Orange Coast College Alumna Sylvia Mendez Receives Alumni Equity Champion Award

Sylvia Mendez played an instrumental role in the groundbreaking Mendez et al. v. Westminster case. This triumph against racial segregation in California schools was a pivotal moment in the fight for civil rights. Mendez v. Westminster successfully ended de jure segregation in California, setting a precedent for the nation. The case was named after Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez, Sylvia Mendez’s parents, who were at the forefront of the battle for equal education.

The success of the Mendez v. Westminster case made California the first state in the nation to end segregation in schools, setting the stage for the historic Brown v. Board of Education ruling, which found that racial segregation in schools is unconstitutional. 

Today, Mendez still travels to discuss her story and civil rights. She continues her parents’ legacy by fighting for quality education and encouraging students to stay in school. After over thirty years in the field, she retired as a nurse.

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.

In 2001, the first Mendez School was dedicated in Santa Ana, Calif. In 2004, President Bush told the Mendez Story during the Hispanic Heritage Celebration; in 2010, President Obama mentioned Sylvia during the Women's History Month speech. 

In 2011, Sylvia was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Obama. Sylvia has also received several Lifetime Achievement awards and Certificates of Recognition for her efforts to advocate for education.

Mendez was inducted into the Orange Coast College’s Alumni Hall of Fame in 2024.