Cerritos College
Cerritos College is a public community college in Norwalk, California. It offers degrees and certificates in 87 areas of study in nine divisions.
History
The college was founded in 1955. It was named after Rancho Los Cerritos, a local ranch in the 19th century. In turn the college was part of the inspiration for the renaming of the neighboring city of Dairy Valley to Cerritos. The district covers Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Norwalk, La Mirada, and Hawaiian Gardens.Originally, classrooms were rented in the now defunct Excelsior High School in September 1956. On July 24, 1957, the Cerritos Junior College District won the case against Dairy Valley to use the undeveloped land as an educational site. On September 1959, the college moved from Excelsior High School to the current site.
Organization and administration
The founder was Ralph Burnight of Redlands, a resident of Bellflower and superintendent of the Excelsior School District.The current college president is Dr. Jose Fierro.
Campus Modernization
On February 15, 2017, the school opened two new buildings: a new Math and Computer Information Sciences building, and a Fine Arts complex. Together, the new facilities cost over $55 million and were funded by Measure G bond dollars.Housing
On June 11, 2020, Cerritos became the first California junior college to have housing for students without a place to live or with uncertain housing.Notable alumni
- John Saul- horror author
- Grace Napolitano - U.S. Representative
- Bob Apodaca – Colorado Rockies pitching coach
- Marcelo Balboa – US National soccer team captain
- Rod Barajas – Los Angeles Dodgers catcher
- Bret Barberie – Major League Baseball player
- Mike Benjamin – Major League Baseball infielder
- Rich Camarillo – former New England Patriots player
- John Corbett – actor
- T. J. Houshmandzadeh – former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
- Kareem Larrimore – former Dallas Cowboys cornerback
- Jeff Tedford – Fresno State Bulldogs head coach
- Joe Gibbs – former Washington Redskins head coach
- Sally M. Havice - Assemblywoman
- Jim Zorn – former Seattle Seahawks quarterback and Washington Redskins head coach
- Mark Powell – drummer of The Get Set, Kosmos Express and The Kite-Eating Tree
- Ron Yary – former Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Ray Wersching – San Francisco 49ers player
- Herb Welch – former New York Giants player
- George Horton – University of Oregon baseball coach
- Tom Nieto – Major League Baseball catcher, coach
- Kirk Jellerson – college football coach
- Demetrin Veal – Tennessee Titans defensive tackle
- Brian Hunter – Major League Baseball outfielder, infielder
- Louie Medina – Major League Baseball
- Damacio Page state champion wrestler; current mixed martial artist, formerly for the WEC and the UFC
- Craig Worthington – Major League Baseball third baseman
- Houston McTear – world record sprinter
- Bobby McFerrin – musician
- Steve Seungjun Yoo – Korean-American singer
- Eric Draper – personal photographer for U.S. President George W. Bush
- Bobby Lane – American football player
- Emanuel Newton - professional mixed martial artist
- Fou Fonoti – American football player
- Han Ye-seul - South Korean actress
- Steve Mooshagian- American football player and college football coach, National Football League coach
- Elijhaa Penny – American football player
- Tupe Peko – National Football League player
- Bao Quach – wrestler; Professional MMA fighter
- Rodney Allen Rippy – actor
- Lorenzo Romar – former Washington Huskies head basketball coach
- Broderick Thompson – former National Football League player
- Tom Tolbert – former NBA player
- Dusty Wathan - third base coach for the Philadelphia Phillies
- John Force - NHRA Funny car driver
| Hispanic and Latino American | 74% |
| African American | 1% |
| Asian American | 8% |
| Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander | 1% |
| White European Americans | 1% |
| Multiracial Americans | 1% |
| International students | 1% |
| Unknown | 7% |
| Female | 55% |
| Male | 45% |