Student hugs advisor at 2020-2021 Commencement ceremony at Angel Stadium.
(Santa Ana, Calif.) – Santa Ana College (SAC) will host an in-person commencement ceremony at Angel Stadium on June 2, at 5 p.m. This year's keynote speaker is Dr. James Nguyen ('98), a SAC alumnus and young prodigy who attended SAC at the age of 12 and is now a leading interventional cardiologist.
Over 5,800 degrees will be conferred to the class of 2022'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 School of Continuing Education.
Student poses with mother in front of photobooth at 2020-2021 Commencement in Angel Stadium.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the class of 2022 with an in-person commencement ceremony at Angel Stadium this year," said Dr. Annebelle Nery, president of Santa Ana College. “It is an honor for me to be able to confer degrees to our amazing students and recognize all they have achieved, particularly through the pandemic."
Commencement speaker Nguyen returns to his alma mater after recently serving as the keynote speaker for SAC's grand opening of its new Science Center in January. Nguyen is a former biology student who transferred to the University of California, Irvine, and entered medical school at the age of 19. He was inducted into SAC's Hall of Fame in 2011.
In an alumni spotlight article featuring Nguyen, he shares how he was unsure at one point if he would be able to get into medical school despite showing great promise as a college student at the age of 12.
“My mom came down with [tuberculosis], and unfortunately with the whole recession that was going on at that time, we lost the house, and we were living in a garage," said Nguyen. “The things that just happen in life…it could have just taken me out, and I could have not made it through. You will meet obstacles in life, and I'll be frank with you, things just happen that you cannot control, but you have to find a way to overcome it or figure out a way around it."
Dr. Nguyen's story is one of perseverance and victory, and it is one of many that echo through the college. At the upcoming commencement ceremony, Santa Ana College will celebrate all of the students achieving educational milestones.
At Santa Ana College, the staff, faculty, and administrators are proud of the students' dedication and the way they are able to balance work, family, life, and school. They are future leaders of our community!
For more information about the 2022 commencement ceremony, visit the 2022 Commencement page. Summer classes start June 13, and the fall semester starts August 22. To learn more, please visit www.sac.edu.
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 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.
# # #
