On Tuesday, May 26, Santa Ana College (SAC) student Esmeralda Marquez (center) was honored with the Rancho Santiago Community College Board of Trustees President’s Scholar Award. Here Trustee Mark McLoughlin presents Esmeralda with a certificate of recognition and a gift card to the campus bookstore. Esmeralda is accompanied by her mother.

Esmeralda began her SAC experience after discovering all of the resources, programs and services the college had to offer through the Individualized Track to Transfer Program during the summer. Soon she became active in Extended Opportunity Program & Services (EOPS), U-Link, the Honors Program, and Alpha Gamma Sigma, the California Community College Scholastic Honor Society. Esmeralda also participated in the Summer Scholars Transfer Institute and Service Learning. She recently applied to the SAC Summer Research Scholars Program.

Esmeralda, who works part-time, is dedicated to achieving academic success and serving her community. She is grateful for the support she has received from her family and the resources available at SAC.

The Bolsa Grande High School graduate will receive her AA degree this spring and transfer to UCLA, where she plans to major in Chicano Studies and sociology. Esmeralda's future goals include pursuing her master's and doctorate degrees and becoming a high school or community college counselor.

See past Board President's Scholar Award recipients.