(Santa Ana, CA)—At a regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting on September 11, the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD)Board of Trusteescommemorated the anniversary of the September 11 attacks by honoring first responders who put their lives on the line every day to protect the community. The college district invited representatives from area law enforcement and fire departments to be present for the special recognition.
In addition to providing a personal thank you to all first responders in attendance at the board meeting, trustees presented individual certificates of appreciation to each agency. The RSCCD Board of Trustees also unanimously approved a resolution honoring first responders in the Rancho Santiago Community College District. The resolution refers to September 11, 2001 as “…when our nation was changed forever by the attacks that killed 2,977 people and injured over 6,000 others. Out of this tragedy came a heightened appreciation for first responders, the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect the public in times of danger – 403 of whom lost their lives that day.” It goes on to say that all first responders that service the college district “…are to be commended for their timely response in times of crisis and their courageous efforts on behalf of area residents.”
“The RSCCD Board of Trustees appreciates the 46-year-old partnership with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department as evidenced in the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy. Through the Academy, Santa Ana College and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department are able to serve more than 800 Academy cadets annually. Santa Ana College is also the home of one of the state’s largest and oldest fire technology programs. We are grateful for the support of the Orange County Fire Chiefs’ Association that collaborates with us on this vital program. The trustees are also deeply thankful for the ongoing support extended to the college district by the many law enforcement and fire agencies that protect our students, employees, and residents of our service area,” said RSCCD Board of Trustees president John R. Hanna.
The following law enforcement and fire departments were on hand for this recognition ceremony:
- Anaheim Police Department: Deputy Chief Steve Davis & Assistant Public Information Officer Kristina Hamm
- Costa Mesa Police Department: Sergeant Zack Hoferitza & Sergeant Shawn Leffingwell
- Fountain Valley Fire Department: Chief Tony Coppolino
- Garden Grove Fire Department: Chief Tom Schultz
- Garden Grove Police Department: Captain Travis Whitman & Lieutenant Carl Whitney
- Irvine Police Department: Lieutenant Tom Allan
- Orange County Fire Authority/Santa Ana Fire: Battalion Chief Tony Espinoza
- Orange County Fire Authority/Tustin-Villa Park/Yorba Linda/Placentia: Division Chief Andy Kovacs
- Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy: Lieutenant Jared Dahl & Sergeant Virgil Asuncion
- Orange Fire Department: Chief Sean Demetropolis
- Orange Police Department: Chief Tom Kisela & Captain Dave Nicols
- Orange County Sheriff’s Department: Commander Jeff Hallock
- Rancho Santiago Community College District Security and Public Safety Department: Chief Toni Bland, Lieutenant Manny Pacheco, Lieutenant Scott Baker, Sergeant Ray Wert, Sergeant Monte Huotari, Sergeant Frank Prado, & Sergeant Ken Gouldsmith
- Santa Ana College Criminal Justice Department: Assistant Dean Ron Coopman
- Santa Ana College Fire Technology: Academy Commander Gary Dominguez & Associate Dean Donald Mahany
- Santa Ana Police Department: Deputy Chief James Schnabl
- Santa Ana Unified School District Police Services: Interim Chief Mark Van Holt
To read the full text of the Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees Resolution No. 17-22, please follow this link.
About the Rancho Santiago Community College District
Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College are public community colleges of the Rancho Santiago Community College District, which serves the residents of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Santa Ana, Villa Park, and portions of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, and Tustin. Both colleges provide education for academic transfer and careers, courses for personal and professional development, and customized training for business and industry.
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