Alumni Stories
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Emmanuel Cervantes
Banquet Chef de Cuisine /
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & SpaOCC’s culinary program not only gives students the basic skills they need to get their foot in the door at a restaurant, they also offer advanced courses that prepare students for a wide range of opportunities in the industry.
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Without OCC’s photo department I wouldn’t be where I am today, that’s a fact. The program is so dialed, from the teachers, digital lab, equipment, studios, dark room. Every teacher had something different to offer, from proper studio lighting to abstract thinking and techniques. Without the proper education I wouldn’t have the experience and knowledge to do the job I have today. For that I am forever thankful to OCC.
Steve Morisette
Staff Photographer / Rip Curl
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Shana Jenkins
Business Owner / Newport Beach
After graduation I transferred to UCLA, where I earned a bachelors degree in political science and public affairs. I’ve been involved in [OCC’s] Alumni and Friends since 2008. I love the work that the Foundation does and being a part of that is a really big deal for me.
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I know it’s important for students in the culinary program to get experience, because that’s what restaurants are looking for [when hiring]. Anything I can do to help, I’m happy to do it.
Jake McPeck
Owner / Mess Hall Canteen Food Truck / Winner, Food Network Food Truck Face Off
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Heidi Mariner
Student, Maine Maritime Academy
Before I took Introduction to Sailing at OCC, I had never been on a boat. Once I took that first course, I completely fell in love with it. It wasn’t until I was about three classes in that I realized this is what I want to do with my life.
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Jamaal Lee
Senior, Vanguard University Forward, VU Men’s Basketball
I'm forever grateful to Orange Coast College for giving me a chance to better my life.
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Jenna Davis
Founder / Owner Raw Love Sunscreen
I attended OCC’s Professional Mariner program to obtain my Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping, and I found that the program not only offered that certification but also so much more that ended up being really helpful in my career.
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Gabriel Caliendo
Vice President, Research & Development / Lazy Dog Restaurant
Orange Coast College was a great fit for me. The program is affordable and offers an accredited degree in culinary arts. It really helped to prepare me for my dream restaurant position!
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Ethan Biegel
Student Cal Maritime Academy
I think OCC’s Professional Mariner program is a complete gem – there’s no other program like it. When I first started taking classes at the OCC Sailing Center, it blew me away that there was something like that available to students who were interested in pursuing careers in the maritime industry at the community college level.
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Julia Clevenger
OCC Director of College and Community Services
After 30 years at Coast, I have many images in my mind of quiet special moments, momentous occasions, powerful life changing experiences, and friends - lots of friends. But my very first memory of Coast is from my first day as a first year, college student. I was walking through the quad amazed at the space around me when I heard someone call my name. Who would know me here?! ... Read More
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Katie Olivier
OCC Admissions & Records Staff
My parents have worked at OCC my whole life so I grew up on this campus. It is like a second home to me. It was a wonderful place to go to school and it is a fantastic place to work.
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Quoc Pham
Aviation Maintenance Technician
Hands down, some of the best instructors at OCC are Rodney Foster and John Carter. In the Aviation Maintenance Training Program, having instructors that can relate classroom education to real world experiences has been instrumental to my career as an Aviation Maintenance Technician.
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Clark Cook
United Airlines Technician
If it weren't for the Airframe and Powerplant Program at OCC, I wouldn't be where I am today. I looked into many A&P schools and OCC was the best choice. It easily fit into my budget and the campus was very close to where I lived. Today, I have a great career with United Airlines. I have been with the company for over 23 years and I really love what I am doing for a living. Because of my education at OCC, I am living the dream!
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Sean Wellengard
OCC Foundation Staff
I have gained a lot from OCC. I also stayed longer than most at OCC. It was a home that I didn't want to leave and still don't as I have now reached my goal of being employed full time at OCC. I met my wife at OCC, I performed in numerous productions and was written up as Man of the Year in Theatre in the Daily Pilot at OCC, I was part of the Speech Team that won State and National Championships ... Read More
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Kevin Ballinger
OCC Vice President of Instruction
In 1978 I made an unintended impression on one of my professors at OCC - the comment I made to her when I was only 20 years old would later change my life. After final exams the students were lingering in her classroom - it was the last class in my two-year Allied Health program, and Professor Edith McTiernan was asking students where they were applying for jobs. Students were giving their answers, and when it was my turn ... Read More
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Fran Albers
Retired OCC Maintenance & Operations Director
I grew up at OCC — my Dad was Fran Albers, Maintenance and Operations director for 32+ years. My favorite memory is one of living in the “country” — back then it was the land of the soon-to-be Junior College — and then watching the College grow ... Read More
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Bob Poortman
Lead Aircraft Maintenance Technician
After 30 years at Coast, I have many images in my mind of quiet special moments, momentous occasions, powerful life changing experiences, and friends - lots of friends. But my very first memory of Coast is from my first day ... Read More
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Daniel Falk
Aircraft Technician
My favorite memory [of Orange Coast College] is my Sheet Metal and Composites class with Rodney Foster in the Aircraft Maintenance Technician program. It was the most challenging class I’ve ever taken. It pushed me to my limits, and helped me develop my technical skills ... Read More
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Walter Villaume
Avionics Technician
The aviation maintenance program was amazing! The staff Mr. Foster, Mr. Zombeck, and Mr. Carter made the experience very challenging but enjoyable and a true feeling of accomplishment when I completed the program. I now am employed at a company that specializes in law enforcement aviation and specialized tactical mission equipment. I would not be where I am without the foundation provided by the OCC AMT staff! Thank you guys!
