OC Register, "Nicholas Academic Centers hold alumni reunion"

The following information was submitted by Fernando Martinez, director of academic services for Nicholas Academic Center II in Santa Ana.

More than 50 recent high school graduates from the Santa Ana Unified School District, all alumni of the Nicholas Academic Centers, came together on Jan. 5 in celebration of having taken the road less traveled when they chose to attend college.

The annual event featured students from the Santa Ana community who now attend colleges across the nation, including Georgetown, Allegheny, Grinnell, UC Berkeley, and Cal State East Bay, among others. During the event, students shared anecdotes and common experiences in their chosen path to college.

Mariana de Vicenzo, a Santa Ana High School graduate and current student at Georgetown University, said that attending college on the east coast helped her “meet people from all over the world,” adding that the experience “just blows your mind because it really changes your perspective on not only your home, but also your own mentality and how you view other people and other cultures.”

Mariana is one of 150 NAC graduates now attending college, including many of the nation’s top schools. In addition, NAC alumni have earned a total of more than $2 million in scholarships and financial aid.

The centers were established in 2008 by Dr. Henry Nicholas, co-founder and former co-chairman, president and CEO of Broadcom Corporation and retired Orange County Superior Court Judge Jack Mandel.

Over the last two years, 100 percent of NAC seniors have gone on to college, compared to 61 percent for Hispanic high school students nationwide, and 96 percent of NAC graduates who attend four-year colleges are still enrolled, with many excelling academically.

By contrast, according to the College Board, national sophomore retention rates for all students are less than 80 percent, and only 46.8 percent of Hispanic college students graduate within six years.

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OC Register, "Nicholas Academic Centers alumni share college tips with teens"

Home from college on winter break, alumni from the Nicholas Academic Centers shared experiences and advice with over 100 current NAC students at the annual “College Knowledge Alumni Panel” held at NACII on the Valley High School campus. On the panel were students from private colleges such as Haverford, Smith and Colgate, and public institutions such as UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton and Santa Ana College. They discussed academic experiences, the culture shock of being away from home, and the many community activities they engage in to enrich their college experiences. - HTN Foundation

Nicholas Academic Centers alumni share college tips with teens

THERESA CISNEROS / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

In this photo Erik Chavarria, a 2010 graduate from the Nicholas Academic Centers in Santa Ana who attends Morningside College in Iowa, shares his experiences with current NAC students.

"Alumni from the Nicholas Academic Centers (NAC), home from college for winter break, shared experiences and advice with over 100 current high school students from the centers on Dec. 22 at NACII on the Valley High School campus in Santa Ana.

The annual "College Knowledge Alumni Panel" included students from private colleges such as Haverford, Smith and Colgate, and public institutions such as UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton and Santa Ana College.

Topics ranged from academic experiences to culture shock to contributions students are making in their communities. Alumni panelists encouraged NAC students not to be discouraged by economic and cultural obstacles.

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Reuters, "Judge Jack Mandel Receives Bank of America`s 2011 "Local Hero" Award For His Work At The Nicholas Academic Centers"

The Retired Orange County Superior Court Jurist Partnered with Broadcom Co-Founder Dr. Henry Nicholas to Establish the After-School Mentoring and Tutoring Program for Inner-City High School Students in Santa Ana

Retired Orange Superior Court Judge Jack Mandel, co-founder of the Nicholas Academic Centers, has received Bank of America’s 2011 “Local Hero” award for championing vital causes, inspiring others to get involved and having a “significant impact” on individuals, families and the community. Judge Mandel was among five “Local Heroes” recognized at a luncheon ceremony on November 16^th at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, and was joined by fellow NAC co-founder, Henry T Nicholas. Judge Mandel donated his $5,000 check to help NAC graduates buy clothes and furnish their dormitory rooms when they go to college.

Dr. Henry Nicholas, co-founder of the Nicholas Academic Centers, congratulates fellow co-founder Judge Jack Mandel and two other winners of Bank of America's Neighborhood Excellence Award, Rose Espinoza, founder of the Rosie's Garage tutoring program and "Student Leader" Priscilla Vu. (Photo: Nancy Villere, Crush Photo Studios)

“I am humbled to receive this honor on behalf of my co-founder, Dr. Henry Nicholas, our dedicated staff, and, especially, our students who are the true heroes,” said Judge Mandel. “This award really recognizes the accomplishments of these young people to apply themselves and succeed.”

“I can’t think of anyone who deserves this recognition more than Jack Mandel,” said Dr. Nicholas, co-founder and former Co-Chairman, President and CEO of Broadcom Corp., who established the Centers with Judge Mandel in 2008. “Jack started mentoring and tutoring high schools students in the early 1990’s while he was still on the bench, because he saw a need and knew he could make a difference. Now we have two highly successful centers that have helped hundreds of students realize their dreams of attending college.”

In recognizing Judge Mandel, Bank of America said his work and dedication “made it possible for many to attend and graduate from college. The beauty of his accomplishment” was that “he created a ‘pay it forward’ effect. As it turns out, many of the students he mentored are now working in the services sector and helping others succeed.”

