nicholas academic centers graduating class of 2017 Each year, at the NAC s annual graduation celebration, our graduates are awarded diplomas and given sweaters representing the colleges and universities they will attend in the fall.
about us our mission The mission of the Nicholas Academic Centers (NAC) is to provide support to underserved high school students to improve their academic performance, achieve their full scholarly and social potential, promote their admission to colleges and universities, retention and graduation, and to impart the skills and knowledge necessary for them to live successful and productive lives. The NAC provides academic assistance, social services, cultural enrichment programs, college matching, college preparation, and need-based scholarship funding for students who meet program requirements. The NAC provides continued support and services to its graduates while they attend college to ensure students complete their baccalaureate degree. Services provided by the NAC are made possible through the generosity of Dr. Henry T. Nicholas, III, The Henry T. Nicholas, III Foundation, the Santa Ana Unified School District, and the Vanir Foundation. We would not be able to work with as many students without their support. Dr. Henry T. Nicholas, III Ret. Judge Jack K. Mandel
Our program facilitates holistic and comprehensive services that prepare students to meet academic, cultural, social, and personal challenges.
academics The NAC provides academic services that support and promote students academic growth. Our services range from providing year-round academic guidance, tutoring, SAT preparation to individual case management. Additionally, the NAC engages students in learning outside the classroom through its Chapman Lecture Series, cultural knowledge workshops, summer learning programs and educational field trips. Mr. Banderas, Valley High School teacher, tutors a NAC Scholar Chapman Lecture Series Chapman University and the NAC partner every year to provide monthly college lectures during the school year. Since partnering with Chapman University, over 60 Chapman faculty have led a lecture at the NAC NAC Scholars at Century High School are greeted as they prepare for the day
NAC Class of 2018 Santa Ana High School Cristina, a senior in high school, joined the NAC as a sophomore and is ranked in the top 1% of her class at Santa Ana High School. When she is not at the NAC, she can be found participating in her school s basketball and track and field team. She also volunteers her time helping middle school students transition into high school and mentors students with special needs. Having someone at the NAC believe in me reminds me that I am capable of succeeding academically. More importantly, it has helped cement the idea that my future includes college.
mentoring The NAC provides mentoring and social services to students throughout high school and college, assisting them as they encounter daily life challenges. These services include individual and family therapy, emotional support groups, daily living skills workshops, career exploration, and service learning opportunities. Parents of students that will attend Chapman University at a Parent Workshop led by Chapman University faculty Tea Time Hour Tea Time hour, a weekly emotional support group at the NAC Of our scholars receive individual counseling sessions when they join the NAC Our students actively engage in volunteering for organizations like Hemopet, the Ronald McDonald House and the Well Program
family, friends & partners The NAC engages students parents, relatives, friends, school and community stakeholders to generate the collective support that students need to succeed in high school and college. We develop partnerships with school districts, school administrators, local nonprofit organizations, and businesses to provide NAC Scholars with unique resources and opportunities SAUSD Board Members, Mayor Miguel Pulido, and administrators with Dr. Nicholas, NAC Co-Founder, at Grand Opening of NAC III inside Century H.S. Parent Pláticas NAC Parent Pláticas (Conversations) provide college knowledge and capacity building workshops throughout the year. The NAC partners with Cal State Fullerton to provide NAC Alumni with college retention services like mentoring sessions and college stipends Number of parent platicas held throughout the school year
college access The NAC facilitates programming that helps scholars apply and gain acceptance to colleges accross the nation. NAC students receive comprehensive college matching, application support, interview preparation, networking training, and financial aid advocacy support. Our program arranges visits from college recruiters to our centers and facilitates student visits to college campuses and college fairs. It has become tradition for NAC Scholars to ring the bell when they are accepted to college COLLEGE RECRUITMENT College representatives from around the nation visit the NAC every year to recruit our scholars Colleges and universities visited NAC during the 2016-2017 scholastic year to recruit our scholars! Each summer, our rising seniors kick off their college search by attending the Colleges That Change Lives fair
NAC Class of 2017 Saddleback High School Cornell University Ithaca, New York Luis graduated as valedictorian of his class at Saddleback High School. He balanced a full load of Advanced Placement courses along with sports, school activities, and leadership roles on campus. Luis will be pursuing a degree in environmental engineering at Cornell University. The NAC grew on me, mainly because of the people that work at the centers. They are there for us, the students, no matter what day or time it is. Their support was especially comforting during the arduous college application process.