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Emmanuel Cervantes
Banquet Chef de Cuisine / Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa
OCC’s culinary program not only gives students the basic skills they need to get their foot in the door at a restaurant, they also offer advanced courses that prepare students for a wide range of opportunities in the industry.
-
Without OCC’s photo department I wouldn’t be where I am today, that’s a fact. The program is so dialed, from the teachers, digital lab, equipment, studios, dark room. Every teacher had something different to offer, from proper studio lighting to abstract thinking and techniques. Without the proper education I wouldn’t have the experience and knowledge to do the job I have today. For that I am forever thankful to OCC.
Steve Morisette
Staff Photographer / Rip Curl
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Shana Jenkins
Business Owner / Newport Beach
After graduation I transferred to UCLA, where I earned a bachelors degree in political science and public affairs. I’ve been involved in [OCC’s] Alumni and Friends since 2008. I love the work that the Foundation does and being a part of that is a really big deal for me.
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I know it’s important for students in the culinary program to get experience, because that’s what restaurants are looking for [when hiring]. Anything I can do to help, I’m happy to do it.
Jake McPeck
Owner / Mess Hall Canteen Food Truck / Winner, Food Network Food Truck Face Off
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Heidi Mariner
Student, Maine Maritime Academy
Before I took Sailing 101 at OCC, I had never been on a boat. Once I took that first course, I completely fell in love with it. It wasn’t until I was about three classes in that I realized this is what I want to do with my life.
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Jamaal Lee
Senior, Vanguard University Forward, VU Men’s Basketball
I'm forever grateful to Orange Coast College for giving me a chance to better my life.
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Jenna Davis
Founder / Owner Raw Love Sunscreen
I attended OCC’s Professional Mariner program to obtain my Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping, and I found that the program not only offered that certification but also so much more that ended up being really helpful in my career.
-
Gabriel Caliendo
Vice President, Research & Development / Lazy Dog Restaurant
Orange Coast College was a great fit for me. The program is affordable and offers an accredited degree in culinary arts. It really helped to prepare me for my dream restaurant position!
-
Ethan Biegel
Student Cal Maritime Academy
I think OCC’s Professional Mariner program is a complete gem – there’s no other program like it. When I first started taking classes at the OCC Sailing Center, it blew me away that there was something like that available to students who were interested in pursuing careers in the maritime industry at the community college level.
-
Julia Clevenger
OCC Director of College and Community Services
After 30 years at Coast, I have many images in my mind of quiet special moments, momentous occasions, powerful life changing experiences, and friends - lots of friends. But my very first memory of Coast is from my first day as a first year, college student. I was walking through the quad amazed at the space around me when I heard someone call my name. Who would know me here?! I turned around to find a kid from my high school walking towards me. This wasn’t just any kid. This was one of “The Kids”. How did he even know my name? I was a wall flower in high school, an overweight, short, painfully shy, non-partying wall flower. And here was this confident, tall, blonde athlete coming towards me looking just as nervous as I felt. I smiled and said “Hi” back. After a little small talk about classes we were taking and buildings we couldn’t find, we parted. It was a tiny moment – but it was the first one where I realized what OCC had been and would be to so many: A new beginning, an equalizer, a chance to recreate yourself, a chance to grow.
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Katie Olivier
OCC Admissions & Records Staff
My parents have worked at OCC my whole life so I grew up on this campus. It is like a second home to me. It was a wonderful place to go to school and it is a fantastic place to work.
-
Quoc Pham
Aviation Maintenance Technician
Hands down, some of the best instructors at OCC are Rodney Foster and John Carter. In the Aviation Maintenance Training Program, having instructors that can relate classroom education to real world experiences has been instrumental to my career as an Aviation Maintenance Technician.
