CollegeKnowledge Alumni Panel, December 22, 2011

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.

Judge Jack Mandel Receives Bank of America’s 2011 “Local Hero” Award For His Work At The Nicholas Academic Centers 

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 16th at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. He said he will donate his $5,000 check to help NAC graduates buy clothes and furnish their dormitory rooms when the go to college.

NAC/CHAPMAN VISITING SCHOLAR SERIES, 11-04-2011

Chapman University Nobel Laureate Vernon L. Smith and his colleague, Bart Wilson, delivered their second lecture as part of the Nicholas Academic Centers' "Visiting Scholar Series" at the NAC1 Annex. The two professors from Chapman's Economic Science Institute conducted "double auction" experiments with students learning how both buyers and sellers can benefit from market transactions. Drs. Smith and Wilson delivered their first lecture in the series in January 2011. Dr. Smith, known as the father of "Experimental Economics," was awarded the 2002 Nobel Prize in Economics for his work in using laboratory experiments to research why markets and other exchange systems work the way they do.

NAC/CHAPMAN VISITING SCHOLAR SERIES, 10-08-2011

Chapman Univeristy Professor Brian Alters delivered the first 2011-2012 "Visiting Scholars Series" lecture to NAC students, parents and staff. The lecture program between the Nicholas Academic Centers and Chapman University began its second year on Oct. 8.

NAC/CHAPMAN VISITING SCHOLAR SERIES,  04-16-2011, "MUSIC"

Chapman University Professor Sean Heim draws on a sampling of indigenous instruments and melodies to introduce students, parents and staff of the Nicholas Academic Centers to the cultural roots of music. He is participating in the final event of the 2010-2011 "Visiting Scholars Series" partnership between the NACs and Chapman University.

NAC/CHAPMAN VISITING SCHOLAR SERIES, 04-16-2011, "SCIENCE OF FOOD" 

Chapman University Professor Anuradha Prakash uses unconventional methods to teach students from the Nicholas Academic Centers about the "Science of Food." She is participating in the final installment of the 2010-2011 "Visiting Scholars Series" partnership between the NACs and Chapman University.

NAC/CHAPMAN VISITING SCHOLAR SERIES,  03-19-2011, "MENDEZ V. WESTMINSTER DOCUMENTARY"

"I didn't know it would hit me so close to home," said one Nicholas Academic Centers student after listening to an an eye-opening lecture on how school desegregation was overcome in the 1940s in Orange County. Emmy Award-Winning documentarian Sandra Robbie showed her film "Mendez v. Westminster: For All the Children/Para Todos los Ninos" as part of the 2011 "Visiting Scholars Series with Chapman University.

NAC/CHAPMAN VISITING SCHOLAR SERIES, 03-19-2011, "Health",

Students from the Nicholas Academic Centers got the chance to write their own television commercials promoting health awareness as part of a lecture by Chapman University Professor Lisa Sparks, an expert in health communication. Dr. Sparks was participating in the 2010-2011 "Visiting Scholars Series" March 19 at the NACI Annex in downtown Santa Ana. Since last September, Chapman University professors have discussed a broad range of topics aimed at introducing NAC students to a college academic environment.

NAC/CHAPMAN VISITING SCHOLAR SERIES, 02-26-2011, "FILM AND DIGITAL ARTS"

In his lecture entitled "Art at the Speed of Light," Chapman University Film and Media Arts Professor Adam Rote shows students from the Nicholas Academic Centers how to create a simple video game as part of the 2011 "Visiting Scholars Series" held Feb. 26th at the NACI Annex in downtown Santa Ana, CA. 

NAC/CHAPMAN VISITING SCHOLAR SERIES, 02-26-2011, "PHILOSOPHY"

Chapman University Professor Carmichael Peters challenges students from the Nicholas Academic Centers to discover how philosophy touches their everyday lives. He was one of two Chapman faculty who delivered lectures Feb. 26 as part of the 2011 "Visiting Scholars Series" hosted by the Nicholas Academic Centers at their Annex in downtown Santa Ana, CA.

NAC/CHAPMAN VISTING SCHOLAR SERIES, 01-29-2011, "A LESSON IN ECONOMICS"

Chapman University economists conduct an auction and other experiments with NAC students to demonstrate how markets work among other economic principles. Also in this video, Judge Jack Mandel literally passes the baton to new NAC Executive Director Dr. Corina A. Espinoza. The lesson in "Experimental Economics" is the first in the 2011 "Visiting Scholar Series" in which Chapman professors lecture on a broad range of topics to expose NAC students to a challenging university academic environment.

DR HENRY T. NICHOLAS CELEBRATES THANKSGIVING WITH NAC STUDENTS, 11-19-2010

The Nicholas Academic Centers hold their second annual Thanksgiving Dinner, at which Dr. Henry Nicholas announces plans for NAC Co-Founder, Retired Superior Court Judge Jack Mandel, to turn over leadership of the Centers to Dr. Corina Espinoza.

NAC/CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY, "VISTING SCHOLAR SERIES", 09-25-2010

Continuing their commitment to strengthen relationships with top local universities, the Nicholas Academic Centers are partnering with Chapman University to host a Visiting Scholar Series beginning on Saturday, Sept. 25. The purpose of the series is to expose NAC students to college-level learning and the academic excellence offered by highly respected universities such as Chapman.

NICHOLAS ACADEMIC CENTERS/UC IRVINE, "A DAY AT THE BAY", 08-20-2010

As part of an effort to build and expand relationships with top local universities, the Nicholas Academic Centers participated in its first “Day at the Bay” program with the University of California, Irvine. Activities included a tutorial with UCI staff at the Back Bay Science Center in Newport Beach, kayaking on the bay, and a tour of the university campus led by Vice Chancellor Manuel Gomez.

DEDICATION CEREMONY FOR THE SECOND NICHOLAS ACADEMIC CENTER, 01-22-2009

Dedication ceremony for Nicholas Academic Centers II.