Martin Ortiz (1919-2009), founder of the Whittier College (CA) Center of Mexican American Affairs, was an educator who inspired students by his words and deeds for generations. Ortiz was born in Wichita. His parents migrated to the United States and settled in Wichita soon after the end of the Mexican Revolution. Ortiz loved going to school, even though at the time he knew little English. He dropped out of school at age 13 after being ridiculed by one of his teachers. That experience taught him, “Don’t cry – qualify,” which became a slogan he would use with his students decades later.