BREAKING NEWS

FALL 2009

ChRISTmAS IN IRELAND

www.canyons.edu

REGISTER FOR SPRING!

Traditional Irish ensemble Danu to present holiday show Dec. 4.

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Registration begins Jan. 4; classes begin Feb. 8. Schedules available now at www.canyons.edu.

S A N TA C L A R I TA C O m m U N I T y C O L L E G E D I S T R I C T

C E L E b R AT I N G 4 0 y E A R S O F E x C E L L E N C E

University Center: A Dream Come True Ceremonial Ribbon Cut for Facility Offering Bachelor’s, Master’s & Doctoral Degrees

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he Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center is now open, offering residents educational opportunities one could only imagine a few short years ago – and promising nearly limitless opRELATED tions in the future.

• The University Center The new buildis the culmination of ing that commands many people’s efforts, the highest ground but it was one woman’s at College of the vision and persistence Canyons and now that ultimately made it bears the name of happen. Page 5 the college’s longtime chancellor and • Available degree president already programs. Page 5 offers a wide variety of upper-division degree, credential and certificate programs – and the opportunity to enroll in these programs without leaving the Santa Clarita Valley.

The massive, 110,000-square-foot

Tom Lee and Lou Garasi (right), cochairs of the University Center capital campaign, address local dignitaries, college officials and others (far right) during a ribboncutting ceremony for the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center (above) on Oct. 17.

See UNIVERSITY CENTER on Page 5

FOCUS ON RETRAINING, RECOvERy College Bolsters Economic Recovery, Retraining Efforts

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s businesses and community members throughout the community, region and state continue to be impacted by the economic climate, College of the Canyons has increased its efforts to assist in the movement toward statewide economic recovery.

“Economic development is a fundamental mission of the California Community College system, and it’s one we take seriously at College of the Canyons,” Chancellor Dr. Dianne Van Hook said. “Virtually every office and department on campus operates with an eye toward economic recovery and a mission to use the college’s vast resources and reputation for educational excellence to help bring about prolonged economic growth throughout the state.”

Always on the cutting edge of developing curriculum to address the needs and trends associated with emerging and high-demand areas of employment, the college is developing a series of innova-

RELATED • College helps students and community members get training, explore careers, find jobs. Page 6 • New program nurtures young entrepreneurs. Page 6

tive academic programs with an emphasis on using “green” technology.

Expected to open in late 2010, the Applied Technology Education Center (ATEC) at the Canyon Country campus will provide the facility space needed to begin introducing such programs.

Programs under development that could eventually move into the new center include: construction management technology with an emphasis on “green” construction; plumbing technology; electrical and electronics technology; and alternative energy management, including solar panel installation and maintenance training and wind energy systems.

See RECOVERY on Page 2

Hey, Man, We’re 40!

Isn’t That groovy?

Students participate in the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour, which made a stop at College of the Canyons on Oct. 27. The event drew nearly 300 participants and was hosted by the Small Business Development Center, which offers young people age 14 to 27 the benefits of its Young Entrepreneurs Program. The program provides young people with opportunities to explore their budding business aspirations. SEE PagE 6

College of the Canyons 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91355

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or many residents of the Santa Clarita Valley, College of the Canyons is so visible, so important and such a vibrant part of the community that it is hard to imagine a time when it didn’t exist. But prior to 1969, that was indeed the case.

Local voters actually approved creation of the college in 1967. The college officially opened in temporary quarters at William S. Hart High School in Newhall on Sept. 22, 1969.

If we flash back to that time, we can easily see that 1969 was a year of profound change – both in the Santa Clarita Valley and throughout the country. It is arguable that the events that occurred that year make it one of the most memorable of the 20th Century. For those who either have forgotten those events or were born after that momentous year, here are some examples: • Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first See 40TH ANNIVERSARY on Page 3

Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID Santa Clarita CA 91355 Permit 56

ECRWSS

Postal Customer

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I-CuE: a Key Ingredient to Culinary Success C

Culinary arts instructors Daniel Otto and Cindy Schwanke demonstrate cake decorating at the college’s new Institute for Culinary Education at Valencia Town Center.

ollege of the Canyons has opened its new Institute for Culinary Education (I-CuE) at the Westfield Valencia Town Center, providing an ideal location and professional quality kitchen and dining facility for the college to train its culinary arts students.

“I haven’t stopped smiling for the last two months,” said Cindy Schwanke, culinary arts instructor. “In the culinary world, you’re only as good as your ingredients, and with the opening of this facility the college’s culinary arts department finally has its key ingredient.”

The College of the Canyons I-CuE – located at 23400 Town Center Drive in Valencia Town Center – can now accommodate a greater number of students by offering classes throughout the day and on weekends, while putting the college in a better position to offer a wider range of culinary classes.

In addition, a new class format adopted by the culinary arts department offers short-term sequential courses that will allow students to complete a more classes each semester and reach their educational goals faster.

“Someone once asked Wolfgang Puck, ‘What

is the best part of your work?’ ” College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne Van Hook recalled during ribbon-cutting ceremonies at the new facility in August. “He answered, ‘The opportunity to work in the kitchen every single day.’

“Cutting this ribbon symbolizes the opening of a physical door that provides new opportunity,” Dr. Van Hook said. “With the opening of the College of the Canyons I-CuE, hopefully we have created a chance for the next Wolfgang Puck to work in the kitchen every day, hone his or her skills, and become the next great chef.”

For community members interested in broadening their kitchen skills in the college’s new kitchen, a selection of specialty courses will be offered during the spring 2010 semester. Potential topics including “Healthy Cooking for Two,” “Southwest Cooking,” “Quick Breads and Rolls” and “Barbecue Grilling.”

“Such courses will provide a chance for the community to get involved with the culinary arts department and explore all that this wonderful facility has to offer,” said Schwanke. “That’s part of what makes it such a special place.”

NEWS IN BRIEF Western Filter Creates Endowment The COC Foundation has received a donation of more than $13,000 from Western Filter, a division of Donaldson Co., which, when combined with matching funds from the Foundation for California Community Colleges (FCCC), will establish a permanent scholarship endowment for students pursuing careers in manufacturing technology. The donation is the college’s first gift to receive a 50 percent donation match from the FCCC Endowment, which was established in 2008 with a $50 million commitment from The Bernard Osher Foundation. With a matched commitment of more than $6,000, the newly formed $20,000 Donaldson Western Filter Joe Novotny Scholarship Endowment –named in memory of Western Filter’s former general manager – will provide annual $1,000 scholarships to manufacturing technology students.

For more information about the California Community College Endowment Fund and making donations, contact Murray Wood at (661) 362-3433.

