IVC News

She’s the first, but she doesn’t expect to be the last.

As a first-generation college student, and non-native English speaker, Lizette Perez Flores is redefining her family’s legacy – and her own future – with her Irvine Valley College education.

IVC Professor Emily Liu has been named a Teacher of the Year finalist by the Orange County Office of Education (OCDE). The announcement was made on May 9 with a surprise visit to Professor Liu’s classroom by OCDE Superintendent Al Mijares, South Orange County Community College Chancellor Kathleen Burke, IVC President John Hernandez, Dean of Liberal Arts Brooke Bui, colleagues of Liu, and representatives from SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, which sponsors the annual award.

IVC student Brittany Kester has been named a recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. As a recipient of the award, she will receive up to $55,000 annually for up to three years to complete her bachelor's degree at the college or university of her choice.

IVC student Anna Nahm is one of 15 Phi Theta Kappa members selected as a 2022 Guistwhite Scholar and will receive a $5,000 scholarship for baccalaureate studies.

IVC dual enrollment student Rodrigo Marconell created a Snapchat Augmented Reality (AR) lens for the NexusEdge Snapchat Lens Studio program, which has received over 500,000 views. In less than a week's time, Marconell's "Killer Klown" has been shared more than 8,250 times on the social media platform.