MISSION VIEJO : College District Celebrates 25th Year

Dozens of state, county and city representatives gathered inside Saddleback College’s McKinney Theatre on Wednesday afternoon for a special celebration marking the college district’s 25th anniversary.

The program, which consisted of speeches, musical performances and the presentation of several official proclamations, was attended by about 100 guests.

Among those present was Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez, a graduate of Santa Ana College (now Rancho Santiago College). “I stand as a personal witness to the benefits of a community college education and know the importance that community colleges play,” Vasquez said.

The college district, which consists of Saddleback and Irvine Valley colleges, became the fourth community college district in Orange County and the 67th such district in the state on Feb. 14, 1967.

It has grown from a single-campus district with offices in a model home to a two-campus district serving 586,889 residents in 10 South County cities.

“We realized that the goals and policies that we developed in the beginning would impact Saddleback well into the future,” said Hans Vogel, the first board president. He told the crowd about early board meetings that “took place six to eight times a month and lasted until 4 a.m.”

“The college’s future looks bright,” Vogel said. “With the support of dedicated faculty, administrators and staff, the Saddleback Community College District is bound to achieve an even greater level of excellence.”

Before the start of the two-hour event, about a dozen students demonstrated quietly outside the theater.

Holding up protest signs underneath their umbrellas, the students criticized district officials for spending about $12,000 on the event at a time when summer school classes were being reduced by 50%.

“We want the money to go for the students’ benefit,” said student Blake Eubanks, 20. “How many library books could have been bought with this money? They’ve made across-the-board cuts and students can’t get classes, but the faculty is living it up at a birthday party.”

The elimination of one of two regularly scheduled summer sessions at Saddleback College will save the college about $568,000, college officials said.

College district spokeswoman Diane Riopka said $9,000 of the money spent for the celebration was paid for by private donations.