College Offers New Honors Program College of the Canyons’ High Intensity Transfer and Enrichment (HITE) program has transitioned into the COC Honors Program, offering students an opportunity to enroll in honors courses and enhance their reading, writing, critical-thinking and research skills. Honors classes strive to recognize academic excellence, provide transfer information, and increase the number of students transferring to four-year universities. Community service, scholarships, and enrichment activities are available to students who join Alpha Gamma Sigma or Phi Theta Kappa. The Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) will benefit honors students transferring to UCLA. In addition, transfer alliance agreements exist with Pomona College, Brandman University, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz, and others. For information, send an email to Dr. Patty Robinson, dean of social sciences and business, at patty.robinson@canyons.edu.

Can You Use a Free Laptop Computer?

College of the Canyons is offering a chance for you to win a free laptop computer as part of its “40 Ways to Change Your Life” promotion, which celebrates the college’s 40th anniversary. The college has been releasing fun, 40-second videos since August that examine different ways people can change their lives at COC. Forty different videos are being released each week of the 2009-10 academic year – excluding the two weeks the campus is closed in December – culminating during finals week in May 2010. Each video is posted only on the college’s Facebook page, so anyone hoping for a chance at the laptop will have to sign up for a free account. A Twitter account is also needed, because during each video a “Twitter Word of the Week” appears.

The first person who tweets that word to the COC Twitter account – www.twitter.com/canyons – wins a COC 40th anniversary flash drive and is entered into a drawing at the end of 40 weeks for the laptop, provided by NE Systems and the COC Foundation. Videos are posted on a random day each week. “Fans” of the COC Facebook page get an inside scoop on when it will be posted.

Holiday arts & Crafts Fair Slated Dec. 5-6 College of the Canyons will hold its 20th Annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair the weekend of Dec. 5 and 6. The event will be held in Parking Lot 8, near Cougar Stadium, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Dozens of vendors will offer a variety of crafts and unique holiday gifts.

Parking is free. The annual event is a fundraiser for COC’s Classified Senate; half of the proceeds will be donated to the SCV Domestic Violence Center. For information, or to book vendor space, contact Seher Awan at (661) 362-3015.

MENTRY HaLL EXPaNSION

These artist’s renderings depict how Mentry Hall will appear when an expansion project now under way is completed. The 32,000-square-foot addition will provide 16 new classrooms for students studying animation; radio, television and film; photography; graphic multimedia design; art, and interior design. a groundbreaking ceremony was held on Sept. 10.

Completion is scheduled for fall 2010.

Recovery FROM PAGE 1

“Adding the Applied Technology Education Center to the Canyon Country campus expands our ability to provide cutting edge education that leads directly to employment and great careers,” said Dr. Dena Maloney, founding dean of the Canyon Country campus. “These programs are specifically focused on the in-demand, new technologies our economy needs and our community expects to receive from College of the Canyons.”

Among the current programs also slated to move into the ATEC are: building inspection, land surveying, construction management and landscape maintenance/management and automotive technology.

Expected to encompass half of the 10,000 square feet of lab space, the ATEC auto lab will include eight automotive bays, transmission lab, engine lab, tool cribs and storage for additional equipment – providing the space needed to become certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF).

“The reality of current and future workforce needs is that potential employees must be skilled in the areas they hope to find employment,” said Audrey Green, dean of program development. “Opportunity abounds in the skilled labor market, and the programs being developed for the Applied Technology Education Center will prepare students for that type of employment.”

Addressing another high-demand area of employment in California is the recently introduced General Emerging Technologies Laboratory Technician (GETLABTECH) program.

The GETLABTECH program is designed to provide a basic understanding of the essential laboratory techni-

cian skills needed to prepare students seeking immediate employment in biotech, electronics, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

Completion of the program will prepare students for careers in a wide range of scientific and commercial industries that have embraced the use of advanced technology and nanotechnology.

Students enrolled in the program also have the option of completing the exploratory Introduction to Nanotechnology survey course that will begin to prepare students for careers in industries that have embraced the use of nanotechnology.

“This program is a perfect example of how community colleges work to bolster the local economy,” said Dr. Van Hook.

“We’re providing students the skills they need to land well-paying jobs in highly skilled technical fields, and we’re helping to put people back to work in the midst of an ever-changing and challenging economic environment,” she added.

Another important goal of the program is to work closely with the college’s Economic Development Division and Employee Training Institute (ETI) to identify and form community partnerships and provide skills training to businesses and employees.

“The college’s Economic Development Division will be invaluable in helping to alert the department about emerging trends in the industrial community and how this program might help serve their needs,” said Kathy Flynn, chemistry professor at the college.

Even adult students and community members returning to school for additional training and/or retraining, but without a specific area of employment in mind, will find a wealth of services available to help them pursue their academic and career goals.

AbOUT bREAKING NEWS Mail: College of the Canyons Public Information Office 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91355 Email: pio@canyons.edu

Breaking News is published by the College of the Canyons Public Information Office. Its purpose is to inform the community about programs, events, issues and accomplishments of the Santa Clarita Valley’s community college. It is distributed to residences, post office boxes and businesses in the 367square-mile Santa Clarita Community College District. Advertising is not accepted.

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Winter Session to Provide In-Demand Classes C

ollege of the Canyons will offer a 2010 winter session during January and the first week of February, although the number of class sections will be reduced over previous years.

The college’s winter session is slated to run from Jan. 4 through Feb. 6, 2010, and will focus on classes that data reveal are most in demand by students. Registration is now under way.

Many of California’s community colleges, reeling from state budget cuts, have canceled their winter sessions to save money.

Although College of the Canyons received several million dollars less in operating funds from the state, it understands that many students rely on winter session classes. The college introduced winter session about five years ago to provide students with opportunities to pick up

an extra class or two in an accelerated format. The decision to retain the five-week winter session is the result of strategic programming.

The state funding cuts and reduction in winter classes come at a time when students are demonstrating an unprecedented need for classes. As a result, competition for seats is expected to increase.

“This is a reality that we are facing now and for the foreseeable future as we cope with the impacts of the economic downturn,” said Sue Bozman, vice president of communications, marketing and external relations for the college. “The community should know that we probably won’t be able to serve everyone who turns to us for classes – either this winter or in ensuing semesters.

In another cost-saving move, the schedule of classes for the winter session will be available only online at

www.canyons.edu. No printed versions will be available.

A printed version of the spring 2010 class schedule will be available in limited numbers, but it will not be massmailed to the community. Copies of the spring class schedule will be sold for $1 each at either the Valencia or Canyon Country campus.

