Santa Ana College is the sole community college in the local area and is located in a city that is 78 percent Latino, most of whom identify specifically as Mexican or Chicano/a.
(Santa Ana, CA) - New Interim President of Santa Ana College Dr. Marilyn Flores will be speaking on behalf of the college during a virtual celebration of Mexican Independence Day hosted by the Consulado de México (Mexican Consulate) in Orange County on September 15, 2020.
Flores, who was tapped to the interim role in July, said recognition of Mexican Independence Day is of utmost importance to the Santa Ana community, which boasts a vibrant and thriving Mexican and Chicano/a community.
"Celebrating our diverse student population has always been and continues to be a fundamental part of who we are at Santa Ana College," said Flores. "We believe in honoring the heritage of all of our students including our Mexican and Chicano/a students, faculty and staff and we know what it means to have institutions like ours recognize such an important part of the Mexican culture.
Fifty-five percent of adult education students and 45 percent of college credit students at SAC self-identify as Mexican or Chicano/a. The college is home to a Chicano/a social justice and advocacy club; a Mariachi ensemble; an undocumented student advocacy club, the Undocu-Scholars and Puente Programs, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).
Flores said she is honored to be invited to speak at the virtual event, as it signifies such an important date for so many people in her community, including herself.
“I am a first-generation Mexican-American whose parents were both born in Mexico,” Flores said. “As a second language learner and a first-born in the United States, I have a deep personal connection to my Mexican heritage and culture which makes me a proud Mexican-American,” said Flores.
Mexican Independence Day, although often confused in the United States with Cinco De Mayo, commemorates the beginning of the revolt against the Spanish regime on September 16, 1810. Miguel Hidalgo, the leader of the resistance, made the cry of independence (El Grito de la Independencia), also known as the Cry of Dolores (El Grito de Dolores), on this day to motivate Mexicans to take up arms against the Spanish colonizers.
Those who are interested in participating in the virtual Mexican Independence Day celebration can tune in by visiting the consulate’s social media pages at 7 p.m. on September 15. The pages are as follows:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConsulmexSantaAna
Instagram: @consulmexsantaana
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ppC8mB1XXI_2-lNx4vKng/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/consulmexstaana
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, and 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.
