The latest news from the North Orange County Community College District.

For the past several years, a peregrine falcon couple (affectionately named Fiona and Frank) has called the Anaheim Campus building home. Finding great heights to be the coziest, they selected the 10th floor window ledges for their nest and have returned to it each spring. The ledge offers the perfect flight training ground for their chicks and hunting grounds for food.

In the interest of sharing the marvel of the lifecycle and nature of these incredible raptors, NOCCCD regularly sets up a publicly available livestream. This year, Fiona and Frank have laid 2 eggs! Their 34 day incubation period is coming to a close and we expect to see chicks hatching soon. Tune in so you won't miss a moment of the chicks hatching, feeding, and eventually flying the nest.

Please be aware that this is an unedited livestream. It will include everything that these natural predators do to ensure their survival and the survival of their chicks including hunting, eating, and potentially not all chicks will survive to adulthood. This livestream is intended for educational purposes.

The 50th Americana Awards Gala, hosted by the Cypress College Foundation, took place on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at The Westin Anaheim Resort. The event welcomed over 600 attendees and aimed to raise money for Cypress College students, supporting scholarships and emergency assistance. 

Highlights included honoring the Person of the Year, A.C. Green, a former Los Angeles Lakers player known as “Iron Man” for his record-setting consecutive played games. Green is also the founder of the A.C. Green Youth Foundation.

Additionally, the gala recognized several Citizens of the Year from surrounding cities:

Bharat Patel (Anaheim)
Linda & Mike Weinstock (Buena Park)
Rob Johnson (Cypress)
Dr. True McMahan (Garden Grove)
Rick & Jean Daum (La Palma)
Randy Hill (Los Alamitos)
Scott Weir (Seal Beach)
Sanjuana “Nena” de la Torre (Stanton)

The awards celebrated contributions to the community while supporting Cypress College students and is projected to have raised over $600,000!

All are welcome to participate in the California Community College sponsored events. Fullerton College will be hosting a viewing party for each session with refreshments on campus.

From left to right:  Board President Jeffrey Brown, Karla Frizler,  Dr. Connie Yamashiro,  Dr. Jeanie Mitsch, Jeanette Rodriguez-Salcedo, Renay Laguana-Perinac, Dr. Maha Afra, Chancellor  Byron D. Clift Breland, and Dr. Flavio Medina-Martin.

The NOCCCD Women Champions of DEIAA award celebrates women who have made significant contributions to the work of DEIAA on their respective campuses in the following ways: demonstrated experience/contribution/efforts and outcomes advancing DEIAA at their institution, have made a difference in the nominator’s life, and have exhibited leadership in advancing DEIAA. The 2025 winners are:

Karla Frizler
NOCE Associate Dean, ESL & Citizenship President, District Management Association

Dr. Connie Moreno Yamashiro
Fullerton College Director of Student Development and Engagement  

Dr. Jeanie Mitsch
Cypress College Professor, Counseling (CTE)

Jeanette Rodriguez-Salcedo
Fullerton College Director of Student Development and Engagement, Interim Dean of Humanities Division

Bridget Kominek
Fullerton College Acting President- Fullerton College Faculty Senate

Renay Laguana-Perinac
Cypress College Professor, Counseling (Counseling and Student Development)

Cynthia Guardado
Fullerton College Professor (English) Professional Learning Coordinator

Regina Alcala
NOCE District Adult Hourly- Counseling and Student Services

Aline Gregorio
Fullerton College Professor & Department Chair (Geography)

Dr. Maha Afra
Cypress College Professor of Dance, Department Chair

“This is your journey. Let me help you. Let me be an additional guiding light to what you're going through. You're not alone.” -Dr. Flavio Medina-Martin

As the District Director of Diversity, Culture, and Inclusion for NOCCCD, Dr. Flavio Medina-Martin serves the District by emphasizing the importance of creating a positive work environment by incorporating culture and expanding beyond traditional diversity and inclusion efforts.

His educational journey is one of perseverance, as he balanced work and family responsibilities while pursuing his degrees over several years, earning his associate degree from Mt. San Antonio College and his bachelor's degree in Human Development with a minor in Sociology from Cal State Long Beach. Later, he obtained his master's in Public Administration from the University of La Verne and his Doctorate of Education (EDD) in Higher Education from Azusa Pacific University (APU), becoming the first person in his family to obtain a doctorate.  Having pursued his doctoral degree later in life, he stated that a driving force behind his choice was his belief in continuous learning and growth, both personally and professionally and believes that aging should be viewed as an incentive for pursuing goals rather than a barrier.

In his work, Dr. Medina-Martin's approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion emphasizes empathy, partnership, and understanding student needs. He collaborates with faculty and classified fellows across the District to infuse DEIAA efforts into all aspects of education. As the organizer of the Pluralism, Inclusion, and Equity (P.I.E.) trainings,  he stated that the most exciting part of his job and these trainings is in facilitating "Ah-Ha!" moments for employees where they gain insights into themselves and their roles in serving the diverse NOCCCD communities.

The Cypress College Foundation Scholarship application window closes on Monday, April 14, 2025.

The Friends of Fullerton College Foundation Scholarship application window closes Friday, April 11, 2025.

NOCCCD Board of Trustee meetings are held twice a month. The Board gathers to address District business including: staffing changes, fiscal matters, the passing of Board Policies, and other issues affecting Cypress College, Fullerton College, and NOCE.

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1830 W. Romneya Drive

Anaheim, CA 92801-1819

(714) 808-4500

Published by the NOCCCD Public Affairs Department.