“By not printing and mailing class schedules to the entire community as we have done for years, we’ll save more than $100,000 a year. That’s money we can use in other critical areas of college operations,” Bozman said.

The college will communicate important information and dates to students through email messages, postcards and other available means.

Students are reminded to check the college’s Web site – www.canyons.edu – for important messages related to registration and class offerings.

art gallery Shows Promise to Engage and Inspire

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This late 1960s image shows the location where College of the Canyons’ Valencia campus would be built. The view is looking south, with a recently built Interstate 5 on the right and Valencia Boulevard crossing the lower half of the image.

40th Anniversary FROM PAGE 1

humans to set foot on the moon; • A huge rock ‘n’ roll festival was held on a farm in Woodstock, N.Y.; • Richard Nixon became president; • The Boeing 747 flew the first time; • The first ATM in the U.S. was installed in Rockville Centre, N.Y.; • The movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” was released; • The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” album was released worldwide; • Baseball’s miracle New York Mets won the World Series; • The first message was sent over the ARPANET, the forerunner of the Internet; • And the Vietnam War continued...

The Santa Clarita Valley looked a lot different in 1969, and the differences in the local landscape show just how far the area has come in 40 years. Back then: • Fine dining options included the Backwoods Inn on Sierra Highway, the Big Oaks Lodge up Bouquet Canyon, and Tip’s on Lyons Avenue.

• Other popular eateries included the venerable Saugus Café, the Way Station Coffee Shop, the Bamboo Café, and a local mainstay: Chi-Chi’s Pizza.

• Residents could catch a movie at the Mustang Drive-in on Soledad, which had a double Clint Eastwood first-run bill of “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” and “Hang ’em High.”

• A storm system brought 18 inches of rain in 10 days, and another added 6 more inches just days later.

• The Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang roared into town – to film a men’s suit commercial.

• New shopping opportunities were becoming available. There wasn’t a mall back then, but we had the Sprouse Reitz dime store at Market and San Fernando, and a Sear’s catalog store on Lyons.

• People shopped for groceries at Dillenbeck’s on Sierra Highway, Phil’s Country Cousins on Lyons, and Safeway in the new Old Orchard Shopping Center.

Progress and change were evident all over town: • McBean Parkway opened for traffic, and the first Valencia neighborhoods were being established.

• Homes sold in Old Orchard I and Old Orchard II for $25,000, and the first Valencia Hills homes became available.

• New housing tracts were sprouting up in Saugus and Canyon Country, leading to a population explosion.

• Magic Mountain was just in the planning stages.

• The old Highway 99 was steadily being circumvented by a major northsouth freeway, Interstate 5, which would

cut a swath through the Santa Clarita Valley, as would State Route 14.

• Following California voters’ approval to bring state water south, construction was moving forward on a major new State Water Project lake in Castaic.

• Ground was broken for the new L.A. County Civic Center on Valencia Boulevard.

• Just like today, there was a lot of building going on, and a once-sleepy community was beginning to awaken.

College of the Canyons wasn’t much to look at when it opened in 1969.

• The first classes were held at Hart High School in the evenings, after high school students left for the day.

• There wasn’t much where the 154acre Valencia campus is today, except cattle and cow patties.

• To the south, CalArts was under construction.

But what a difference 40 years makes.

Under the powerful and innovative leadership of Dr. Dianne Van Hook, who has been the superintendent-president and now chancellor for the past 21 years, the college has become a major force in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Through state funding, the passage of several state and local bonds, and a variety See 40th ANNIVERSARY on Page 7

ith a trio of fascinating exhibitions taking place this winter, the College of the Canyons Art Gallery invites community members to stop in and experience its unique interpretation of art and culture.

“Our exhibitions feature work that will engage you, that will cause you to stop to investigate and ask, ‘What’s going on in these pictures, what is the story?’ ” said Larry Hurst, Art Gallery director. “When visiting the gallery you will no doubt see work that you like, as well as work that disturbs you. You will see styles you relate to and others that you don’t.

“But from the artist’s standpoint, any response is good,” Hurst said. “For it’s the artist’s attempt to engage you and stimulate thought.”

“Beyond the Image,” currently on exhibit through Dec. 11, features the work of 30 young California artists working as illustrators. Presented in partnership with the Black Maria Gallery in Glendale, the exhibit includes a variety of illustrative media and styles representing each artist’s diverse artistic vision.

Dedicated to non-mainstream art, Black Maria Gallery focuses on works that reverberate with the shock of the new in a way that initiates wonderment and self-reflection. Owners Sam Saghatelyan and Zara Zeitountsian operate the gallery with the belief that thoughtprovoking art has a hugely important place in civic and social discourse, especially in these times.

“This exhibition represents some of the freshest work emerging from the Southern California art world. The styles and mediums of the work on display will vary widely, creating a wonderful visual excitement,” said Mercedes McDonald, COC art instructor

and curator of the exhibition. “‘Beyond the Image’ will provide a glimpse into a genre of art that is both thought-provoking and approachable.”

A special artists’ reception is scheduled in the gallery from noon to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 5.

Next, the gallery will begin the new year with “Inspiration,” an exhibit scheduled Jan. 19 to 29.

A collaboration between the Art Gallery and the Santa Clarita Valley’s high school art instructors, the exhibit will showcase the talent and work of local art instructors, as well as pieces from their most talented students.

An artists’ reception will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19 at the Art Gallery.

The gallery will begin the spring semester with “Life After Life: A Contemplation of the Unknown,” running from Feb. 16 to March 4.

A collaboration with the college’s English Department, the exhibit will feature the visual work of approximately 12 professional artists displayed alongside creative writing selections from COC students, faculty and staff.

“The organizers behind ‘Life After Life’ intended this to be an introspective exploration of the impact of death on the way we interpret life,” said Hurst.

“This is an exciting time at the gallery, and everyone is invited to join the dialogue.”

All gallery exhibitions and related events are free and open to the public.

The Art Gallery is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Visitors unable to visit during these hours are welcome to call (661) 362-3612 to make a viewing appointment.

For more information, please visit www.canyons.edu/offices/ArtGallery.

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’Tis the Season at the Performing arts Center W

ith shows ranging from an acoustic country concert, to a musical journey through ancient Ireland, to an arrangement of traditional holiday selections produced by the college’s music department, the winter lineup at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons (PAC) is sure to provide audiences with plenty of holiday cheer.

Ushering in the PAC’s holiday season will be the critically acclaimed traditional Irish ensemble Danú, performing “A Christmas in Ireland” at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, on the PAC’s main stage.