college support The NAC supports students throughout their collegiate experience. Our services include; providing college transition workshops, telementoring, visiting students at their college campuses, as well as providing guidance that helps them resolve academic, social, cultural and emotional challenges. In addition, the NAC provides financial need-based scholarships to all its scholars. Dr. Thomas Parham, University of California, Irvine Vice Chancellor, and NAC Alumni at the annual NAC Alumni Luncheon hosted by UCI College Support Morningside College President, John Reynders, visits NAC every summer to host a dinner that welcomes NAC Scholars who choose to attend his college. NAC traveled to 61 different colleges and universities during the 2016-2017 school year to provide alumni support Allegheny College President, Dr. James Mullen, hosting NAC visitors and current students in his office
NAC Class of 2014 Santa Ana High School Denison University Granville, Ohio Theophilus is a junior at Denison University where he is currently completing his bachelor s degree in biology. Prior to attending NAC, Theo never imagined he could attend college outside of California. Theo plans on attending a pharmaceutical graduate program after Denison. I feel very welcomed and supported by the NAC! I still keep in touch with my main mentor, Rosa, as she comes and visits me and other NAC peers at Denison on an annual basis.
171 GRADUATING CLASS SIZE BY YEAR 125 125 124 125 64 59 82 24 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 OF OUR SCHOLARS GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AND ENROLL IN COLLEGE 96% LATINO/HISPANIC OVER 90% ARE FIRST GENERATION ATTENDING COLLEGE 2.5% 1.5% ASIAN-AMERICAN OTHER
SCHOLAR S IMMEDIATE TRANSITION TO COLLEGE 26% 74% $46 MILLION Scholarships & Grants received by NAC students (not including NAC need-based scholarships) 11.9 M 10.4 M 7.8 M 6.3 M 4.3 M 2.7 M 1.6 M 1.0 M 280K 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 15/16 16/17 17/18 $3.8 MILLION Amounts awarded by the Nicholas Academic Centers in need-based scholarships 92% *for students enrolled in 4-year institutions 78% NATIONAL RETENTION RATE NAC RETENTION RATE 54% 82% NAC BACCALAUREATE DEGREE COMPLETION RATE IN 6 YEARS NATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DEGREE COMPLETION RATE IN 6 YEARS 49% NATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DEGREE COMPLETION RATE IN 6 YEARS FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS ENROLLED IN 4-YEAR NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS
alabama Birmingham-Southern College california Cal Poly Pomona Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Chapman University Chico State University Concordia University,Irvine CSU Bakersfield CSU Channel Islands CSU Dominguez Hills CSU East Bay CSU Fullerton CSU Long Beach CSU Los Angeles CSU Monterey Bay CSU Northridge CSU San Bernardino CSU San Marcos CSU Stanislaus Cypress College Fullerton College Fresno Pacific University Goldenwest College Humboldt State Irvine Valley College Orange Coast College Pomona College San Diego State University San Francisco State University San Jose State University Santa Ana College Santiago Canyon College Stanford University UC Berkeley UC Davis UC Irvine UC Los Angeles UC Merced UC Riverside UC San Diego UC Santa Barbara UC Santa Cruz University of La Verne University of Redlands University of San Diego University of Southern California Vanguard University Whittier College colorado Johnson & Wales University connecticut Connecticut College illinois Augustana College Knox College University of Chicago indiana University of Notre Dame Wabash College iowa Grinnell College Morningside College kansas University of Kansas kentucky Transylvania University
massachusetts Brandeis University Hampshire College Harvard University Massachusetts Institute of Technology Smith College Tufts University Wellesley College michigan Hope College minnesota College of Saint Benedict and Saint John s University Gustavus Adolphus College Hamline University missouri Missouri Baptist University new hampshire Dartmouth College new York Colgate University Columbia University Cornell University Marist College New York University Union College University of Rochester Vassar College north dakota University of Jamestown ohio Denison University Oberlin College pennsylvania Allegheny College Carnegie Mellon University Haverford College Juniata College Lycoming College tennessee King University virginia University of Virginia washington, D.C. Georgetown University international mexico Puebla - Universidad de las Américas spain Saint Louis University
NAC Class of 2011 Santiago High School Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana Eve Martinez earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Knox College in 2015. She is a distinguished McNair Scholar and currently attends Purdue University, where she is completing a Ph.D. in chemical engineering. Eve is exploring career options after Purdue, including the possibility of becoming a professor. I believe it is important for minority students to see other Latinas(os) in professorial positions because it s uncommon and they need to know that they, too, can do it.
naccenters.org @nacenters /nicholasacademic /nicholasacademiccenters /naccenters Locations 412 W 4th St. First Floor Santa Ana, CA 92701 714-834-0521 Valley High School 1801 S. Greenville St. Santa Ana, CA 92704 Century High School 1401 S. Grand Ave. Santa Ana, CA 92705