Nicholas Academic Centers Launch Summer Educational Program for Disadvantaged Students

Today students from the Nicholas Academic Centers in Santa Ana spent the day at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, where they were introduced to local marine life during a boat cruise along the Pacific coast. The session is part of an alternative educational program to keep promising students active and engaged over the summer.

“We wanted to establish an innovative program that will engage and educate students and give them a hands-on learning experience over the summer,” said Dr. Henry “Nick” Nicholas, whose Nicholas Education Foundation established the first Academic Center in 2007. A second center opened in January of this year. “These organizations are valued partners in our philanthropic network and we are excited to be working with them on this project.”

More than 50 disadvantaged students participated in the Ocean Institute visit. They will make a return trip in August. Other field trips will include attending productions of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “Fiddler on the Roof” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, and time with world-renowned animal trainer Syd Yost in San Bernardino.

“The Ocean Institute is delighted to work with the Nicholas Academic Centers to expand the horizons of young people and teach them to become responsible stewards of our oceans,” said Dan Stetson, president and CEO of the Ocean Institute. “We look forward to helping NAC students chart ambitious courses for their lives.”

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