Featuring virtuosi musicians on the flute, tin whistle, fiddle, button accordion and bouzouki, with a mixture of Irish and English-derived vocals, the group’s mixture of ancient and contemporary Irish music has been described by audiences as a high-energy, memorable and moving holiday experience.

“We are very excited about bringing Danú to the Santa Clarita Valley to kick off the holiday season,” said Adam Philipson, the PAC’s managing director. “Portions of this concert will be performed alongside the College of the Canyons Choir, making this show one of those memorable holiday moments not to be missed.”

Featured in the PAC’s holiday season lineup for the second year in a row is the Go Country 105 FM Acoustic Holiday Concert. This year’s show features Phil Vassar, “the hardest working man in country music.” The concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6.

Including an array of Vassar’s heartfelt ballads, and a holiday nod to his legions of “Phil Phriends,” this year’s concert also includes country music newcomers Jonathan Singleton and The Grove.

With new songs audiences are destined to love – along with a selection of holiday favorites – the Acoustic Holiday Concert is quickly becoming a Santa Clarita Valley holiday tradition.

“Seats are going fast on this one,” said Philipson. “The Go Country concerts give us the opportunity to reach new audiences and encourage people from outside our valley to visit the PAC. Last year’s soldout acoustic holiday show was one of the best shows of the season.”

The COC Music Department will present a trio of holiday-inspired performances beginning with the COC Music Winter Spectacular at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, on

the PAC main stage.

Grouping the three-tiered instrumental education programs offered by the college, the Winter Spectacular will feature the Canyons Prelude Strings, Student Orchestra and Symphony of the Canyons combining to present a concert of orchestral classics such as Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite.”

The Music Department will host its annual holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11. Featuring traditional holiday favorites – with a jazz flavor – the concert will be presented by the award-winning Jazz Ensemble and Lab Jazz Combo.

The following day, audiences are invited to join the COC Choirs for an evening of diverse musical selections ranging from favorite Christmas and Hanukkah songs to multicultural pieces representing a variety of languages and ethnicities. The concert is scheduled 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.

Critically acclaimed traditional Irish ensemble Danu (above) will perform “a Christmas in Ireland” on Dec. 4, while Phil Vassar (right) will headline go Country 105’s acoustic Holiday Concert on Dec. 8.

TICKETS ONLINE: www.canyonspac.com Learn more about all shows at the PAC, purchase tickets securely and quickly, even select the seats you’d like to sit in.

PHONE: (661) 362-5304 VISIT THE BOX OFFICE Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday. The Box Office is located at the front of the PAC, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita.

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Persistence Transformed Dream into Reality Board of Trustees Named University Center to Recognize Chancellor’s Key Role in its Creation

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University Center Programs The following are programs currently offered at the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center.

Please visit www.cocuniversitycenter.com for the most up-to-date listing.

Bachelor’s Degrees Business Administration (ULV) Child Development (ULV) Organizational Management (ULV)* Liberal Studies (CSUB) Communications (CSUB) English (CSUB) Psychology (Brandman) Criminal Justice (Brandman) Social Science (Brandman) Computer Information Systems (Brandman) Legal Studies (Brandman) Applied Studies (Brandman) Nursing (National) Master’s Degrees Leadership Management (ULV)* MBA (ULV) Educational Management (ULV) Educational Counseling (ULV) Educational Administration (ULV) Education, Advanced Teaching (ULV)

Education, Curriculum & Instruction with Reading/Literacy specialty option (CSUB) Special Education (ULV) MPA (CSUN) Psychology with emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy (Brandman) Credential Programs Multiple Subject Teaching (CSUB) Single Subject Teaching (CSUB) Professional Clear Teaching (CSUB) Pupil Personnel Services (ULV) Mild/Mod. Ed. Specialist, Level I & II (ULV) Preliminary Administrative Services (ULV) Designated Subj. Adult Teaching (UCLA Ext) Certificate Programs Reading Certificate (CSUB) TESOL Certificate (UCLA Extension) Doctoral Program Organizational Leadership (ULV)

ULV: University of La Verne; CSUB: California State University, Bakersfield; CSUN: California State University, Northridge; Brandman: Formerly Chapman University.

University Center FROM PAGE 1

building, which overlooks the 154-acre Valencia campus and commands impressive views of the Santa Clarita Valley beyond, was unveiled during a ribbon-cutting and grand-opening ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 17.

“This is the culmination of a dream,” College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook said. “We have long sought to meet the higher-education needs of our community beyond the community college level, and we are now able to do that in a cutting-edge learning facility.”

The University Center was created to address the community’s lack of upper-division degree programs by forging partnerships with four-year universities to make their academic programs available here.

The University Center began holding classes at the start of the fall semester. Partnerships already exist with University of La Verne, Brandman (formerly Chapman) University, UCLA Extension, National University, California State University (CSU), Bakersfield and CSU, Northridge.

Though such academic opportunities have been available at the college’s Interim University Center since 2002, the new facility will allow additional university programs.

The building was completed after nearly a decade of focused effort that included an aggressive fundraising campaign, a successful strategy at the state level for funding, and the development of some innovative partnerships locally. The idea moved from concept to reality thanks to the help of fundraising co-chairs Tom Lee, Lou Garasi and U.S. Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon.

“It takes a team to build a University Center,” Dr. Van Hook said, “and we had a great one.”

In all, the University Center will house up to 10 partner institutions and offer more than 50 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as a variety of credential programs. Negotiations are under way to offer additional universities’ programs.

Also located here is the Wm. S. Hart Union High School District’s Academy of the Canyons, which allows high school students to take a mix of both high school and college courses.

During the University Center opening celebration, visitors toured the state-of-the-art facility while learning more about its partner institutions and lineup of academic programs.

“We’re pleased to welcome those with a desire to succeed,” Dr. Van Hook added. “And we’re proud that we can help them achieve their goals.”

he University Center is clearly the tial revenue sources and moving forward culmination of many people’s sup- on multiple tracks. The COC Foundation port, talents and efforts, but all agree was the first to come aboard, helping raise that it was the vision and persistence of private funds. At the same time, Dr. Van one particular “dreamer” that ultimately Hook secured the support of two project made it happen. chairs: Tom Lee, retired chairman and That’s the reason it’s called the Dr. CEO of Newhall Land, and Lou Garasi, Dianne G. Van Hook University Center. president of Gruber Systems. CongressSome two decades in the man Howard “Buck” McKeon making, the University came on board as honorary Center concept has proven chair shortly afterward. itself in very short order, The University Center allowing thousands of peocapital campaign officially ple to pursue their educabegan in 2001 with the COC tional dreams without leavFoundation’s family caming the Santa Clarita Valley. paign, in which 99.6 percent Dr. Van Hook was an of the college’s staff, and all early adopter of that simple of the Board of Trustees, supbut important concept, first ported the effort with personal proposing a variation of the contributions. Local leaders idea to the president of and businesses began to step California State University, forward with large donations Northridge 20 years ago. and pledges.

