Breaking News Summer 2015 Proof

FUTURE LEADERS AWARDED PAGE 4

MEASURE M REPORT PAGES 6-7

news BREAKING

SUMMER 2015

KANSAS TO OPEN 2015/16 SEASON PAGE 5

COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS • MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE SINCE 1969

CULINARY EDUCATION CENTER OPENS State-of-the-Art Facility Provides Expanded Opportunities for Culinary Arts Students

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he College of the Canyons Institute Van Hook told the crowd, explaining that for Culinary Education (iCuE) has building an amazing college is like gourmet officially opened its doors, revealing cooking, requiring inspired vision, rigorous a veritable feast of state-of-the-art teaching planning, qualified people, and diligent imkitchens and educational facilities to train the next generation of culinary arts professionals.

The 12,200-squareThe Culinary Arts Café is open for lunch 11 a.m. foot building, anchored to 2:30 p.m. Thursdays throughout the summer by a central glass-enby reservation only. Make your reservation by closed dining room where students can demonstrate following the link under "News" at canyons.edu. their newly honed culinary skills, was revealed following a well-attended ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 15. plementation.

“What we have accomplished as a “As a result, we serve up an educational college is no accident. A chef doesn’t go into experience like none other,” she said. a kitchen and throw random ingredients The new permanent home for the poptogether and hope the end result is some- ular culinary arts program lends an elegant thing delicious,” Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. SEE CULINARY ON PAGE 8

Now Serving Lunch!

Chancellor Van Hook displays her honorary chef’s jacket during the ribbon-cutting.

COLLEGE EARNS RE-ACCREDITATION & COMMENDATIONS

Accreditation Commission Grants Highest Approval Possible

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ollowing a nearly two-year review process, College of the Canyons received the highest possible rating from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).

The commission notified the college in February that its accreditation has been approved for another six-year term. This highest level of approval is awarded only when an institution “substantially meets or exceeds the Eligibility Requirements, Accreditation Standards and Commission policies,” Commission President Barbara Beno stated in her notification letter.

“I am extremely proud of the outcome of our accreditation process, as it confirms what our community has long known about College of the Canyons – that we are a strategic, forward-thinking college committed to continuous improvement and the success of our students,” College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne Van Hook said.

The ACCJC evaluates and accredits public and private postsecondary institutions that offer two-year education programs and award the associate degree. The process is conducted not only to assure the quality of the institution, but also to encourage institutional improvement. All accredited institutions are expected to use the report to improve their educational programs and services.

SEE ACCREDITATION ON PAGE 4

99-YEAR-OLD STUDENT MAKES THE GRADE

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

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uring her lifetime, 99-year-old College of the Canyons graduate and Agua Dulce resident Doreetha Daniels has lived through the Great Depression, World War II and the fall of Nazi Germany, the Civil Rights movement, the moon landing, the collapse of the Berlin Wall and end of the Cold War and, and most recently, the ushering in of the digital information age.

But with all the drama the past has offered, Daniels – originally from North Platte, Neb. – had yet to be presented with a challenge quite like earning her associate degree.

On Friday, June 5, that dream was fulfilled as Daniels walked across the stage and accomplished her goal of earning a college degree before her 100th birthday.

She also cemented her legacy as a College of the Canyons first, holding the record for being the oldest graduate in the college’s history.

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

ECRWSS

Postal Customer

SEE GRADUATE ON PAGE 10

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COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • SUMMER 2015

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FALL REGISTRATION NOW UNDER WAY

News Briefs

More Than 1,700 Class Sections Offered; Classes Start Aug. 24

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egistration is now under way for the fall 2015 semester, with College of the Canyons providing students and community members with access to more than 1,700 class sections.

The majority of classes will be made up of courses that most students need to either graduate, transfer to a four-year institution, or meet prerequisites. The schedule also features a number of elective and exploratory courses.

With registration under way, students are encouraged to visit www.canyons.edu in order to view the current schedule of classes and take the steps necessary to enroll.

The fall 2015 schedule includes courses offered at both the college’s Valencia and Canyon Country campuses, as well as online.

Fall semester classes begin Monday, Aug. 24, and run through Saturday, Dec. 12.

As in years past, College of the Canyons will also offer a number of late-start and short-term courses to meet the needs of working adults. Those courses are scheduled to begin throughout September and October.

Enrollment fees at all 112 California community colleges remain at $46 per unit, as mandated by the state of California.

