Jeno Jorgensen, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, made history as the first military veteran student to be named valedictorian at Santiago Canyon College (SCC) in Orange.
He achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA while earning two associate degrees—in psychology and child development.
- Jorgensen served 12 years in the Marines, deploying to 23 countries including three combat zones. - After losing fellow veterans to suicide, he decided to pursue psychology to improve veteran care.
- He plans to attend Cal State Fullerton in the fall and eventually open therapy centers for veterans. - Jorgensen credits SCC's veterans support programs for helping him rebuild and move forward.
His valedictorian speech highlighted perseverance, the need to belong, and the importance of community colleges for veterans starting over.