“While I was enthusias- DR. DIaNNE g. VaN HOOK McKeon helped the coltic, the idea – from the lege acquire roughly $2.3 milCalifornia State University perspective – lion in federal funding to help open and was one whose time had yet to come,” Dr. equip the college’s Interim University Van Hook said.

Center, which opened in 2002 and proved The idea was resurrected in 1993, the concept was viable. Next, the William when a new president emerged at CSUN. S. Hart Union High School District, whose Dr. Van Hook and former Signal owner Academy of the Canyons is housed in the and editor Ruth Newhall explored the pos- University Center, signed on. Later in sibility of developing a higher-education 2001, the college designated the learning center in the Santa Clarita Valley, University Center project as an allowable but the timing was off yet again. expenditure on Measure C, the $82.1 mil“The stars were not aligned then either, lion general obligation bond that voters as a month later the Northridge earthquake approved that fall. occurred, and recovery from that occupied The opportunity to prove that the the CSUN folks for years to come,” Dr. University Center concept was viable Van Hook said. arrived in 2002. To prove a point, Dr. Van Undeterred, Dr. Van Hook was con- Hook opened an Interim University Center vinced the community would embrace the on the campus. California State Univerconcept. She had heard story after story sity, Bakersfield was the first to sign on, from frustrated residents who could not bringing degree and credential programs gain access to four-year universities that proved wildly popular. Soon, other because of commuting and child-care institutions – University of La Verne, Cal issues, work schedules and time con- State Fresno, Chapman (now Brandman) straints, and other roadblocks. Business University, CSUN, ELS Language Centers owners, too, had their own frustrations, and National Univer-sity – signed on as citing a lack of qualified graduates in the well. local workforce.

With the groundwork laid, Dr. Van All the University Center concept Hook began talking about the University needed was a chance – and the funding.

Center concept to contacts at the state With a vision and planning team in level. Eventually, the California Complace, the college began identifying potenSee PERSISTENCE on Page 7

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College Helps Community ‘get Back to Work’ A

dult students and community members returning to college for additional job training and/or retraining, but without a specific employment field in mind, will find a wealth of services available to help them pursue their career goals.

Among them is the Adult Re-Entry Program, which helps new, returning and continuing adult students 25 and older prepare for academic and professional careers.

By providing helpful information sessions, workshops, campus and community referrals, support groups and ongoing counseling courses and services, the Adult ReEntry Program helps students identify and plan their academic and career paths – while alleviating fears about returning to college.

“As a former re-entry student at College of the Canyons, I understand the courage and determination it takes to come back to school,” said Deborah Rio, dean of enrollment services at the college. “The Adult ReEntry Program was introduced to help students take those first important steps to move toward their educational and career goals.”

Throughout each semester the Adult ReEntry Program offers hour-long information sessions that introduce re-entry students to the college and provide an overview of the program. Students receive information about

various associate degree and certificate programs, and learn the importance of meeting with adult re-entry counselors to create individualized “educational roadmaps.”

“Meeting with a counselor is an important first step toward easing the stress of the re-entry process and ensuring a student’s academic success,” said Carolyn Powell, counseling faculty member at the college.

Also available to re-entry students are counseling courses covering a range of topics such as career exploration, career/job search preparation, career and life-planning, and academic success strategies.

Introduced in 2009, the “Counseling 100: Success Strategies for the Re-entry Student” course offers an exploration of the factors that impact lifelong learning, personal well- being and student success.

Specific topics include motivation, critical thinking, effective study strategies while caring for children, health and lifestyle choices, time management, educational planning, career exploration and stress reduction.

“Counseling courses are a great way for re-entry students to begin the transition back into the higher education system, especially if they have been away from the classroom raising a family or working toward a career,” said Liz Shaker, counseling faculty member.

College Helps Students, Community Members Explore Careers, Find Jobs

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ollege of the Canyons’ Career Services and Job Placement Center is dedicated to helping students and community members alike in their exploration of careers and employment.

The center features an online job database and offers daily career advisement and career-assessment services. It also provides a number of career-exploration opportunities for community members who are undecided about which career path to take.

The center also recently launched its new Work Interest Networking and Support (WINS) program. With meetings held every other Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in the college’s Valencia campus Library, Room 224, the WINS program creates an environment where students, professionals and community members can exchange advice and share career experiences while learning helpful techniques to help attain their career goals.

“We’ve heard countless stories from students and community members about job loss, confusion and frustration with the job search, and an overall feeling of helplessness,” said Anthony Michaelides, director of career services at the college.

“Our goal is to provide them with the support, guidance, assistance and tools needed to get back on track and headed in the right direction.”

The center sponsors two well-attended job fairs each year, usually in the spring and fall. Additional services include career advisement, seminars to improve interview skills, resume critiques by appointment, a resource library, and phone and fax access.

Career Services offers programs at both the Valencia and Canyon Country campuses. For more information, visit http://www.canyons.edu/offices/careercenter/, or call (661) 362-3286 (Valencia) or (661) 362-3816 (Canyon Country).

Program guides and Nurtures Young Entrepreneurs

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The SBDC hosted the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour event at College of the Canyons in October.

n just its second year, the Young Entrepreneurs Program at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted by College of the Canyons continues to provide young people with opportunities to explore their budding business aspirations.

The Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) offers free business counseling and training programs in management, finance, marketing, sales and e-commerce, all aimed at those age 14 to 27.

Using a variety of outreach and delivery methods, including Web sites, blogs, social networking sites, virtual-reality games, youth-oriented trainers and business-simulation products, YEP advisors guide and encourage young people interested in selfemployment.

By attending YEP-hosted events and completing assigned business projects, students gain transferable business skills and an understanding of the relevance of education to their careers. They also develop life-management and problem-solving skills.

“The mission is to use engaging and interactive techniques to show young people

that being an entrepreneur is a viable career path,” said Nina Grooms Lee, YEP’s program manager. “We believe that whether our participants want to start their own business or not, teaching them to think and act entrepreneurially and create opportunities for themselves will be extremely beneficial.”

In October, the college’s SBDC hosted the high-energy Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons. The event attracted nearly 300 people.

Presented by the California Community Colleges Economic Workforce Development Program (EWD), the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour helps students take the initial steps needed to start a small business by offering inspiration and practical advice.

The Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour features fellow young entrepreneurs who have made significant impacts in the business world before the age of 30.

