Newport Coast Resident Handed Keys to Santa Ana

A Newport Coast resident and a retired judge were honored this month for their commitment to serving the educational needs of high school students in Santa Ana.

Broadcom co-founder Henry T. Nicholas III and retired Orange County Superior Judge Jack K. Mandel, were given the keys to the city of Santa Ana for creating the Nicholas Academic Centers which provides after-school tutoring and mentoring to high school students in the Santa Ana Unified School District.

“It is a true honor for us to receive keys to the city of Santa Ana, but even more rewarding is the positive impact NACs have on the future of Santa Ana’s bright, deserving high school students and their families," Nicholas said in a released statement. “By aggressively redefining the way our nation’s academic system serves American students, we can provide opportunities to every student who strives to succeed.”

Santa Ana officials say the key to the city is one of the highest civic honors.

“It has been my privilege to watch students at the Nicholas Academic Centers thrive and excel academically,” Santa Ana Mayor Miguel A. Pulido. “The NACs are truly transformational, not only for Santa Ana’s school system, but also for its students, their families, and our entire community.”

The Nicholas Academic Centers were established in 2008 to provide after-school tutoring and mentoring for high school students in the Santa Ana. The NACs also provide academic assistance, social services, cultural enrichment programs, college connection opportunities, and scholarship opportunities.

“There are many students who lack the resources necessary to compete for and earn college educations in America,” Nicholas said. “That’s simply not right. It is my personal mission to provide every deserving student with the tools they need to be competitive and successful.”

Since inception, NAC officials say more than 230 students have gone on to college, with most attending top schools such as University of Notre Dame, Georgetown University, Smith College, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Irvine and Chapman University.

For more information, visit http://www.naccenters.org/ or call 714-834-0521.