COSTA MESA, CA - The Coast Community College District is celebrating two transformative investments from the Samueli Foundation that will expand opportunities for students and strengthen Orange County’s workforce pipeline.
Golden West College (GWC) has been awarded $3.5 million over three years to expand its highly regarded School of Nursing. The funding will support new faculty positions, enhanced clinical training technology, and expanded partnerships with local high schools. With this investment, GWC will gradually increase enrollment capacity to 150 nursing students each semester, helping address the regional shortage of qualified health care workers while providing students with hands-on training in the College’s state-of-the-art Nursing Simulation Lab.
"Nursing is one of our flagship programs at Golden West College and has helped thousands of students enter a fulfilling career that sustains their families," said Golden West College President Meridith Randall. "This generous investment from the Samueli Foundation allows us to expand opportunities for even more students to pursue nursing and serve our local hospitals and healthcare partners at a time when they are deeply needed."
Orange Coast College (OCC) has been awarded nearly $6 million to bolster workforce development programs and strengthen STEM transfer pathways. The investment will expand OCC’s Allied Health Academy, launch new trade and maritime academies, and establish a STEM Accelerator program. These initiatives will prepare students for high-demand careers and increase successful transfers to four-year universities.
"The Samueli Foundation’s monumental investment in community colleges recognizes the vital role we play in uplifting communities and expanding opportunity through education," says Angelica L. Suarez, President of Orange Coast College. "This grant will enable Orange Coast College to strengthen a seamless STEM pipeline from high school to university, opening doors for future innovators. We are also proud to serve as a key partner in a four-institution regional partnership that amplifies our collective impact and builds stronger pathways for students to transfer and thrive in STEM fields. Together, we are advancing student success and the prosperity of our broader community."
Together, the investments reflect the Samueli Foundation’s commitment to achieving lasting, equitable community well-being across Orange County.
"These institutions are gateways to opportunity for diverse, often underserved students," said Lindsey Spindle, president, Samueli Family Philanthropies. "By investing in colleges' capacity and expanding student supports, we help strengthen pathways to high-demand, living-wage careers. We envision an Orange County where opportunity is more evenly distributed, allowing for even more young professionals to set roots and prosper here."
Please find Golden West College and Golden West College full press releases for additional information.
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