​(Orange)— Santiago Canyon College (SCC) will hold its fourteenth annual commencement exercise on Thursday, May 23, at 4:30 p.m. on campus at Strenger Plaza. A total of 1,314 students are eligible to graduate, which represents a 59 percent increase over 2012.
The graduates range from 20 to 66 years of age. Ten families have more than one family member who will graduate; five families will observe the graduation of twins; and one father and daughter will graduate together. In addition, 12 military veterans are eligible to take part in commencement.

The Class of 2013 valedictorian is Jason Rogers, a 22-year-old Yorba Linda resident. He graduates with a 4.0 grade point average, a degree in liberal arts with an emphasis in social and behavioral sciences. Rogers has balanced his studies with working at Conex Roofing and KDBM International where he was an integral part in daily operations. He is planning on continuing his studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he will major in psychology. He has accepted an invitation to join the UCLA chapter of Tau Sigma National Honor Society.

The Class of 2013 salutatorian, the second highest ranking student in the graduation class, is Minh Pham Nguyen, a 20-year-old Orange resident. He graduates with a 4.0 grade point average and a degree in liberal arts with an emphasis in mathematics and sciences. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) Club, and Mathematics Club. In addition, he served as the Associated Student Government’s representative on SCC’s Student Learning Outcomes and Assessment Review Committee. Nguyen plans on transferring to major in biomedical engineering and minor in mathematics with the eventual goal of becoming a doctor.

“I applaud the class of 2013,” said Santiago Canyon College President Juan Vázquez. “These students set a course to achieve academic goals that may have appeared daunting, but their dedication and hard work have paid off. On behalf of college faculty, staff, and administrators, I wish all the graduates continued success in pursuit of their dreams.”

This year’s commencement speaker (determined by student vote) is Nooshan Shekarabi, associate professor of political science. Shekarabi joined SCC in 1999 as an adjunct instructor and was hired as a full-time professor in 2005. Currently, she serves as her department’s chair and as the co-chair of the Faculty Development Committee. She is also a member of the Honors Program Committee and a senator in the Academic Senate. Along with Narges Rabii, associate professor of history, she co-authored a paper on Chinese imperialism and economics for the Oxford University Public Policy Forum. She also co-authored an American government textbook, Understanding American Government, and wrote two volumes of poetry, Seasons. She is also a regular contributor to Payameh Ashena magazine, a Farsi-language journal on current political affairs pertaining to Iranian politics.

More than 1,200 people are expected to attend the commencement ceremony on May 23, including graduates, friends, and families. A photo area for graduates will be available in the A/B Quad following the ceremony.

About Santiago Canyon College
Santiago Canyon College is a public community college of Rancho Santiago Community College District, serving the residents of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Tustin and Villa Park. The college provides education for academic transfer and careers, courses for personal and professional development, and customized training for business and industry.