Nicholas Academic Centers Celebrate Record Graduation Results

Broadcom Co-Founder Henry Nicholas Honors 66 High-Potential, High-Risk Seniors; Many Are Attending Top Colleges

Newport Coast, CA.—June 2—The Nicholas Academic Centers at an evening ceremony today celebrated the “Magic of Santa Ana” with the graduation of 66 seniors, nearly triple last year’s results. Most of the new graduates will attend four-year colleges and universities, including some of the world’s best such as Georgetown, Smith, Haverford, UC Berkeley and UCLA.

“What we have done is to help these students realize their true potential by removing the unfair barriers to their success that should never have been there in the first place,” said Nicholas, co-founder and former Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Broadcom. “That’s similar to what we did at Broadcom. We recruited the best of the best and then removed any barriers that might prevent them from achieving greatness.”

During Nicholas’ tenure as Broadcom’s CEO, the company reached $1 billion in revenue faster than any other semiconductor company in history.

Nicholas has made a long-term commitment to what he calls the “Magic of Santa Ana”—his vision of investing in education to change the lives of young people and prepare them to be tomorrow’s leaders. The vision is that students who graduate from the Nicholas Academic Centers will return to their hometown as leaders who will work to remove barriers to success for future generations. The Centers also are partnering with the University of California, Irvine to find ways to scale the program to reach students everywhere.

The 2010 graduates were honored at a ceremony at the Nicholas residence in Newport Coast, CA. Last year, 24 NAC seniors went on to college.

In addition to direct support, the Centers over the last two years have helped students secure more than $1.5 million in scholarships and funding.

The Nicholas Academic Centers serve hundreds of disadvantaged at-risk but high-potential students in the Santa Ana Unified School District on a daily basis throughout the school year and summer with the ultimate goal of sending each student to college. The role of the Centers is to supplement the efforts of teachers, guidance counselors and parents.

The Nicholas Academic Centers are based on a program started by Retired Superior Court Judge Jack Mandel in 1992 in an effort to fill an urgent need for after-school tutoring and mentoring in Santa Ana. In 2007, Judge Mandel partnered with Henry Nicholas, to create the Nicholas Academic Centers. The first center opened in 2008 and the second center followed a year later. This week, it was announced that Dr. Corina Espinoza, a higher-education expert, had joined the Nicholas Academic Centers. Judge Mandel has named her to succeed him when he retires.

A highlight of the evening was the surprise appearance of Raul Tapia, a Harvard-trained lawyer and successful Washington, D.C. business executive who was the first student to be mentored by Judge Mandel. Tapia challenged the students not to be intimidated when they leave Santa Ana to attend colleges far away from home. He told them that they can rely on a strong work ethic to make up for disadvantages they might face.

About the Nicholas Academic Centers
The Nicholas Academic Centers are directed by retired Superior Court Judge Jack Mandel and higher education expert Dr. Corina Espinoza, and funded by the Henry T. Nicholas, III Foundation. Located in downtown Santa Ana and on the campus of Valley High in Santa Ana, the Centers provide free tutoring and mentoring for students, as well as computers and a safe and comfortable place to study. Become a fan of the Nicholas Academic Centers on Facebook.

About the Henry T. Nicholas, III Foundation
The Henry T. Nicholas, III Foundation was established in 2006 with the goal of improving communities and individual lives through investment in Education, Youth Sports, Technology, Science, Medical Research, Victim’s Rights and National Defense. The Foundation was created by Dr. Henry Nicholas, co-founder of Irvine, Calif.-based Broadcom Corporation. For more information on the Foundation visit www.htnfoundation.org.

Raul Tapia, Judge Jack Mandel, Henry Nicholas and Corina Espinoza at the 2010 Nicholas Academic Center graduation celebration. (June 2, 2010)		Henry Nicholas addressing the 2010 Nicholas Academic Center graduation celebration. (June 2, 2010).

Henry Nicholas and Judge Jack Mandel with graduating seniors and their families at the 2010 Nicholas Academic Center graduation celebration. (June 2, 2010)