A new school year is underway and we are thrilled to have students, faculty, and staff back at Santa Ana College! Safety guidelines continue to be upheld as we work together to reinstate campus activities and a renewed sense of normalcy. With classes offered in person and online, students are guaranteed an educational experience that suits their comfort levels and schedules. Meanwhile, new programs, buildings, and accomplishments fuel excitement and optimism at every turn. Read on to learn more about what's happening at SAC!
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SAC SPOTLIGHT
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State-of-the-Art Johnson Student Center Opens with Applause
Santa Ana College Vice President of Student Services Dr. Vaniethia Hubbard and Interim President Dr. Marilyn Flores, RSCCD Chancellor Marvin Martinez, and members of the RSCCD Board of Trustees; Vice President Dr. Tina Arias Miller, Student Trustee Elisabeth Neely, Zeke Hernandez, Clerk David Crockett, and John Hanna participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony that officially opened the new Johnson Student Center.
Three events in July celebrated the grand opening of SAC's long-awaited Johnson Student Center. The 63,642-square-foot building, which began construction in 2018, cost $60 million and was made possible by Measure Q Bond Funds. The Johnson Student Center now fosters student life and provides a variety of services, such as Financial Aid, Campus Store, Health & Wellness Center, CalWORKs, a café, and much more to help learners flourish and meet their educational goals.
Click to see coverage in
The Orange County Register! |
Landmark $1.25 Million Gift Supports New Thrive Center Program
Nancy Chase, Sandy Fainbarg, and SAC alumna Toni Delgado, a recipient of the Allan and Sandy Fainbarg Scholarship. The Fainbarg and Chase families bolstered their long-time support of SAC students through a
recent pledge of $1.25 million, the largest single, private donation from an individual/family in the history of Santa Ana College. This transformative gift helped accelerate the launch of SAC's new Thrive Center, while also allowing thousands of dollars to be earmarked annually for direct student aid through the endowed Allan and Sandy Fainbarg Urgent Action Fund. The Thrive Center, which launched in September, helps students in crisis access basic needs such as food, clothing, and housing. Through the generosity of the Fainbarg and Chase families, students will continue to receive real-time wraparound support and critical resources during the pandemic and beyond. |
Revamped Digital Media Department Focused on Skills of Future Workforce
Professor Michael Dermody instructing students in the Single Camera Production and Editing class.
SAC's Graphic Arts, Digital Media Arts, and UX Design programs are now housed alongside Television, Film, and Broadcast Journalism programs, combining for a comprehensive Department of Digital Media focused on the technical skills and creative needs of the future workforce. The recently-enhanced department has also launched a Drone Piloting and Cinematography program, and will usher in its first graduating class of Agency Film Production in the spring. Future plans include a new Animation for Commercial Applications program and an innovative animation lab. |
“Vax for the Win" Campaign Encourages a Safe Campus and Community
Students are invited to “Vax for the Win."
To help ensure a safe learning environment, SAC has launched “Vax for the Win," an opportunity for fully vaccinated students to receive a $200 gift card to the campus store, along with a chance to win grand prizes that include one year of tuition-free courses and Apple products! Convenient access to vaccinations is available on campus every Wednesday.
Learn more!
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SAC STARS |
SAC'S Shahbazian Appointed to CA Community Colleges Board of Governors
Roy Shahbazian
Governor Newsom has appointed SAC faculty member Roy Shahbazian to the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, which sets policy and provides guidance for the 73 districts and 116 colleges that constitute the system. Board members are appointed by the Governor and formally interact with state and federal officials and other state organizations. Mr. Shahbazian has served as Academic Senate President and Professor of Math at Rancho Santiago Community College District – Santa Ana College since 2001.
