President Thayer’s Board Report for May 13, 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 May 13, 2025
National Championship Earned by Speech and Debate Team
Cypress College’s Speech and Debate team returned from Norfolk, VA as national champions. The team competed in the Phi Rho Pi Community College National Tournament over nine days late last month. There were 51 community colleges in attendance from Longview, Washington to Kansas City, Kansas to Tallahassee, Florida.
In addition to the national championship, the six Cypress College students earned multiple awards — including both team co-captains, Jacob Blair and Brandon Lee Griffin, each earning a Bovero Award. The Bovero Award is one of the most prestigious awards at this tournament, requiring students to advance to semi-finals in all of their events. The award is given to the top five tournament competitors with the highest score.
The list of awards includes:
Jacob Blair
- Impromptu Speaking: Gold Medal
- Extemporaneous Speaking: Gold Medal
- IPDA (International Public Debate Association): Gold Medal
- Parliamentary Debate: Silver Medal
- 2nd place Overall Top Speaker Award
- Top Speaker Award in Parliamentary Debate (1st place for entire tournament!)
- 2nd place Bovero Award Winner
Brandon Lee Griffin
- Extemporaneous Speaking: Bronze Medal
- IPDA (International Public Debate Association): Gold Medal
- Parliamentary Debate: Silver Award
- NFA LD (Debate): Gold Medal
- 4th place Bovero Award Winner
Bianca Alcantara
- Impromptu Speaking: Bronze Medal
- Parliamentary Debate: Bronze Medal
London Lopez
- Extemporaneous Speaking: Bronze Medal
- Parliamentary Debate: Bronze Medal
Faiz Ganie
- Parliamentary Debate: Bronze Medal
- NFA LD (Debate): Bronze Medal
Frank Hernandez
- Parliamentary Debate: Bronze Medal Team Awards:
- Debate Sweepstakes: Gold Medal
- Overall Sweepstakes: Gold Medal
Regional AI Expo Presented by Orange County Regional Consortium
Cypress College President Dr. Scott W. Thayer gave the opening remarks at the keynote session for the April 25, 2025 AI Ready EDU Conference, presented by the Orange County Regional Consortium Workforce Development Alliance.
The regional symposium on artificial intelligence brought together students, faculty, and staff from community colleges, along with the general public, to take part in workshops and networking opportunities.
Career and Technical Education Division Dean Rick Hodge helped organize the event and provided welcome remarks.
Chancellor of California Community Colleges Dr. Sonya Christian delivered the keynote address to the roughly 250 attendees, and spoke about California’s leadership in AI education.
Highlights included:
- Workshops with practical insights and real-world applications
- Special recognition for AI leaders from the California Community Colleges
- Panel discussions with industry experts, educators, and students
International speaker and educator Ken Shelton gave closing remarks and challenged the audience to think boldly about the future.
5K Run/Walk Returns to Cypress Campus for First Post-COVID Event
The Cypress College Veterans Organization, with support from the Puente Club, hosted the fourth Cypress College 5K Run/ Walk on May 5, 2025.
It had been six years since the last such event, which coincided with the Veterans Resource Center groundbreaking ceremony in March of 2019.
“The Run/Walk has become a cherished tradition for our college community, and we are beyond excited to bring it back for another year of fitness, fun, and unity,” Juan Garcia, Veterans Resource Center coordinator and counselor, said. “This milestone event .. brings together students, staff, alumni, and the local community.”
Participants began at 11:30 a.m. at the VRC and followed a route around and through campus. Each entry fee of $35 garnered runners and walkers a T-shirt, race bag, tacos and chelaguas, and a finishers medal.
Student Health and Wellness Fair Offers Free Services to Campus
On Wednesday, May 7, the “Recharge Your Health” fair offered a chance for students and the community to receive free checkups. The Student Health and Wellness Center partnered with Serve The People to bring their Dental and Vision Mobile Clinic to provide free, comprehensive exams. These exams included dental X-rays and eyeglass prescriptions, with a follow-up to dispense glasses when ready.
Additionally, on-site enrollers assisted with CalOptima and Medi-Cal, Covered CA, CalFresh, and all eligible services. Services were provided by Orange County Social Services Agency and other community partners in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Exhibit Encourages Speaking Up About Mental Health
Backpacks filled Gateway Plaza on April 23, 2025 for “Send Silence Packing,” a visual exhibit that raises awareness about mental illness and suicide. The Student Health and Wellness Center and the Cypress College Active Minds Club partnered with nonprofit national group Active Minds to bring its display to campus and share the stories of individuals’ mental health struggles in printouts connected to each backpack.