Bank of America annually recognizes five “Local Heroes” in 45 markets nationwide. Honored along with Judge Mandel were: Rose Espinosa, founder of La Habra-based Rosie’s Garage Inc., an after-school tutoring program; Ticky Gorin, coordinator for Long Beach-based Special Olympics Southern California Inc.; Sally Sullivan, cofounder of Casa Teresa in Orange, a residential program that helps homeless pregnant women 18 and older with job training, counseling, prenatal care and other services; and Jonathan B. Webb, founder of Newport Beach-based Project Access Inc., which provides a variety of services to families and seniors living in low-income housing.

Media links:

Video Presentation

Photo Gallery

About the Nicholas Academic Centers

Located in downtown Santa Ana and on the campus of Valley High School, the Nicholas Academic Centers serve hundreds of Santa Ana Unified School District students on a daily basis throughout the school year and summer, providing them with tutoring, social support, and individual college guidance. Since the first Center opened in 2008, more than 150 students have gone on to college, with most attending top schools such as Georgetown, Smith, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Irvine, Allegheny, and Chapman. NAC students have earned a total of more than $2 million in scholarships and financial aide. The NAC staff works closely with school principals, teachers and guidance counselors, as well as with students’ families and community leaders. The Centers are funded by the Henry T. Nicholas, III Foundation and modeled on the tutoring and mentoring program Judge Mandel started before retiring from the bench. Become a fan of the Nicholas Academic Centers on Facebook, or follow the NAC on Twitter.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50084762&lang=en

Nicholas Academic Centers
Robert Magnuson, 949-290-9382
rgm@magnusonandcompany.com

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OC Register, "She went from gang area to D.C"

The Nicholas Academic Centers held their third annual Thanksgiving dinner celebration Nov. 23 at Valley High School for more than 200 students, NAC staff and community leaders. NAC co-founders Judge Jack Mandel and Dr. Henry Nicholas were joined by Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido in congratulating students on their academic success, while challenging them to succeed in college and become leaders in their chosen careers. Among the speakers was Ana Rodriguez, a NAC alumna and freshmen at Georgetown University, who told the audience that, “The NAC prepared me for leadership and today I stand as a leader. I’ve become an example of the fruits that can be borne from a city like Santa Ana.” Also sharing her experiences was Marylinda Bustamante, who attends Valley High School.  “Since I don’t have Internet access at home or even a computer, it’s really hard to get my work done,” she said. “But I know I can really count on the NAC. I know I couldn’t have been a straight A student last year without the NAC.”

Below is a Q&A that Orange County Register columnist Frank Mickadeit conducted with Rodriguez as she enjoyed her turkey dinner. - HTN Foundation

She went from gang area to D.C

By FRANK MICKADEIT COLUMNIST / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Ana Rodriguez, left, talks to Rocio Chavez-Bonilla, director of social services for the Nicholas Academic Centers in Santa Ana during the annual Thanksgiving party Henry Nicholas hosts for the students and center alumni. After spending her childhood in a gang area of Santa Ana, Rodriquez graduated from high school last year and is now at Georgetown University. She credits the SAT prep she did at the afterschool center with helping her get into college. FRANK MICKADEIT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

In what appears to have become a Thanksgiving tradition for me, I spent the evening before at the little soiree Henry Nicholas hosts for the kids and staff at the academic tutoring centers he funds in Santa Ana. About 150 Nicholas Academic Center students have gone on to college in the last three years.

This party is a time for some of those who've gone off to college to come back and inspire the kids who are still putting in the hours at the tutoring centers. One alum back in town over the weekend was Ana Rodriguez. She grew up on Chestnut Avenue in Santa Ana, the oldest of three. Her father is a roofer and her mother is a housekeeper. Ana graduated from Godinez High School last year and is now at Georgetown. As she ate a plate of turkey and fixings, I got her to do a Q&A.

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Reuters, "Nobel-Winning Economist Vernon L. Smith Lectures to Inner-City High School Students at the Nicholas Academic Centers"

The Chapman University Professor, Known as the Father of “Experimental Economics,” Demonstrates How Both Buyers and Sellers Benefit from Market Transactions

Chapman University Nobel Laureate Vernon L. Smith, and his colleague, Bart Wilson, brought their unorthodox teaching methods to the students, parents and staff of the Nicholas Academic Centers in Santa Ana, CA., on Saturday (Nov. 5), conducting “double auction” experiments in which students learned how both buyers and sellers, who know nothing of each other’s interests, can benefit from market transactions.

The two professors from Chapman’s Economic Science Institute made their second appearance as part of the Nicholas Academic Centers’ 2011-12 “Visiting Scholar Series” in partnership with Chapman University. Drs. Smith and Wilson delivered their first lecture in the series in January 2011 at the Center in downtown Santa Ana, CA.

Dr. Smith said he got the idea for “Experimental Economics” as a newly minted Harvard PhD teaching his first class at Purdue University. “I realized I didn’t know anything about the connection between the pretty pictures in the text books and how the real world worked,” Dr. Smith told the gathering. “So I decided to do an experiment.” He went on to became known as the father of “Experimental Economics” and in 2002 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for his work in using laboratory experiments to research why markets and other exchange systems work the way they do.

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