Orange Coast College alumna Sylvia Mendez has been awarded the 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). This prestigious national award represents the highest recognition for community college alumni and Mendez is one of only three people nationwide chosen to receive the honor this year.
"We celebrate Sylvia Mendez, a remarkable champion for civil rights and education, whose legacy continues to inspire us all," says OCC President Suarez. "Her unwavering commitment to justice and quality education embodies the values we hold dear at Orange Coast College."
Mendez was a key figure in the landmark Mendez et al. v. Westminster case, which challenged racial segregation in California schools and marked a significant milestone in the civil rights movement. Her incredible legacy continues to impact education, as her story is now included in California’s public school curriculum through Assembly Bill 1805, ensuring that future generations learn about the ongoing fight for justice in their communities.
Today, Mendez continues to share her story and discuss civil rights. She continues the legacy left by her parents by fighting for quality education and encouraging students to stay in school. She retired as a nurse after working more than thirty years in the field.
Among her many accolades, Mendez received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, awarded by President Barack Obama in 2011. Last year, Mendez was inducted into both the Orange Coast College Alumni Hall of Fame and the Orange County Hall of Fame. Furthermore, OCC unveiled a plaque in her honor within the Consumer and Health Sciences Division, the very academic field where she began her journey.
Mendez earned an associate degree in nursing from Orange Coast College in 1964 and a bachelor of science degree in nursing from California State University, Los Angeles.
The Outstanding Alumni Awards, a tradition since 1982, honors individuals who attended community college and are making outstanding contributions in their chosen fields of endeavor at national or international levels. OCC President Suarez accepted the award on Sylvia’s behalf at the AACC Annual Convention in Nashville on Wednesday, April 16.