More than 300 visitors walked through the exhibit and read the stories, wrote words of encouragement on cards posted to a board, or visited resource tables for well-being support. A craft table and Kona Ice food truck were available for students to take a break and recharge.
“Our goal was to continue to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide by creating opportunities to change the conversation about mental health,” Anna Spencer-Lonetti, Mental Health Services manager, said. “We had great conversations throughout the day, and shared stories and support for one another. We hope the message was felt by all that attended that you are not alone, and we are here to support you!”
The Send Silence Packing exhibit from Active Minds has traveled the country since 2008. Organizers say its goal is for people to seek out resources for themselves, friends, or loved ones who might struggle with mental health.
VAPA Student Shows Opening Night
On Thursday, May 8, 2025, multiple shows from VAPA students came together in Gateway Plaza.
The opening of The Students’ Show, an annual exhibition by VAPA students, runs May 11– 22 and features costume, music, painting, sculpture, illustration, ceramics, animation, design, drawing, journalism, photography, print, and more in the Cypress College Art Gallery.
From 7:45 to 9 p.m., the Media Arts Design Department held a projection mapping show in Gateway Plaza, utilizing the library mural and Campus Theater south wall as backdrops for a moving art show. The event was in conjunction with the Art Gallery Student show opening and the fashion show event organized by the Fashion Club. It focused on student work as well as showed colorful patterns and textural elements.
IDENTITY: Woven Narratives, a fashion show with music and light installations, explored how personal and cultural identities shape fashion while highlighting the unique perspectives of BIPOC designers from our community. Organized by the Cypress College Fashion Club in collaboration with the CC Spanish Club, APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American), BSA (Black Student Association), and QSA (Queer-Straight Alliance), as well as the CC Art Gallery and MAD (Media Art Design), Identity: Woven Narratives created a space of joyful celebration where diverse identities were honored and amplified.
Foster Care Awareness Month
May is Foster Care Awareness Month. We invite you to join us to celebrate and support our Guardian Scholars and NextUp students at Cypress College! A series of engaging events are planned from May 12 to May 15 to raise awareness, build community, and promote student success.
Event Lineup:
- May 12 | Guardian Scholars + NextUp: Resources Booth 10 a.m.-noon | Gateway Plaza (Outside CC Complex)
- May 13 | Budgeting and Saving Workshop with Poppy Bank 10:30 a.m.-noon | CCCPLX 4th Floor, Room 414
- May 14 | Guardian Scholars + NextUp Open House Noon-2 p.m. | CCCPLX 2nd Floor, Room 201
- May 15 | Impostor Syndrome: Uncover the Cause and Reclaim Your Confidence Workshop 2-3:30 p.m. | CCCPLX 4th Floor, Room 414
Two Employees Selected to State Financial Aid Board
Cypress College Financial Aid Director Gabriela De La Cruz was recently selected as the Vice President of State and Federal Issues for the California Community Colleges Student Financial Aid Administrators Association (CCCSFAAA) Board which is a two-year term (July 2025-June 30, 2027) and Financial Aid Coordinator Nai Hilo was selected as the CCCSFAAA Secretary (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026).
Chargers Baseball, Softball Teams Hosting Second-Round Playoff Games
Both the baseball and softball teams advanced during the first weekend of playoff competition and are hosting home games this weekend.
Cypress baseball hosted the 3C2A Super Regionals May 9-11, 2025, after claiming their 8th Orange Empire Conference title and earning the No. 2 seed in the SoCal Regionals. The Chargers faced the winner of Grossmont and Fullerton College on Friday at 3 p.m. at home. The weekend schedule will be determined by Friday’s results. Cypress advanced to this stage after defeating East LA in the opening round of the playoffs and looks to continue their postseason run in front of their home crowd.
View the baseball schedule and results.
Cypress College Softball were back in action at home this weekend as they hosted Saddleback College in a best-of-three Super Regional series May 9-10, 2025, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. on Friday. The Chargers earned the No. 2 seed in the SoCal Regionals after capturing their 26th Orange Empire Conference title and advanced with a home playoff win over Ventura College last week. The Chargers are determined to return to the State Tournament, set for May 15–18 at West Valley College.
View the softball schedule and results.
Events
View the What’s Happening This Week? video.
Buen Cypress! We Take This Journey Together!