ADMISSIONS & RECORDS • Valencia Campus Canyons Hall (661) 362-5304 • Canyon Country Campus Quad 1, Building C (661) 362-3900 EMAIL admissions@canyons.edu WEBSITE www.canyons.edu COLLEGE HELPS HART ROBOTICS TEAM

By providing an $8,500 sponsorship to the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Project 691 robotics competition team, College of the Canyons helped the group of talented students follow through on an opportunity to compete at the 2015 FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) World Championship in St. Louis April 22 to 25. This year’s challenge required teams to design a robot that stacks large boxes on top of each other – the catch being that each team had just six weeks to design, wire and program their creations. By utilizing funding from a recent National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Manufacturing and Processing Training (AMPT) grant (#1304874), the college was able to provide the team with a sponsorship of $8,500 to help make the trip a reality.

SECOND FASTEST-GROWING COLLEGE

College of the Canyons is the second-fastest growing community college in America serving 10,000 or more students, according to Community College Week magazine.

The magazine examined enrollment changes and found that COC grew from 15,177 to 18,508 students, an increase of 21.9 percent, from fall 2012 to fall 2013. The fall 2014 semester was its largest ever in terms of the number of classes offered, and that trend continues with the winter 2015 session and spring 2015 semester, which will be larger than the same sessions offered in previous years. Over the course of 2013-14, COC generated more than $3 million in external funding to provide 866 businesses and 5,000 workers with job-specific customized training. As well, its Small Business Development Center helped companies increase sales by $24.3 million and raise $13.9 million in new capital.

High school sophomores visit the Valencia campus.

STUDENTS COMPLETE PLUMBING PROJECT

COLLEGE HOSTS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS 100 High School Sophomores Explore STEM Fields

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n an effort to better familiarize low-income students with the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, College of the Canyons partnered with the organizations GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness of Undergraduate Programs) and STAR Education Inc. to host a group of 100 high school sophomores for a day of hands-on activities and conversations with College of the Canyons instructors and students.

“The goal is to inspire these students to pursue college degrees and careers in STEM,” said Teresa Ciardi, program coordinator for astronomy & physical science programs at the college.

“Because of poverty and a lack of family members who have attended college, these students often question their ability to pursue degrees in science after high school,” added Ciardi.

This reality is what made Eric Lara, director of the college’s Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) program, Ciardi’s logical partner-in-crime for Friday’s event.

In addition to his work with the MESA department, Lara and his students founded the on-campus Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

(SHPE) club to help serve the growing demographic of first-generation Latino college students enrolled in STEM programs.

Together, the MESA program and SHPE serve as tangible representations of the college’s commitment to help financially disadvantaged and underrepresented students gain access to high caliber academic and professional resources.

Students from Francis Polytechnic High School, North Hollywood High School, Sun Valley High School and Van Nuys High School visited the college’s Valencia campus for a day of STEM-related activities and discussions in early May. Students began their visit at the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center with a water bottle rocket launch to kick off the day’s events.

A variety of interactive activities followed, including a scientific overview of the field of astronomy and shared stories from College of the Canyons students and instructors about the hardships they grew up with and how they worked to overcome them.

Other activities included a magnet and iron fillings exploration table, and an activity about refraction and the

Earth’s atmosphere. Following a Q&A panel over lunch, the students then departed by bus back to their respective schools.

“Many of these students have never visited College of the Canyons, which means a trip like this could have an unforgettable and lasting impact,” Ciardi added.

This event has been made possible through a partnership among College of the Canyons, the non-profit organization STAR Education, and GEAR UP, a federal grant designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

As part of the U.S. Department of Education, GEAR UP provides sixyear grants to states and partnerships to high-poverty secondary schools. Program funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students.

STAR Education is a non-profit organization recognized for its innovative education and community-based cultural enrichment programs. STAR currently serves more than 500 schools in 60 school districts, reaching more than 1 million students and their families every year.

This spring two local students took part in the College of the Canyons Community Plumbing Project, a first-of-its-kind service learning internship spearheaded by the college’s Plumbing Technology department and its industry advisory board.

COC plumbing technology students Phillip Griffin and Brandon Kugler-Harrison had the opportunity to work alongside professional journeymen plumbers to complete a two-day, multifaceted residential plumbing project at a private home in Santa Clarita. Canyons Community Plumbing project is a collaboration between the college’s Plumbing Technology department, the COC Cooperative Work Experience Education (CWEE) program, as well as several businesses and individuals associated with the college’s Plumbing Technology Advisory Board.

