Santa Ana College Foundation annual report wins Gold Medallion Award

Santa Ana College Foundation’s 2025 Annual Report won Gold in the Annual Report category at the 2026 NCMPR District 6 Medallion Awards, announced in Scottsdale, Arizona. The recognition underscores the Foundation’s effort to show how philanthropy supports student success at Santa Ana College.

Why it matters: - The Gold Medallion is the highest award level in the NCMPR District 6 competition. - The honor recognizes the Santa Ana College Foundation’s work to show the impact of philanthropy on student success. - The annual report highlights how scholarships, academic programs and donor support help students overcome financial barriers.

What happened: - The Santa Ana College Foundation’s 2025 Annual Report won Gold in the Annual Report category at the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations 2026 District 6 Medallion Awards. - NCMPR announced the award during its District 6 Conference held Oct. 26–28 in Scottsdale, Arizona. - Christina Romero, executive director of the Office of College Advancement and the Santa Ana College Foundation, called the recognition a profound honor. - David Valentin, president of the Santa Ana College Foundation Board of Directors, said the report reflects the excellence of students, alumni and donors.

The details: - NCMPR’s Medallion Awards recognize marketing, communications and public relations achievement at community and technical colleges across seven districts. - District 6 includes Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah, plus Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. - Entries are judged by industry experts and NCMPR peers with experience in marketing, public relations, communications and advancement. - Gold, silver and bronze awards are given based on established scoring standards. - The 2025 Annual Report centers on stories from students, scholars, alumni and donors. - The report also shows how the Foundation works with alumni, donors, businesses and community partners to support Santa Ana College’s mission of accessible, high-quality education. - Former United Nations Ambassador and Santa Ana College alumnus Gaddi Vasquez is featured in the report. - Vasquez said alumni staying connected helps bridge the past with the promise of the future. - The report was produced by Christina R. Romero and Kristin Ellsworth, written by Shaleek Blackburn, and designed and photographed by Yuhong Cao. - The Santa Ana College Foundation says the annual report is available to view.

Between the lines: - The award gives the Foundation outside validation for a communications piece that doubles as donor stewardship and institutional storytelling. - The emphasis on students, alumni and donors signals a fundraising message built around outcomes, not just contributions. - The recognition may help the Foundation reinforce trust with supporters as it continues seeking philanthropic backing.

What's next: - The Santa Ana College Foundation will likely continue using the annual report as a key tool to showcase impact and encourage engagement from donors and alumni. - The Foundation is also likely to keep centering student success stories in future communications and fundraising efforts.

The bottom line: - The Gold Medallion Award confirms that Santa Ana College Foundation’s annual report stands out as both a communications product and a philanthropy showcase.