Alumni
Welcome, Cypress College Alums!
Our alumni are a source of pride, representing accomplishments in a wide array of fields. Through our connections with alumni, we foster lifelong relationships and support for the community, students, and activities of our campus.
Alumni Network
Congratulations and welcome to the Cypress College Alumni Network! Register today!
As a new member of the Charger family, the Cypress College Foundation is pleased to invite you to enjoy the benefits of our Alumni Network. Benefits are ever-evolving and include invitations to exclusive Foundation and Alumni events and many other opportunities to stay connected.
Included with your registration of $25 you will receive a Cypress College Alumni license plate frame.
Family and Friends – The Cypress College Alumni Network makes a great gift to honor your graduate!
Alumnus of the Year
The Cypress College Foundation initiated the “Alumnus of the Year” Award in celebration of the College’s 30th anniversary. Every year since, the Alumnus of the Year has been honored at graduation. The award serves as recognition for the personal/professional achievements of Cypress College alumni and their contributions to their profession and to the community.
Robert Friedman
Entrepreneur | Philanthropist | Global Explorer
Rob Friedman is a Southern California-born entrepreneur and pioneer who built a career on the belief that opportunity is always available to those willing to work for it. His academic foundation was laid at Loara High School and Cypress College, where he began a lifelong collaboration with his business partner of nearly 50 years, Jeff Frieden. The duo’s journey started decades ago at local swap meets, buying and selling whatever they could, learning the fundamentals of business—hustle, instinct, and the value of a dollar—straight from the back of a van.
A firm believer in the power of vocational education and real-world experience, Rob launched his first major venture in 1980 by identifying a critical need in the automotive market. Because he took After obtaining his Class A VIP smog license, he strategically positioned repair shops near state-mandated inspection centers, mastering the art of “solving the right problem at exactly the right moment.”
Rob has always possessed an uncanny ability to recognize emerging markets and digital platforms before they hit the mainstream. An early adopter of the internet, he was the original registrant of iconic domains such as Football.com, Basketball.com, and Trivia.com. He later went on to co-found Auction.com and Ten-X, where he and his team pioneered the online real estate auction industry, fundamentally transforming how property is transacted globally.
For Rob, the world has always been the greatest classroom. Having visited 109 countries, his global travels have shaped a perspective rooted in curiosity, preparedness, and a non-judgmental approach to life. An Eagle Scout by training, he continues to live by the values of service and leaving things better than he found them.
Today, Rob’s focus is centered on meaningful contribution and “giving a hand up.” He is the founder of Vera Angelita, a school and eco-resort located in the cloud forests of Nicaragua. Named in honor of his grandmother and mother, the project provides education to children from rural families and has created approximately 150 local jobs. Under his leadership, the initiative is also building one of the country’s largest botanical gardens, with a dedicated mission to propagate and distribute one million trees to help restore the local environment.
Despite his professional milestones, Rob considers his greatest achievement to be raising two well-balanced adults. He measures success not by financial outcomes, but by the impact made on communities and the next generation. Guided by the principle that “you only get what you give,” Rob remains dedicated to a life of impact, contentment, and service.
Previous Honorees, Outstanding Alumnus of the Year
Past honorees include alumni from business, entertainment, sports, education, healthcare, law enforcement, the non-profit world, and more. What they have in common—in addition to having attended Cypress College—is a commitment to their profession, their community, and to the college.
1996 – Stan Oftelie, CEO, Orange County Business Council
1997 – Dwayne Washington, M.D., Emergency Care Physician
1998 – David Holmquist, Athletic Director, Biola University
1999 – Robin Yaffe Tschumper, Executive Director, Houston County Women’s Resources
2000 – Tom Stretz, Executive Director, Los Alamitos Youth Center
2001 – Nancy K. Smith, Registered Nurse, Los Alamitos Medical Center
2002 – Mike Sellers, Chief of Police, City of Fullerton
2003 – Andy Fu, Service Manager, Irvine Toyota
2004 – Mark Eaton, Retired NBA Basketball Player
2005 – Geri Jewell, Actress, Comedienne, and Advocate for the Disabled
2006 – Walter K. Bowman, Owner, Bowman Real Estate
2007 – Mark Feitelson, Ph.D., Professor and Director, Biotechnology Center, Temple University
2008 – Sheila Carlon, Ph.D., Director & Associate Professor, Regis College Health Services
2009 – Danielle Nava, Director, Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood OC and San Bern. Counties
2010 – James D. Savage, Ph.D., Professor of Politics, University of Virginia
2011 – John Moore, Head Basketball Coach, Westmont College
2012 – Pierre Habis, Senior Executive Vice-President, Union Bank
2013 – Pamela Kahn, Coordinator, Health & Wellness, Orange County Dept. of Education
2014 – Reyna G. Rojas, Teacher, Long Beach Unified School District
2015 – Captain Russ Bird, Navy Pilot, Retired
2016 – Wayne T. Kistner, Attorney at Law
2017 – Swen Nater, Retired ABA and NBA Basketball Player
2018 – Curtis Sheetz, Founder and owner of Total Environmental Management, Inc.
2019 – Catherine Sorensen, Philanthropist
2021 – Nancy Matsui, Retired, American Airlines
2022 – Bonnie Peat, Council Member, City of Cypress; Women’s Club of Cypress
2023 – Betty Sarkis, Teacher, Garden Grove Unified School District
2024 – Rick Darnell, Retired Professional Basketball Player
2025 – Aaron France, City Manager, Buena Park
2026 – Rob Friedman, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist