Help Us Change Students’ Lives
SCC relies on participation from generous donors to ensure that our scholars have access to a variety of high-quality educational experiences in STEM, the arts, athletics and other areas of enrichment. Your contributions will help our students discover their full potential to find long-term, personal and professional success.Hawks’ Greatest Needs Fund
Octavio
Financial aid led to the college journey
Octavio credits many dedicated leaders at SCC with helping him transition from a young man with no direction to a confident adult preparing for a positive life ahead. One such person is Rosemary Touyanou who connected him with Guardian Scholars, a program that helps homeless foster youth further their education. “Rosemary helped me in so many ways,” Octavio enthused. “She referred me to a Salvation Army car dealership where I was able to buy my first car,” adding that she has always been encouraging when he has struggled on his journey.
“SCC has become my safe haven,” shares Octavio. “Sometimes when I’m stressed out I just go to campus to hang out. This is my school, I feel at home here.”
Now majoring in Material Engineering, he finds the math and science courses challenging, but rewarding. His plans include earning his welding certificate next June, and his Associates Degree in 2024.
Reflecting on the past few years, Octavio says “I would not be here if not for SCC,” adding that he is the only one of his peers from high school who went on to college. Perhaps most telling is his perspective on giving back. “As I got older, turned all my sadness and aggression to improving things for myself,” he says. “Now I look to help out younger kids and give them advice I wish they’d given me. I am so grateful for opportunities I’ve been given here at SCC.”
Just a few years ago, Octavio found himself at a crossroads. A senior in high school, he had been in the foster system for years, was about to turn 18, and saw no positive path forward for his future. “I didn’t see myself as a student,” he says, “and even if I did, I had no idea how I would pay for anything.” He had determined that his educational journey would end at high school.
Still, he decided to attend a counseling session where he met two representatives from Santiago Canyon College. They shared with him that funding was available in the form of grants and scholarships, encouraging Octavio to reconsider his plans. A light flickered. He explored further, eventually leading to him receiving financial aid. “When I got that first $1,000 grant, I was surprised,” he said. Before long, his decision had changed and, with the help of many caring SCC mentors, he enrolled.
Laura
An immigrant’s dream becomes reality
I was born in Argentina, moved to Anaheim with my family at the age of 10, and I was a “Dreamer.” My parents instilled in me the value and importance of education. I worked hard and excelled in school, but college seemed unattainable as we were poor, undocumented immigrants. Thanks to caring high school counselors, I was connected to the EOPS program at Santiago Canyon College. Through the generosity of so many wonderful people, I was provided with the financial support I needed for tuition and books.
My three years there were filled with caring, challenging faculty and truly dedicated SCC counselors such as Dr. Jennifer Coto, Nena Baldizon-Rios, Juana Galvan and Leonor Aguilera. SCC felt like family. I felt safe; I felt heard. With their guidance and perseverance, I was able to attain my American citizenship, move on to my undergraduate degree at UCI and my master’s degree at USC. Eventually, I made it to Washington, DC on an internship through Congresswoman Lorretta Sanchez’ office, eventually being appointed to the White House during the Obama Administration.
I am now living in Los Angeles, working for a leading national bank as the Vice President of Community and Business Development. I proudly mentor others who have similar paths as mine, and will be forever grateful to those at SCC whose faith, trust and support made all of this possible for me. I am honored to give back to the college’s scholarship programs with a financial donation. I encourage all of my fellow alumni and SCC supporters to do the same.
Dr. Binh Vu
Promoting the Power of Philanthropy
Dr. Binh Vu recognizes the truly deep impact of philanthropy at SCC. “Just as when I attended community college many years ago, these students are able to further their education only through the generosity of others,” he states.
Dr. Vu and his family immigrated to the U.S. (from Viet Nam) in search for a life of freedom. College seemed inaccessible due to financial hardship. Community college offered an option that paved the way forward. With great determination and hard work, Dr. Vu earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees—the latter in music and choral conducting—at Cal State Northridge, and his doctorate in musical arts from Claremont Graduate University.
