President Thayer’s Board Report for December 17, 2024
The following is a report to members of the North Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees
Presented by Cypress College President Scott W. Thayer, Ed.D.
on December 17, 2024
Women’s Soccer Makes Second Consecutive State Finals Appearance
The Cypress College Women’s Soccer team capped off an incredible 2024 season with a runner-up finish in the 3C2A State Championship, marking their second consecutive State Final appearance. The Chargers finished the season with an impressive 21-2-3 overall record and 11-1-2 in the Orange Empire Conference (OEC), solidifying their place as one of the top programs in the state.
The Chargers demonstrated dominance throughout the season, including a remarkable nine-game winning streak leading up to the final and 11 shutouts. Despite falling just short in the championship game, the team’s resilience and talent shone brightly.
Several Chargers made their mark on the stat sheets and in the postseason honors:
- Itzel Ramirez led the OEC in assists with 12 and was named the OEC Offensive
- Megan Alcantara was the 2 goal scorer in the OEC with 13 goals.
- Jasmin Martinez ranked fifth in OEC assists with 9.
The team’s outstanding efforts were recognized across multiple levels:
- OEC First Team All-Conference: Jennifer Arteaga, Megan Alcantara, Jasmin Martinez
- OEC Second Team All-Conference: Sofia Lopez, Jessica Vicente, Jasmin De La Torre
- All-State/All-Region Team: Itzel Ramirez, Megan Alcantara
A2MEND Expands Beyond CA; Dr. Thayer Opens Charter at Alma Mater
Dr. Thayer was thrilled to travel to his alma mater at Normandale Community College — a place that changed his life — to open one of the first two A²MEND charters outside of California. Thayer, one of the organization’s founders, told the LA Sentinel that the milestone, and his participation in it, was a special moment.
“I’m excited about the expansion of the A²MEND Student Charters to Minnesota. This is a testament to their support of student success and investing in intentional, strategic, and impactful programming,” Dr. Thayer said. “I graduated from Normandale Community College, and it was instrumental in my success; this is a full circle moment for me, and this is really special. I am a founding member of A²MEND and this is why we started this organization, to create a lasting impact.”
The two new charters bring A²MENDto 50 active charters nationwide.
Thayer is one of two current presidents serving on the A²MEND executive board, while Dr. Byron D. Clift Breland is the only chancellor.
A2MEND, the African American Male Educational Network and Development organization, is comprised of African American male administrators who utilize their scholarly and professional expertise to foster institutional change within the community college system. The organization got its start in the summer of 2006 when six young African American male administrators attended a professional conference at UCLA. The conference addressed some of the difficulties facing African American men in higher education, yet presented few strategies to counter trends. Out of this void came A2MEND. It’s mission: transform the academic and professional landscape to create affirming environments for African Ameri- cans that support success.
Foundation Holds Americana Awards Kick-off at Angels Stadium
The setting was spectacular for the 50th Americana Awards kick-off event, which was held on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, in the Diamond Club at Angels Stadium. At the event, the Cypress College Foundation officially introduced the group of honorees, who will receive their recognition at the Westin Anaheim Resort on Saturday, March 15, 2025.
This year’s honorees are: Person of the Year, A.C. Green; and Citizens of the Year 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; and Sanjuana De La Torre, Stanton.
Trustees Dunsheath and Blount attended the kick-off event along with Dr. Breland.
Honors, Psychology Host First Academic Research Conference
The Honors Program and the Psychology Department hosted the first Cypress College academic research conference on December 3, 2024.
Officially called “Student Voices: Cypress College Multidisciplinary Conference,” the event was held in the Cypress College Complex.
The conference was designed to provide students from various academic disciplines with the opportunity to present their research or creative work.
The event was planned by: Kathryn Sonne, Randy Martinez, Brandy Young, Hilary Reuter, Angela de Dios, Mymy Lam, and Janet Vera.
The organizers’ goal was to foster an environment of academic collaboration while showcasing our students’ diverse talents and scholarly pursuits. There were individual, group, and poster presentations.
Finals Fuel Returns with On-Campus Study Until Midnight
Cypress College again hosted its recurring Finals Fuel event — a collaboration between Student Services and the Library/Learning Resources Center — which provides students the opportunity to study in a safe and quiet library until midnight between December 6 and 12.
In addition to the Library being open for studying, the Charger Experience Program and Associated Students offered coffee and other “fuel” available in the rotunda. In addition, for biology students, the tutorial room remained open to 7 p.m. to use the anatomy models.
VAPA Employees Receive Tour of Building Renovation Progress
Employees in the Visual and Performing Arts Division received a tour of the construction progress in the Fine Arts Building on Thursday, December 5, 2024.
The tour, provided by the Capital Projects Team, offered a look at the Measure J project.
The interior of the building was torn down to the dirt, the foundation reinforced with new piles, and gutted to foster a new, state-of-the-art facility.
Because the building’s exterior structure and roof remained, there was no opportunity for a traditional “topping off” ceremony. Instead, the campus celebrated with a “bottom out” celebration on Friday, December 13, 2024.
Business/CIS Division, Accounting Host Professional Skills Workshop
The Accounting Department of the Business/CIS Division hosted their final Professional Skills Workshop of the semester on November 19, 2024.
“We had an awesome turnout with Ryan Bishop providing his Professional Skills Workshop Presentation,” Professor Ann Sheridan-Solis reported. More than 30 students attended the in-person event.
Language Arts, English Department Publish Sole Image
The newest issue of Sole Image, the English Department’s Creative Arts Journal, has been published online. This year’s Sole Image features music, poetry, prose, and visual arts from Cypress College students.
“We would like to thank our amazing student editors for all their hard work. Thank you also to the SEA committee, our Language Arts dean Janet Vera, Sharon Cox, Marcela Martinez Infante, the English Department, and our Creative Guild club for all their help and support along the way,” wrote Ashton Politanoff, who advises the publication along with Nora Simões.
Buen Cypress! We Take This Journey Together!