More information about the Young Entrepreneurs Program is available by calling (661) 294-9375 or sending an email to sbdc@canyons.edu.

Meet EDD. and CaCT, ETI and SBDC. They’re Here to Help.

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he Economic Development Division’s importance during this recession cannot be overstated. Although it oversees a host of entities peppered with ominoussounding acronyms such as ETI, CACT and SBDC, its unwritten mission is actually very simple: Create prosperity.

That prosperity – especially the way in which it can help a recession-ravaged economy – is created by doing what the Economic Development Division does best. It helps businesses prosper, which in turn keeps them vibrant and their workers employed. It helps those businesses grow, to embrace new challenges, and to seek out the human talent that keeps the unemployment rate low.

Quite simply, the Economic Development Division helps the drivers of this economy stay ultra-competitive in an ultra-competitive business climate. And it keeps the economy humming along so that everyone benefits – either directly or indirectly.

“The Economic Development Division has served more than 18,000 employees and roughly 3,000 employers since 2003,” said Dr. Bruce Getzan, dean of the division.

While a lot of eyes probably glazed over at the sight of all those big numbers, it means that 18,000 people received some sort of skills training that made them and their employers more competitive – just plain better at what they do. It means that 3,000 businesses received some sort of training or assistance that allowed them to prosper, grow and remain competitive players on the local, state, national or world stage.

“We’re working with many businesses so they can prosper, keep their employees and hire new people,” Getzan said. “Businesses that prosper fuel the economy locally,

regionally and statewide.”

As for those ominous-sounding acronyms, they are simply bureaucratic shorthand for some very important niche programs that benefit local businesses, employees and the greater community. ETI stands for Employee Training Institute, CACT for Center for Applied Competitive Technologies, and SBDC for the Small Business Development Center – hosted by College of the Canyons, lest anyone confuse our SBDC with anyone else’s. Yes, there are others.

Each offers specialized services designed to meet specific needs, and they can trace their emergence to the entrepreneurial leadership of Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook. Since first arriving at College of the Canyons in 1988, she has supported the creation of two SBDCs, established ETI, and fostered a partnership with Aerospace Dynamics to create CACT. The division’s recent relocation to the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center has allowed it to host events designed to bring business leaders together. Already, it has hosted an introduction and tour of the University Center for a delegation of business leaders from China, the City of Santa Clarita, the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. It also has hosted a technology boot camp for small businesses, and a workshop on how employers can use federal stimulus dollars to hire new employees.

For more information about EDD – oh, that’s short for Economic Development Division – or any of the other acronyms that don’t roll off the tongue quite as elegantly as EDD, please visit www.canyonsecondev.org.

Center for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT) CACT is all about keeping businesses and their employees at the cutting edge of technology and manufacturing processes. CACT was established at College of the Canyons in 1997 to help technology-based companies learn, compete and grow. It provides workforce-training programs, demonstrations of new manufacturing technologies, and access to federal, state and local resources.

An initiative of the California Community College’s Economic and Workforce Development program, it is one of 13 CACTs statewide.

Its mission is to advance the innovation, global competitiveness and economic output of advanced technology firms across California.

“Even if a company is unsure what training they would benefit the most from, CACT personnel can perform an on-site operational audit, which will help provide those answers,” said Keith Rypka, CACT director. “Sometimes we don’t know what we don’t know, and the CACT is here to help businesses in those situations.”

Information: (661) 362-3111 On the Web: www.canyonsecondev.org

Employee Training Institute (ETI) Training, training, more training. Businesses that strive to be competitive can never have enough employee training. It’s a good thing we have the Employee Training Institute, one of the college’s key providers of workforce training. ETI shows companies how to drive down costs, and expand the skills of their workforce.

ETI has provided training to more than 1,500 firms and around 10,000 employees since it first came on the scene in the early 1990s. It offers professional and organizational development services, as well as a full lineup of employee skills courses taught by experienced trainers. One of ETI’s hall-

marks is that it provides this valuable training affordably.

“It’s our goal to be a valued partner to businesses throughout the SCV,” said Kristin Houser, ETI director. “Just as our clients have had to adapt to these challenging economic times, ETI is also developing new training formats and topics in response to their needs.”

ETI programs can be formatted to meet any schedule, with short- and long-term classes held on-site or at a designated training facility.

Information: (661) 362-3245 On the Web: www.canyonsecondev.org

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) The SBDC hosted by College of the Canyons empowers entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into tangible startups or business expansions that create jobs and benefit the economy.

Launched here in 2006, the SBDC serves a wide area that encompasses the Santa Clarita, Antelope and San Fernando valleys.

It provides workshops, one-on-one consulting and other resources. It receives core funding from the Small Business Administration and is support-

ed by other sponsors. Because of this financial support, it can provide advisory services to small businesses at no cost.

“The SBDC can help level the playing field for small businesses by providing them the expert counsel that a large firm would obtain from an inhouse CFO, IT, HR or marketing director,” said Steve Tannehill, SBDC director.

Information: (661) 294-9375 On the Web: www.sbdc4biz.org

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New Early Childhood Education Center Opens Class of 2026 Opens Center at Canyon Country Campus

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ver the summer, members of the College of the Canyons graduating class of 2026 formally began their education, opening the new Canyon Country Center for Early Childhood Education (ECE) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the college’s Canyon Country campus.

As the youngest group of students ever to study at the Canyon Country campus, the center’s first students began classes in the new 2,150-square-foot ECE facility on Aug. 19.

Days later, College of the Canyons staff and administrators were joined by a collection of Santa Clarita Valley community leaders to officially open the center and celebrate the accomplishment of opening one of the first permanent additions to the Canyon Country campus.

“Having the child development centers on our campuses is inspiring and energizing given the way children approach life,” College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook said. “We can all learn from their unbridled enthusiasm, their yearning to explore and discover, and their dogged determination to master new skills.

“And we could all use their energy,” she added.

The Center for ECE is committed to providing a high-quality educational experience for preschool children ages 3 and 4, while modeling an exemplary developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive learning environment.

Featuring a learning environment and preschool program structured around the state’s recommended preschool learning foundations, the center provides children with a variety of creative materials needed to stimulate learning and social interaction, and curriculum designed to develop and support language arts, math/science, dramatic play, music, movement, social/emotional and creativity skills.

The program’s primary focus is to promote feelings of competence and selfworth that will serve as strong foundations for students’ future growth and development.

