This Morning, PCC Dedicates and Renames Landmark Building “C” to Former Superintendent / President Jack Scott

Thirty years before Dr. Jack Scott became Pasadena City College’s Superintendent / President in 1987, the school chose a Lancer, a Roman soldier with a long spear, to symbolize the college.

PCC said it chose the Lancer because as a mascot because it represents strength and courage, commitment to excellence, and fosters a sense of pride and unity.

As it turns out, the mascot could be said to symbolize Dr. Scott’s tenure and career.

Today at 11:00, students, faculty and administration and the local community will tell Dr. Scott that he too represents those qualities and more when Pasadena City College rededicates its iconic “C” building in honor of the the former PCC president, community college chancellor, and state legislator.

The ceremony will formally recognize the building’s rededication in Dr. Scott’s name, following a unanimous vote by the PCC Board of Trustees in December 2021.

“Through his nearly 40 years of service, Jack Scott has had a profound impact on residents of our district and the people of California,” said Board of Trustees President Kristine Kwong. “His commitment to this community is evident by his long list of accomplishments and service to the people of the San Gabriel Valley, California, and beyond.”

Dr. Scott, a native of Sweetwater, Texas, began his service as a college educator at Cypress College in Orange County. He assumed the presidency of PCC in 1987 and served until 1995, laying the groundwork for a $150 million bond program that revitalized the college’s facilities and infrastructure.

In 1996, he was elected to his first of two terms in the California State Assembly, and in 2000, he began eight years of service in the California Senate. As a legislator, he was a champion for education and public safety and a strong advocate for sensible gun control.

In 2008, he was selected to be the 14th chancellor of the California Community Colleges system, serving in the role until 2012.

The ceremony will feature remarks from leaders of the college and the PCC Foundation, including Dr. José A. Gómez, PCC’s interim superintendent/president. 

“Jack Scott is nothing short of a legend,” Gómez said. “His track record is remarkable, and his engagement with PCC continues to inspire our students, faculty, and staff.”