COLLEGE AWARDED $2.6 MILLION TITLE V GRANT

Latino students currently represent the largest single demographic of students at COC, comprising 43 percent of the student body, have the opportunity to enhance their educational experience through COC’s securing of a five-year, $26 million Title V grant. According to the college’s grant proposal, there are numerous challenges facing Latino students at COC. Seventy percent of students who are Latino work part-time, with an additional 25 percent committed to full-time jobs. Simply put, the resources that a Title V grant provides for COC will make it easier to address these issues with new procedures and increasingly specific objectives. The grant will be directly allocated to improvements which include online educational plans, expanded online tutoring programs, increased use of open educational resources, online counseling and increased faculty training for culturally congruent pedagogy. By 2019, the final year under grant funding, COC is projected to have trained an additional 250 full-time and adjunct faculty in culturally relevant pedagogy.

news BREAKING

COLLEGE , LAPD OFFER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

C

ollege of the Canyons has partnered with the Los Angeles Police Department to offer an internship program with the LAPD Motor Transport Division.

Upon selection, qualified students receive hands-on instruction from LAPD Motor Transport employees in diagnostics, preventative maintenance, installation of special equipment for law enforcement vehicles, and more.

More than 50 students in the college’s automotive technology department have already fulfilled the minimum requirements to apply.

Earlier this year, four students were selected to participate

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after a competitive application process that included a series of interviews and background checks.

The students – Michael Van Lamsweerde, Jeannette Constanino, Lynda Nunez and Kimberly Knight – began their 60hour internship June 22.

“The use of the word ‘amazing’ would be an understatement to describe the opportunity afforded to these students,” said Gary Sornborger, chair of the automotive technology department. “The fact that three of the students are female is especially unique in this typically male-dominated industry.”

For more information, call (661) 362-3881.

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

MAIL

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

EMAIL

pio@canyons.edu

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COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • SUMMER 2015

WELDING EMBRACES LATEST TECHNOLOGY

The Welding Department’s HDEm pulsed laser weld monitoring system at the Valencia campus.

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n aligning with the recent wave of national education reform, College of the Canyons is increasing its local imprint through the training and education of manufacturing workers.

With the installation of both HDEm Pulsed Laser Weld Monitoring and Laser Touch Sensing Adaptive Control Systems in the COC welding technology laboratories, the college’s ambition is on full display.

Each machine improves the overall speed, quality and efficiency of the welding process, and each machine was made possible through grant funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

“This technology was driven by the call of medical, automotive, aerospace and electronic industries to tackle the shortage of skilled labor,” said Simon Engel, president of HDE Technologies and inventor of the pulsed laser weld monitor.

Engel’s brainchild is used to measure certain properties of both the laser beam and the welded metal.

The attachment, an external ‘smart’ camera, helps instructors assess the quality of their students’ work as well as weld defects.

“The techniques industry currently uses to assess the quality of laser welds are expensive and provide limited data,” added Engel. “With

Laser weld monitoring system in use. the laser weld monitoring system, students will learn about laser welding and how to accurately report digital data within seconds after the welds are completed.”

The adaptive control system, COC Welding Technology’s other new addition, significantly reduces the time students in robotic

welding will spend on medial tasks.

“With conventional touch sensing, a series of physical touches is required to determine the part orientation before robotics can confirm any misalignment,” said Tim Baber, Department Chair of the college’s Welding Technology program.

“But this methodical process is eliminated with laser touch sensing. Part position is confirmed within seconds rather than minutes, and those 45 seconds you are saving is a huge deal in a manufacturing environment.”

According to Baber and Engel, COC is one of the only higher education institutions to be in line with these recent technological advances.

In fact, the college’s installation of cutting-edge equipment has Baber and company excited to the point of creative expansion.

Along with locally revered metal sculptor Idelle Tyzbir, the Fast Track Institute crafted an all-new Metal Sculpting course, which exposes students to basic welding fabrication and metal sculpturing skills.

The course is friendly to those without a background in welding, demanding only that students possess a desire to learn and safety gloves.

As part of their final send off, the metal sculpturing students will construct a permanent steel sculpture for placement at the Valencia Campus Student Center.

“Our ultimate goal is getting students as ready to go work as possible, and to have more than just a conventional exposure to the industry,” Baber added.

STUDENT'S SUCCESS FUELED BY NASA INTERNSHIP

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hrough his involvement with various on-campus clubs, activities and employment opportunities, College of the Canyons student Ryan McPeters has taken full advantage of the opportunities presented to him.

But in securing an internship with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for the study of semicircular matter disks and stellar formation and extinction, McPeters is rounding out the beginnings of a dynamic career that simply can’t be ignored.

“Ryan is one of those students who won’t let anything or anyone stop him, and he’s very ambitious, dedicated and passionate about the STEM fields,” said Dr. Eric Lara, director of the college’s Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) program. “But the best thing about him is the fact that he is so humble and is always willing to help each and every student around him.

“He will stay at work past his regular hours,” added Lara, “just to make sure those he is helping understand the material.”