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Honor Students Shine in Statewide Competition
State AGS Award winners Edith Gil-Corona (Business/Sociology), Nelly Nguyen (Cognitive Science), and Minh Pham (Pre-med/Pre-law). Three SAC students received top State AGS Awards, which recognize exceptional members of
Alpha Gamma Sigma, the California Community College Scholastic Honor Society. Edith Gil-Corona won a Charles Bell award for service, Nelly Nguyen won a Virginia Coffey award for academics, and the very top award of the year, the Tom Jackson award, was given to Minh Pham for his outstanding accomplishments as a scholar and leader of his chapter, campus, and community. Each awardee also received a scholarship. SAC is so proud of Edith, Nelly, and Minh. We congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition! |
Campus Newspaper El Don Receives Record Breaking Recognition
Current and former
el Don staff holding their 2019 Pacemaker awards, including national titles for Best 2-Year Newspaper, Best 2-Year Website, Best 2-Year News Media Organization and Best in Show. Back row (l to r): Dorian Zavala, Alan Chang, Lesly Guzman, Kandace Lara. Front row (l to r): Rafael Valencia, Chris Castro, Jason Solares, Bre Castañeda, Diego Devia, Carrie Graham, Kate Bustamante. The Associated Collegiate Press has recognized Santa Ana College's el Don as a member of the elite Pacemaker 100 – a list of the top college media publications in ACP's 100-year history. Founded in 1921, ACP annually presents the prestigious Pacemaker Award, considered the Pulitzer Prize of collegiate journalism. Since 1986, el Don has won the Pacemaker a record-breaking 28 times for student excellence in reporting, writing, design and social media news production. |
SAC Athletic Hall of Fame to Induct Class of 2021
SAC's Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Nine former SAC student-athletes will join the
Santa Ana College Athletic Hall of Fame during an upcoming induction ceremony on Sunday, October 24th. The class of 2021 includes the following individuals: David Buehler (Football), Conrad Colby (Baseball), Zac Fray (Women's Basketball), Simon Fuentes (Football), Rich Gonzales (Baseball), Christina Mazurie (Softball), David White (Men's Basketball), Emily Whitecavage (Softball) and Keith Wyrick (Men's Golf).
The public is welcome to attend!
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COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS |
Veterans Resource Center Named CSUF's Partner of the Year
SAC student veterans touring CSUF through its Veterans Resource Center in August. The
Veterans Resource Center (VRC) at SAC was awarded Partner of the Year by California State University, Fullerton during its virtual veterans' graduation ceremony. What started as outreach activities and campus tours two years ago, has blossomed into a steadfast partnership that proactively helps SAC's student veterans transfer to CSUF. Currently, five students from SAC are attending Cal State Fullerton through this program. The VRC has established similar partnerships with university veterans' services at CSUSB, UCSD, UCLA, Cal Poly Pomona.
Follow the VRC on Facebook to stay informed of its many programs and resources available to America's heroes! |
SAC Selected for Intel's AI for Workforce Program
Santa Ana College is one of 18 community colleges being added to Intel's artificial intelligence degree program that helps create the next generation of US technologists, engineers, and inventors. The Intel AI for Workforce Program, with technology support from Dell Technologies, helps students gain critically-needed job skills in the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence — with courses on data collection, computer vision, AI model training, coding, the societal impacts and ethics of AI technology, and more.
Read Intel's announcement here! |
SAC Hosts Symphony Under the Stars
Pacific Symphony's string quartet performs at Santa Ana College Members of our community enjoyed a free, outdoor concert by the Pacific Symphony as part of its
Symphony on the Go series last month. Concert-goers brought chairs and blankets to SAC for this socially-distanced activity that included performances by the Orange County Children's Therapeutic Arts Center. Opening remarks were shared by Artesia Pilar Neighborhood Association President Ruby Woo, Councilman Johnathan Ryan Hernandez, and Interim President of Santa Ana College Dr. Marilyn Flores.
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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT |
Californians Invited to Define Their Communities Through Redistricting
Californians are invited to “Draw the Lines" through Redistricting
Every 10 years, after the federal government publishes updated census information, California must redraw the boundaries of its Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly and State Board of Equalization districts, so that the districts correctly reflect the state's population. SAC'S Civic Engagement Committee is working with the California Citizens Redistricting Commission to examine best processes to educate our students, staff, and community about the redistricting process. To learn more, or to attend a Redistricting Educational Session, click here.
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SAC FACTS |
200+ Attended Johnson Center Grand Opening
1000+ Students attended Johnson Center Open Houses
54,830 Masks dispensed on campus
800 Safety shields installed
1,163 Bottles of hand sanitizer distributed
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CALENDAR |
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