors on the Santa Ana College campus.
January: Dr. Edward Hernandez, Jr., became Rancho Santiago College president and served in that role until July 1997 when he was named chancellor of Rancho Santiago Community College District.
July 1: Santa Ana College went back to its original name after 11 years of being known as Rancho Santiago College.
July 14: John Didion, Rancho Santiago Community College District executive vice chancellor of human resources and educational services, was named interim president of SAC while a search for a new president was conducted.
September 16: The two-story, 53,000-square-foot César Chávez Business and Computer Building was dedicated.
1998
March: Dr. Al Fernandez was named interim president of SAC while a second search for the college president was conducted.
July: Dr. John Nixon, SAC vice president of academic affairs, was named interim president of SAC while the search for a college president continued.
1999
Coach J.P. Frutos led the men’s soccer team to the only perfect record (25-0-0) in program history and to claim the State and National Championship.
July: Dr. Rita Cepeda was appointed president of SAC and served in that role until 2004.