President Thayer’s Board Report for March 25, 2025
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 March 11, 2025
50th Americana Awards Fill Ballroom at The Westin Anaheim Resort
The Cypress College Foundation’s 50th Americana Awards Gala filled the ballroom at The Westin Anaheim Resort on Saturday, March 15, 2025, with more than 625 guests in attendance.
Initial projections show that the event will raise $600,000 to support the Foundation’s mission to help Cypress College students with scholarships, emergency support, and other needs.
The Event honored Citizens of the Year from neighboring communities and Person of the Year A.C. Green, a philanthropist who starred with the Los Angeles Lakers during both the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar/Magic Johnson era and the Kobe Bryant/Shaquille O’Neal era.
In attendance were Board of Trustees members Jeffrey P. Brown, Barbara Dunsheath, Ryan Bent, and Mark Lopez. Chancellor Byron D. Clift-Breland also attended, as did member of Chancellor’s Staff Kai Stearns.
You can view the commemorative program online as well as downloading photos from the photo booths and event.
Congratulations to Howard Kummerman, Rachel Ghatikar and the team at the Foundation.
KinderCaminata Draws Approximately 900 Kindergarten Students
More than 900 local kindergarten students attended the annual KinderCaminata event on Friday, March 14, 2025, for an introduction to college. The event is intended to foster the expectation among students that they will continue their education beyond K-12 and on to college studies.
The students parade around campus wearing KinderCaminata visors and name tags with the profession they’re most interested in pursuing when they complete their education.
They visited booths located around the pond to learn about potential careers from faculty, staff, and students involved with those programs. And, just before the rain arrived, the students moved into the gym for lunch and entertainment, including ballet folklorico dancing and a visit from Charlie the Charger.
Know Your Rights Workshop Facilitated by Student Life and Leadership
Cypress College Associated Students collaborated with the Public Law Center of Santa Ana to host a Know Your Rights Workshop on the afternoon of Thursday, March 20, 2025.
The event was an informative town hall workshop presented by attorney Precious Odum. It focused on helping those who are undocumented and allies to know and understand rights and to connect them with community and legal resources.
Automotive Technology Competition Attracts Local High School Students
Hundreds of students from Rancho Alamitos, Santiago, Los Amigos, Savanna, Katella, Loara, La Habra, Sunny Hills, Valley, Santa Ana, Cypress, Western, Buena Park, and Magnolia high schools competed in a variety of automotive tasks during the annual Automotive Technology Skills Competition.
Nearly all of the students are enrolled in the Dual Enrollment program.
The participants tested skills in electrical diagnosis, dynamic wheel balancing, precision measurement, steering angle diagnosis, performance related simulator diagnostics, AI queries, parts identification, brake repair, and electrical repair.
Representatives from Mazda and Toyota joined Cypress College Automotive Technology faculty and staff to support the event. Members of the Charger Experience Program were on hand to help and Counselor Jeanie Mitsch engaged the students in one-on-one career and education planning.
First place in the competition went to Valley High School; Buena Park took second-place honors; and NOCROP’s combined team earned the bronze.
Automotive Technology faculty Russ Bacarella coordinated the event.
Transfer Fair Held with 35+ Universities in Attendance
The Cypress College Transfer Center hosted the Spring 2025 Transfer Fair on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. The event featured more than 35 public and private universities in attendance along with representation from Cypress College Student Services programs.
Prospective transfer students were provided information about transfer admission to public and private universities and had the opportunity to speak with representatives to learn more about programs, resources, and services available at their university.
Students also had the opportunity to participate in opportunity drawings and receive college swag.
Speech and Debate Dominates at CCCFA State Championships
The Cypress Speech & Debate Team dominated at the California Community Colleges Forensics Association State Championship. Cypress College took sixth place in Open Sweepstakes against the top community colleges in the state (and with only six students).
The four-day tournament took place in Woodland Hills where students competed in both individual and debate events.