“As we celebrate the opening of the Early Childhood Education Center at Canyon Country we take another important step in the development of this campus and all it has to offer,” said Diane Stewart, dean of ECE and Training Programs at the college. “The children who participate in this center today are going to be the college students of tomorrow, and with this center they now have a

College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne g. Van Hook (left) accepts a gift created by the children in the new Center for Early Childhood Education at the Canyon Country campus.

place to learn and grow.”

Located in Quad 2 of the college’s Canyon Country campus, the facility includes two fully furnished classrooms, age-appropriate restrooms, a kitchen and observation areas to be utilized by parents and ECE students.

Students majoring in ECE at College of the Canyons will frequently be assigned lab hours to be conducted inside the center,

under the direct supervision of a master teacher, allowing students to gain valuable hands-on teaching experience.

“The center is far more than just a preschool and day-care. It’s a laboratory for learning that will benefit young children and college students alike. It’s a place where children will learn by doing,” Dr. Van Hook said. “By opening this center we have created a magical place.”

Condies to Receive Silver Spur award T

Myrna and gary Condie will receive the Silver Spur Community Service award for 2010.

he College of the Canyons Foundation has selected Gary and Myrna Condie to be recipients of the coveted Silver Spur Community Service Award for 2010.

The award ceremony will be held at the Autry National Center on March 6.

“It’s an honor to be chosen by the college as Silver Spur honorees,” said Gary Condie, founder and president/CEO of Condie & Wood, CPAs. “When you look over the list of prior honorees, you see how important these people have been to the college and to the community.”

Known for their passion, enthusiasm, dedication and generosity to many local non-profit organizations and causes, the couple’s distinguished record of commu-

Persistence FROM PAGE 5

munity College Chancellor’s Office verbally approved the scope of the project, with the understanding that Dr. Van Hook and the college would need to file a final capital project submittal by July 1, 2004. So it was while on vacation, from high in the Eastern Sierras in early 2004, that Dr. Van Hook began working with Jim Schrage, vice president of facilities planning, operations and construction at the college, to begin developing the plans.

The course of a normal project is to submit the initial proposal, then resubmit a final proposal the following year, after the initial proposal has been approved. The challenge was that the district was allowed to skip the initial proposal and move straight to the final proposal process, which meant completing all of the necessary programming, design and detailing – a process that even on

40th Anniversary FROM PAGE 3

of creative and innovative approaches to getting projects approved, the Valencia campus sprouted buildings and facilities that would ultimately become the place where 25,000 students are able to gain access to their educational goals and dreams. The addition of the Canyon Country campus in August of 2007 further expanded the college’s ability to serve more students in the future. And, advances in technology allow students to take classes online at an unprecedented rate.

Thanks to the availability of construction funds, even in this down economy, aggressive construction plans for both campuses are moving forward.

The college currently offers associate in arts and science degrees in 61 academic programs, as well as credentials in 69 certificate programs. Academic programs range from Animation to Television, Film and Video Production; from Audio/Radio Production to Video Game Animation; from Biotechnology to Theatre Arts; from Child Development to Paralegal Studies;

nity service spans their 42 years of marriage.

Gary is a supporter of the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley, Boy Scouts of America, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Foundation, COC Foundation and SCV Facilities Foundation. He most recently received the 2009 California Society of CPAs 100th Anniversary Public Service Award.

“It’s humbling to be asked by the college to be a part of the 2010 Silver Spur celebration,” said Myrna. “It’s the 40th anniversary for the college and the 20th anniversary for Silver Spur. It will be fun to return to the Gene Autry Museum where it all began.”

Recently named the 2009 California

an aggressive schedule takes six months – in less than two months. A prime example of Dr. Van Hook’s “if you can dream it, you can do it” mantra in action, College of the Canyons embarked on what has become its trademark approach to big projects submitted the final proposal to the state on July 1. As a result, the college was initially approved for $9 million in state funding.

Dr. Van Hook and college administrators convinced state legislators to modify language in the 2006 statewide education facilities bond – Prop 1D, to be placed on the November ballot – which would allow for the funding of collaborative projects/joint-use facilities like the University Center. By the time voters went to the polls that November, the college had secured $21 million in funding for the University Center project in the 2006-07 governor’s budget – pending passage of 1D. In addition, the college had launched a bond campaign of its own, Measure M – the $160 million general obligation bond proposed to local voters on the same November ballot –

from Dance to Industrial Manufacturing, Surveying and much more.

Celebrations of 40 years of success and excellence will take place throughout the 2009-10 academic year. Oral histories are being captured from long-time employees and supporters of the college. Historical displays are popping up all over campus.

Faculty, staff and students are letting their creative juices flow with low-cost, highimpact ideas to connect the college’s past with its future – to capitalize on the foundation that 40 years have created and to use that to create educational opportunities that future students will need to succeed.

Everyone associated with the college seems to have embraced the connection between 1969 and 2009 – years that will be remembered well into the future. And, oddly, tie-dye shirts have been sighted all over campus, people are humming Beatles tunes, Led Zeppelin riffs can be heard occasionally from maintenance closets, and the lyrics from the rock-musical “Hair” are in the air, invoking the spirit of the age of Aquarius.

To participate in the groovy celebrations the college has planned, visit canyons.edu and click on the calendar.

Mother of the Year by the California Association of American Mothers, Myrna is also involved with the Boys and Girls Club and Boy Scouts, and she is a COC Foundation board member.

“The Condies’ record of service is uniquely impressive, given that they invest so much of themselves in what they undertake for the benefit of the community,” said COC Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook. “We are so grateful for the many ways they have supported College of the Canyons and created exciting opportunities for us to better serve our students. It is an honor to recognize them as our Silver Spur honorees for 2010 and thank them for their many years of service, support and friendship.”

which would provide an additional $10 million to the project fund. Both bonds passed, and the dream finally took form, as College of the Canyons would now have the funding needed to move forward with construction.

With ground broken on the new center several months earlier, the Board of Trustees voted May 2, 2007, to name the building in honor of Dr. Van Hook. Trustees cited her “tireless commitment to enhancing access to education, her belief in the power of dreaming big and never giving up, and her premise that we, as individuals and institutions, become what we give ourselves the power to be.”

“I am deeply honored and humbled by this gesture of the board and am very grateful to have this building named after me,” Dr. Van Hook added. “It hasn’t been easy, but no project of this magnitude and complexity could be accomplished without a steadfast resolve to see it through. I am particularly thrilled that we can all celebrate the fruits of what this center will provide the Santa Clarita Valley for many years to come.”

Flu Shots FROM PAGE 8

bioterrorism attack and helped prepare for the community’s response to a potential pandemic. The purpose of the CRI plan is to treat an impacted mass population with medications within a short time period.