Dr. Vu was recruited to serve as the Chairperson of the Fine and Performing Arts department at SCC in 2011. “I understand the challenges young people face, especially immigrants whose families struggle financially,” says Dr. Vu. “That is why SCC is the ideal place for me.”
He has introduced hundreds of young men and women to a broad range of music, but more importantly, he has used music as a tool to stretch their minds, to enlighten and expand the range of opportunities they see for themselves.
There have been many examples of Dr. Vu’s positive influence on students over the past 12 years. One such example includes a student with attention deficit disorder (ADD) who was preparing to sing in the annual Holiday Concert. “He was easily distracted and got upset, but had a wonderful voice,” shares Dr. Vu, “I could tell this opportunity was really good for his development.” With no assurance that the student would manage to remain in control, “I wanted to give him an experience he may not ever get again in his life,” explained Dr. Vu, adding that the young man did an excellent job, receiving a rousing ovation. “I had to send him back for a second bow! The look on his face was priceless, he was so happy.”
Dr. Vu encourages all of his students, and especially those with whom he keeps in contact, to support their alma mater once their circumstances allow. “I stress the importance of giving 10% to your schools,” he says, adding “when you attain success, be sure to give to SCC’s Foundation!”
Dr. Betty Valencia
GED to Ph.D.
Opportunities for economically-challenged students to further their education beyond high school—even for honor roll students like Betty —seemed out of reach back in the 1980s. Feeling “let down by education,” Betty dropped out of high school, got a job and a scooter, and began a simple life… with no direction.
Fortunately, a close mentor recognized Betty’s untapped potential and urged her to visit the local community college to talk with a counselor. Though she went with no expectations but rather “out of respect” for her mentor, Sr. Cecilia (a Catholic nun), by the end of the meeting she had a full plan for her GED and her Associate Degree. Seven years later, not long after the Santa Ana College Orange Campus was opened (later to become Santiago Canyon College), Betty had her AA degree.
She was far from finished. “Thanks to the inspirational faculty and staff, I came to realize how capable I was, and how much I wanted to accomplish,” she explains. Betty went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree at Cal State Fullerton, her Master’s degree at New Mexico State University, and, finally, her Ph.D. at Chapman University in Education. The impressive arc of her educational journey led her to become Dr. Beatriz “Betty” Valencia and she selected a truly memorable license plate for her car: GED2PHD , which is the name of her scholarship fund at Santiago Canyon College.
Dr. Valencia notes that her experience, as with so many others, was made possible through the financial assistance she received. “We are better prepared with educational opportunities,” she emphasizes. She continues to excel and achieve, and has unselfishly given back, volunteering for multiple organizations over the past 20 years. In 2019, she was named one of 100 Top Orange County influencers and, this year, she is the newly-elected board chair—the first Latina elected President of the SCC board in its 23-year history.
In December 2022, she and her spouse established GED2PHD scholarship fund specifically created “to pay for as many GED tests as possible in our district for any student who wants to pursue education.” Dr. Valencia explains that earning a GED “is very symbolic, very healing.” She recognizes how important this first step was for her on her journey, and wants to eliminate any financial barrier others may face in taking that same step.
Dr. Valencia sums up her ambition for the future saying, “I am a testimony of how SCC can truly change people’s lives. If you need help, we can provide that. It’s not about handing out money blindly, it’s about impacting people’s lives.”
About Santiago Canyon College
Santiago Canyon College (SCC) is one of two colleges in the Rancho Santiago Community College District. Accredited in 2000, this dynamic and award-winning institution is located in Southern California, in the city of Orange, and provides an array of educational opportunities to the over 195,000 residents comprising the eclectic community. SCC offers over 200 degree and certificate programs (including 28 associate degrees for transfer). Ranked among the “50 Best Community Colleges” in the U.S. by College Choice, SCC was recognized multiple times by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of “The Great Colleges to Work For,” received Gold-level status as a Military Friendly School®, and boasts dedicated faculty, high-quality and student-centered education, with excellent university transfer rates supported by transfer-guarantee programs. www.sccollege.edu.