Cypress College took home some of the most prestigious awards, including CCCFA Top Speaker, Top Debate Speaker, and first place in Extemporaneous Speaking.
The students’ individual achievements are:
- CCCFA Top Speaker — Jacob Blair
- Top Debate Speaker — Jacob Blair
- Gold Medal – 1st Place Extemporaneous Speaker (State Champion) — Jacob Blair
- Gold Parliamentary Debate — Jacob Blair & Brandon Griffin
- Silver Impromptu Speaking — Bianca Alcantara & Jacob Blair
- Bronze Extemporaneous Speaking — Brandon Griffin
- Silver Lincoln Douglas Debate — Brandon Griffin
- Bronze Lincoln Douglas Debate — Fiaz Gaine
- Silver International Public Debate — London Lopez, Jacob Blair, and Brandon Griffin
Congratulations to Forensics Directors Jen Page and Josh House and coaches Kelly Hutchison, Zach White, and Abe Nesheiwat.
Parent Tour Provided to AUHSD Families by Charger Experience Program
The Cypress College Charger Experience/Outreach team has partnered with AUHSD family and community engagement specialists (FACES) to offer campus tours that provide parents of prospective Cypress College students with helpful information about Cypress College programs, services, and resources, as well as the transition from high school to postsecondary education. The tours lead parents through different areas on campus, including Financial Aid, Disability Support Services, Career Technical Education, and Health Science.
Parents and FACES from Kennedy High School, Walker Junior High School, Cypress High School, and Western High School have participated in two tours that have been held this month. The first tour on March 6, 2025 was done entirely in Spanish, marking the college’s commitment to making connection and engagement with community members more accessible.
“Hello, Dolly!” Sets, Costumes, and Cast Shine
Cypress College Theatre Arts program’s spring musical “Hello, Dolly!” was full of show-stopping sets.
According to the production team, it featured the biggest sets in 13 years of plays and musicals at the college.
The general store is one of the largest pieces ever created by Technical Theatre students, with three levels, including a sub-level, used to maximum effect in the musical.
The sets weren’t the only show-stopper: Reportedly, each of the 28 cast members had eight outfit changes. With each outfit came at least one accessory, either gloves, hats, wigs, or all three.
Performances ran until March 23. The production also received a review from The Orange Curtain Review.
VAPA Exhibit Opens at John Wayne Airport on April 9
Cypress College students and faculty will be represented at Orange County’s John Wayne Airport as Visual and Performing Arts students and faculty will have art and photo work on display in the baggage claim area, making it also open to the public.
The exhibition begins April 9 and runs for four months. The exhibit will consist of approximately 30 pieces. It is part of the airport’s ongoing display of public art — however, this will be the first such display that includes a reception and performance.
Members of the VAPA Division will also perform a pop-up flash mob as part of a reception for the gallery installation on May 16, 2025, at 11 a.m.
BFSA Hosting Women’s History Month Event on March 25
You are invited to the NOCCCD Black Faculty & Staff Association Women’s History Month event on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 10 a.m. in Gym 2.
The event features guest speaker Anissa Mitchell, who will present “P3 Realizing Your Power: Pushing Past Perfection.” In the presentation, Mitchell will honor leaders who show up, speak out, and drive change. Participants are encouraged to:
- Lead authentically & leverage your lived experiences
- Shift from perfectionism to proactive leadership
- Foster collaborative, inclusive environments
- Advocate for equitable policies & practices
Financial Wellness Focus of Financial Aid Office Events During Spring
The Financial Aid Office is excited to offer a series of events throughout the spring 2025 semester to support students with financial aid questions and improve their financial wellness March 25 & April 23 | 3-4 p.m.
Students can receive hands-on support with the 2025-26 FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application before the extended priority deadline of April 2, 2025.
Happening This Week
Here’s what’s Happening This Week — for Week 8 of the 2025 spring semester — March 24-30, 2025 — at Cypress College.
Buen Cypress! We Take This Journey Together!