The drive-through clinic is called a rapid point of dispensing, or POD. The college is a designated POD site for the bioterrorism plan. People stay in their cars to help minimize the potential spread of infection.

“This collaborative training opportunity demonstrates how the City of Santa Clarita and its partners continually work to enhance response efforts for all types of emergencies and also the importance of practicing for emergencies,” Mayor Frank Ferry said.

Each year, more volunteers are brought into the POD organizational structure to learn the responsibilities of key positions.

As a result, more people are trained to assume the various responsibilities within the emergency structure. The hope is to develop a pool of people who can step in and run multiple PODs if necessary.

“There are always things to learn and always ways to improve our procedures,” said Dr. Michael Wilding, assistant superintendent/vice president. “In fact, we learned last year that we needed to reorient the traffic flow so that more cars could be accommodated in the relative safety of the college’s parking lots rather than on busy streets, so this year cars entered the dispensing area from Rockwell Canyon Road instead of Valencia Boulevard.”

“The planning and implementing of the clinic fosters cooperation and communication between agencies that otherwise don’t often work together, who need to be able to coordinate their responses in the event of a national emergency,” he said.

The Valencia campus is located near freeways and major arteries so that, in a real-world bioterrorism event, large numbers of people could be inoculated quickly and efficiently. Nursing students administered most of the shots, and students from the EMT program were responsible for the pre-shot screening process.

In the event of a large outbreak or terrorist attack, many sites similar to this one would be needed to serve the needs of communities throughout California.

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TRIUmPh AND DISAPPOINTmENT AThLETICS ROUNDUP

Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Volleyball Rack Up Wins

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ougar athletics is once again bustling, as College of the Canyons’ 2009-10 seasons are under way.

First-year women’s soccer head coach Justin Lundin is having a strong season with the team. The Cougars are in the top half of the Western State Conference, South Division and are fighting for second place behind conference leader Pierce College. With only a few matches left, the Cougars have some strong opponents ahead of them, but still have a chance to make the playoffs, which begin on Nov. 21. The Cougars will have to be one of the top 16 teams in Southern California for a bid into post-season play.

The men’s soccer team took a turn for the better this season, after finishing 2008 with only four wins. But there are no reminders of last season’s squad as the Cougars are now vying for first place in the conference and their first playoff bid since 2004. Much of the success has come in the form of Golden Valley High School alum Andres Bueno who leads the conference with 13 goals, eight assists and 34 points through the end of October. As with the women, 16 teams from Southern California will make the regional playoffs.

COC volleyball is looking for its first conference title since 2000. A tight race between Bakersfield College and College of the Canyons has kept things exciting, as perennial powerhouse Pierce College, the team who has won the conference title for the past eight years, has had a down season. The Cougars, who have made the playoffs for the last four campaigns, are following the lead of sophomore Lindsey Wilcox who ranks among the top five individuals in the conference in individual kill percentage and leads all Western State school women’s volleyball players in block assists at the end of October. Head coach Lisa Hooper prepared her team for the season with matches against the strongest teams in the state, including defending state champion El Camino College. The tough match-ups have only helped COC, who is now a strong contender for playoff action that begins in late November.

Cross-country head coach Lindie Kane and her group of athletes are already in the post-season and are working on getting individuals to the state championship at Fresno’s Woodward Park. In 2008, the program sent six runners to California’s top meet, and Kane hopes that more athletes will earn a chance to compete this

although Cougar football’s 2009-10 season has been disappointing, bright spots included a 2613 victory over Fullerton College (above). The women’s golf team (far left) hopes to compete for a state title, while men’s soccer (left) hopes to make the playoffs.

year.

The women’s golf team is also already in the middle of its post-season run. The Cougars have gone back and forth with Santa Barbara City College for second place in the Western State Conference but hope to break that tie in the conference finals at Buenaventura Golf Course. COC did not make it to the state championship as a team last season, but hopes to return this season for a chance at the state title.

The 2009 Cougar football team has not had the same success that it experienced last year with the group that went 12-1.

After losing a lot of talent to transfers, COC started the year off with a loss in the

second week to Santa Barbara, 17-14. The Cougars, who entered the 2009 season as the fifth-ranked team in the state according to the California Community College Football Coaches Association state rankings, had not lost to the Vaqueros since the program was reinstated in 1998, and had won nine consecutive contests against them by an average of 32 ppg.

The win did fuel a comeback for the Cougars, who two weeks later showed signs that the Santa Barbara contest may have been a fluke when they beat then No. 3 Fullerton College, 26-13.

With hopes of riding that big win and gaining momentum, Canyons instead had

its sails deflated the next week in a 19-16 overtime loss in the conference opener to Allan Hancock. Things got tougher for the Cougars a few weeks later as they travelled to Ventura College, a team that was leading the conference standings, and dropped another National Division, Northern Conference game to the Pirates, 23-6. The Cougars still have an opportunity to make post-season play if certain schools are upset in the final weeks of regular season games.

For more information on Cougar athletics, visit COCAthletics.com. For instant sports news, follow the Cougar athletics Twitter feed at Twitter.com/COCAthletics.

Hundreds Line Up for Flu Shots L

College of the Canyons nursing students (above) administer seasonal flu vaccine during the drive-through clinic on Oct. 30. More than 1,500 people were vaccinated, and nearly 900 vehicles lined up along Valencia Boulevard (right) and Rockwell Canyon Road before snaking their way through the college’s parking lots.

ines of cars filled with Santa Clarita Valley residents snaked through several College of the Canyons parking lots Friday, Oct. 30, as 1,561 seasonal flu vaccinations were dispensed in what amounted to a “mobile production line.”

For the fourth consecutive year, the City of Santa Clarita, the L.A. County Department of Public Health and College of the Canyons – along with the L.A. County sheriff’s and fire departments – conducted a drive-through flu shot clinic that dispensed vaccine to people in their vehicles.

In all, 1,499 adult and 32 pediatric seasonal flu shots, and 30 nasal vaccinations, were administered during the event, which opened an hour earlier than the scheduled 10 a.m. start time. The clinic operated until 12:30 p.m., dispensing inoculations against the seasonal flu – not the H1N1 vaccine.

“The logistics of screening for both types of shots presented a larger number of logistical challenges that we were able to accommodate in this type of format,” said Michael Joslin, dean of student services at the college and the day’s designated “incident commander” under the state’s Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) operational structure. “We’ll be monitoring the spread of the H1N1 virus and will coordinate closely with all of the appropriate agencies in the event that we need to conduct a similar event for H1N1.”

Flu shots are often provided to the public in anticipation of an active flu season, but the event also serves a secondary purpose. This drive-through clinic once again tested the Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) response to a possible See FLU SHOTS on Page 7