News Release

El Don Wins 22nd Associated Collegiate Press National Pacemaker Award

SAC Student Jose Servin Wins National Reporter of the Year

(Santa Ana, CA)—Santa Ana College’s (SAC) student newspaper, el Don and co-editor-in-chief Jose Servin both garnered national attention at the annual Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Association joint convention. The convention took place in Washington, D.C. from October 20-22.

SAC’s el Don won Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) National Pacemaker Award while Servin was named one of three National College Reporter of the Year recipients.

The ACP National Pacemaker Award is one of the most prestigious recognitions in college journalism. These awards mark the 22nd such honor for SAC Communications and Media Studies student editors and writers since 1991.

“Congratulations are in order to 2015-16 co-editor-in-chief Joanna Meza and Jose Servin in addition to our hard-working and talented SAC student journalists,” said Dean of SAC’s Fine and Performing Arts Division Eve Kikawa. “The continued national success that el Don and its staff have accumulated over the years shows that the work produced on Santa Ana’s campus competes with any institution in the country.”

SAC was one of two community colleges in the United States to win National Pacemaker Award honors and the only community college in California.

Alumni of Santa Ana College’s journalism program have gone on to work at media outlets such as USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, The Orange County Register, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, Disney, and KNX News Radio. Notable graduates include KTLA meteorologist Vera Jimenez, Redbeard Media owner and director of photography Roger Denman, National Retail Hardware Association publisher Dan Tratensek, Orange County Register senior designer Anthony Mendoza, and Concordia University English professor Thea Gavin.

About Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College (SAC), which turned 100 years old in 2015, serves about 18,000 students each semester at its main campus in Santa Ana. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions, provides invaluable workforce training, and customized training for business and industry. In addition, another 11,000 students are served through the college’s School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation’s top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and other medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District. Visit www.sac.edu to learn more.

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