-
Clark Cook
United Airlines Technician
If it weren't for the Airframe and Powerplant Program at OCC, I wouldn't be where I am today. I looked into many A&P schools and OCC was the best choice. It easily fit into my budget and the campus was very close to where I lived. Today, I have a great career with United Airlines. I have been with the company for over 23 years and I really love what I am doing for a living. Because of my education at OCC, I am living the dream!
-
Sean Wellengard
OCC Foundation Staff
I have gained a lot from OCC. I also stayed longer than most at OCC. It was a home that I didn't want to leave and still don't as I have now reached my goal of being employed full time at OCC. I met my wife at OCC, I performed in numerous productions and was written up as Man of the Year in Theatre in the Daily Pilot at OCC, I was part of the Speech Team that won State and National Championships (not uncommon now) at OCC, and I have established a 24HR Theatre Festival that performs annually at OCC. One of my fondest memories of OCC (aside from the first production that I wrote and directed that my wife performed in) was when I started the 24HR Festival at OCC. The students at OCC are not only immensely accommodating, but strive to overcome any obstacles. As though the challenge of writing, rehearsing, and performing plays within 24 hours wasn't strenuous enough, the first performance had a student who was legally blind, one who was deaf, and a student (still very much a part of the department) who has severe autism. The first festival was a huge success and I was very proud of all the students involved. As I tell the 24HR Festival participants every year and as they have made apparent to me every year, is that they can do anything. OCC gave me and so many students the ability to do just that.
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Kevin Ballinger
OCC Vice President of Instruction
In 1978 I made an unintended impression on one of my professors at OCC - the comment I made to her when I was only 20 years old would later change my life. After final exams the students were lingering in her classroom - it was the last class in my two-year Allied Health program, and Professor Edith McTiernan was asking students where they were applying for jobs. Students were giving their answers, and when it was my turn I made a cocky comment that I wanted her job some day. Fast forward five years - Professor McTiernan was following my career and called me at the hospital I was working at to ask if I wanted to teach a class part time. I said sure and asked her why she thought of me... she replied “You said you wanted my job some day - well you should start by teaching part time first.” I was stunned she remembered the comment and I told her I was only joking ... she said in all her years no one had ever said that! She then said “Well do you want the class or not?” After being successful with a couple of classes, Professor McTiernan told me to go back to school and get my Bachelor’s degree... That it wouldn’t be too long before she would retire and “you would not want to miss that opportunity.”
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Fran Albers
Retired OCC Maintenance & Operations Director
I grew up at OCC — my Dad was Fran Albers, Maintenance and Operations director for 32+ years. My favorite memory is one of living in the “country” — back then it was the land of the soon-to-be Junior College — and then watching the College grow ... Our family was fortunate to witness Dr. Peterson's dream come about. My dad helped turn the Santa Ana Army Air Base into a college campus and in time, he also helped start Golden West College. My dad also kept an eye on the cattle and the new agricultural department ... and my sister Janet was OCC’s Homecoming Queen when she was 5 years old. Another favorite memory is riding in an old Army truck around campus and what is now the OC Fairgrounds, on "fire watch" ... our home moved from near the Tech building to the current location of the Coast Community College District offices (at last check, a tree is still standing where we planted it!) There are so many, many memories.
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Bob Poortman
Lead Aircraft Maintenance Technician
I went through the aircraft maintenance program at OCC. My instructors were Bob Clifton, George Bingo and Cuck. I spent a lot of time at the College; Monday thru Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Saturday for the helicopter class during one semester. I did the summer session as well, and I met some good people. It all paid off as I was hired on with Rockwell right after graduation in 1985. In 1987 I was hired on with United Airlines in Los Angeles International Airport — 31 years later I am still at LAX and I am a lead Aviation Maintenance Technician. Thanks OCC for a great program. And I hope that you continue it. There will be a shortage of AMTs in the future and your great program could help fill that void.
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Daniel Falk
Aircraft Technician
My favorite memory [of Orange Coast College] is my Sheet Metal and Composites class with Rodney Foster in the Aircraft Maintenance Technician program. It was the most challenging class I’ve ever taken. It pushed me to my limits, and helped me develop my technical skills. As a whole, the Aircraft Maintenance Technician program fully prepared me for my current career. Since graduating, I passed all my certification tests, and acquired a position as a mechanic in the Aerospace Industry. If it weren’t for the professors at Orange Coast College like Rodney Foster, Ron Franz, John Carter, and Mark Zombek, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
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Walter Villaume
Avionics Technician
The aviation maintenance program was amazing! The staff Mr. Foster, Mr. Zombeck, and Mr. Carter made the experience very challenging but enjoyable and a true feeling of accomplishment when I completed the program. I now am employed at a company that specializes in law enforcement aviation and specialized tactical mission equipment. I would not be where I am without the foundation provided by the OCC AMT staff! Thank you guys!