Americana Awards Gala

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51st Annual Americana Awards

Thank you for your generous support of Cypress College students during the 51st Americana Awards Gala!

Your gifts through the silent and live auctions and Fund-A-Need make a lasting impact on students like our Americana speaker, Kaili Quynh Nguyen.

Congratulations to our Person of the Year, George Orff, and all of our honorees! You can view their videos below along with our Americana Photo Gallery.

Our students need your support to complete their pathways. Please make a direct contribution to help students like Kaili through Fund-A-Need and the Americana Honoree Scholarship.

With gratitude,

Cypress College Foundation Board & Staff

Give to Help Cypress College Students

Kaili Quynh Nguyen - Americana Student Speaker stands at the podium during the Americana awards

Kaili Quynh Nguyen – Americana Student Speaker

Dr. Scott Thayer, President, Cypress College; George Orff, Person of the Year; Curtis Scheetz, Cypress College Foundation Board President

Dr. Scott Thayer, Cypress College President; George Orff, Person of the Year; Curtis Scheetz, Cypress College Foundation Board President

Americana Awards Gala Honorees

George Orff
Person of the Year

Ray Longoria
Seal Beach

Linda Gallagher
Stanton

Alden and Linda Esping
Anaheim

Maria Stipe
Garden Grove

Mariellen Yarc
Cypress

Jan Jensen
La Palma

Debbie Kent
Los Alamitos

Americana Awards Event Photo Gallery

Americana Awards Backdrop Photo Gallery

Commemorative Program

Words on a blue background that say Floral Sponsor Petal & Leaf Where every Bloom Tells a Story

Words on blue screen that say Presenting Sponsor TEM

2026 Americana Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor
Total Environmental Management

Platinum Sponsors
Bobbie Stovall
George Orff

Gold Sponsor
Catherine Sorenson

Floral Sponsor
Petal & Leaf
(Formerly Conroy’s Flowers of Cypress)

President’s Circle Sponsor
ENO Brands
Forest Lawn Memorial – Parks and Mortuaries

Patriot Sponsors
DMG
EMCOR

Founder Sponsors
Cathay Bank, Golden State Water, Les Lewis

Benefactor Sponsors
Applied Air, ARCA-MCA, Boys & Girls Club of Stanton, City of Buena Park, City of Cypress, City of La Palma, City of Stanton, Cypress College Associated Students, Gay Hanna, Dr. Margie Lewis, Paul Lussman, North Orange County Community College District, Seal Beach Lions, SMACNA Southern California, Tuesday Evening Publications, The Westin Anaheim Resort

Opportunity Drawing Sponsors
Remax Tiffany – Delight & Nicole, Happy Jewelers

Spirit Sponsors
Cypress College Swap Meet, Joanna & Steve Schilling, Ken 7 Robin Vecchiarelli, MAAS, Orange County Professional Firefighters Association, Payden & Rygel, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, SoCalGas

Patron Sponsors
Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, Dr. Barbara Dunsheath & James Finn, DMG, Kevin Jones, Paullette Chaffee, Piper Sandler & Co., Rodeo 39 Public Market

Star Sponsors
Boydstun Realty & Property Management, Inc., Bryan & Maura Ventura, Cliff Ishii, Clifford Lester, Dr. Elizabeth “Beth” Swift, Evergreen Alliance, Paul & Carol Bostwick, Phil & Barbie Wendel, Sandie & Dr. Terry McCarthy, Drs. Scott W. & Maria Thayer, Stephen & Susan Faessel, The Westin Anaheim Resort

Contributions
Rick McAuley, Ward & Cindy Hotze, Elizabeth Demeo, Ron & Leslie Sweet, Bob Lake, Richard Sanders, Susan & Gary Chan, Bill Cullinane, James Orff, Stephanie & Patrick Kirchen