FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Santiago Canyon College Basic Needs Center Celebrates Grand Opening
ORANGE, Calif. (August 17, 2023) - The permanent location for a basic needs center offering a market and closet offering paraprofessional clothing was unveiled today on the campus of Santiago Canyon College (SCC).
The new location of the Hawk's Nest Basic Needs Center, located in A-107, centralizes the food market and the paraprofessional closet into a renovated suite of connected offices downstairs in the campus' administration building. The basic needs center was previously located in several locations, most recently in portables on the northern edge of campus.
The food market supports all credit and noncredit SCC students by providing free and nutritious food for students and their families. The Basic Needs Center aligns with SCC's core values of supporting students holistically with the intention they can complete their desired goals to attain a living wage career and/or transfer to a four-year university. The food market provides non-perishable groceries, fresh eggs, and fresh produce when available.
The paraprofessional closet offers new and/or gently used paraprofessional clothing for SCC students to wear for interviews, jobs and internship opportunities. Students can select shirts, blouses, pants, trousers, blazers, dresses, skirts, shoes, neckties and/or purses.
“The renovation has taken the better part of the past year and we're so very grateful for the work and support that went into creating this space," said Interim Dean of Enrollment and Support Services Joseph Alonzo. “This new, permanent location gives us the space to expand and improve our services."
“We're excited to share this space with our SCC community and we're grateful to be able to support students' academic potential, as well as their personal and professional growth by doing a little to alleviate some of their basic needs," said SCC President Jeannie G. Kim, Ph.D. “We're proud of the work that has been done to create and expand this space, but we're prouder to be able to assist more students and their families."
To learn more about the Santiago Canyon College Hawk's Nest Basic Needs Center, please visit www.sccollege.edu/students/studentservices/basicneedscenter. To learn more about SCC, visit sccollege.edu. Questions about this press release can be directed to Eugene W. Fields, public information officer at fields_eugene@sccollege.edu.
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About Santiago Canyon College
Santiago Canyon College (SCC) is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is one of two colleges in the Rancho Santiago Community College District, serving approximately 17,000 students annually. Accredited in 2000, this dynamic and award-winning institution is located in the city of Orange and provides an array of educational opportunities to more than 195,000 residents comprising the community. SCC offers 221 degree and certificate programs (including 28 associate degrees for transfer). SCC has been ranked among the “50 Best Community Colleges" in the U.S. by College Choice, recognized multiple times by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of “The Great Colleges to Work For," received Gold-level status as a Military Friendly School®, and boasts award-winning, dedicated faculty, high-quality and student-centered education, and has an excellent university transfer rate supported by transfer-guarantee programs.