Lara works closely with McPeters at the MESA center on campus, where McPeters serves as a tutor. When one of his peers told him about the internship opportunity with JPL, McPeters asked Lara for help in compiling the necessary paperwork.

“I had a friend in MESA who told me about this internship she was applying for, and she encouraged me to do the same. Although, to be honest I think she just needed a carpool,” McPeters said. “I applied to do research in some capacity with astrophysics, and I was placed with my mentor in the observation of stellar formation and extinction.”

McPeters drives to the JPL facilities three times a week to complete the program’s mandatory 10 hours of credit, where he writes code for 15 hours instead.

A product of home-schooling and charter schools, McPeters began his time at College

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of the Canyons as a 15-year-old in 2011 after completing his high school requirements.

“I wasn’t crazy about signing a bunch of parental permission slips,” McPeters said about the prospects of leaving for college at a young age. “I also didn’t have the best GPA in high school, so the decision became easier when factoring for that.”

Upon arriving at College of the Canyons, McPeters hit the ground running, ambitiously diving into the many resources offered.

After switching his focus from architecture to engineering, McPeters assumed the presidency of the college’s Math Club and assisted in the revival of the Engineering Club, which was waning in numbers.

Once McPeters got involved with various STEM-based clubs, the workings of the student-organized COC Science Expo first began.

“I noticed that in general a lot of clubs existed, but didn’t necessarily interact with each other. So through working with Gamma Beta Phi — which opened up my access to faculty members — I branched out to some different departments and started to put together the Science Expo with my friend Stephanie Valencia,” McPeters said.

Held earlier this year, the 2015 Science Expo operated under the theme “A Race to Save Humanity” and featured students addressing various disaster scenarios that threaten the fate of mankind.

“Ryan is amazing. He’s efficient but also such a joy to work with,” said Anne Marenco, chair of the college’s sociology department.

“He has a great sense of humor and a brilliant mind, and he’ll excel at whatever he chooses to do.”

For the remainder of the semester, McPeters has chosen to spend his time with NASA experts. Beyond that, a list of endless possibilities exists for this dynamic College of the Canyons student.

Ryan McPeters, NASA intern

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COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • SUMMER 2015

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BUSINESS STUDENTS EXCEL AT COMPETITION Future Business Leaders of America Club Captures 13 Awards at Regional Leadership Conference

The college’s award-winning Future Business Leaders of America team.

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ith more than 16,000 students in attendance and $81,000 in cash scholarships up for grabs, College of the Canyons students shined bright on the big stage at the Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) national conference held in Chicago from June 24-27.

At an event in which participants from across the country

ACCREDITATION FROM PAGE 1 The process includes an intensive institutional self-evaluation report, followed by an outside peer evaluation of an institution’s adherence to set standards of good practice, and an ongoing analysis of the overall quality of programs and services offered by the college.

“We engaged in a comprehensive effort to document all that we do, and how we demonstrate the best qualities of higher education,” said Dr. Jerry Buckley, vice president of instruction who led the college’s accreditation efforts. “College of the Canyons again

showcase their talents in 55 business and business-related competitive events, COC brought home two National Championships and saw a total of eight students place in the top ten nationally for their respective categories.

Some notable performances include the first-place efforts of COC students Paul Dezso and Jonathan Maxwell, who each

demonstrated to our community that we are committed to a high standard of teaching and learning, as well as support for our local businesses and industries by having our accreditation status reaffirmed.”

The college began compiling its self-evaluation report in fall 2013, and submitted it to the commission in August 2014 before a team of peer evaluators visited the college two months latter.

“The results of accreditation are a testament to everyone who works at College of the Canyons, and in particular, the more than 140 faculty, staff, and administrators who helped to write the self-evaluation report, catalog the required evidence, and produce the report.

As with everything we undertake at COC, it

captured $700 scholarships in addition to being named National Champions.

Dezso’s victory in the Business Law category required a demonstrated mastery of the basic principles through a case analysis presented to a panel of judges.

Maxwell, who competed in the Cyber Security category, was recognized for his demonstrated knowledge of the physical and online security of computer networks..

Robert Brennan, Lindsey Stoneman and Sandy SY took second place for their teamwork and a $100 scholarship in the field of Strategic Analysis and Decision Making.

Meanwhile Allison Silver and Stoneman collaborated to take fourth place and $100 in scholarship money for their work in Business Decision Making.

Miranda Gerda, Johnzel Iniba and Sy placed tenth in the Management Analysis and Decision Making category, with Brennan and teammate Dana Levine acting as local chapter voting delegates in the election of national officers.

In addition to the competitive events, students attended educational workshops, visited an information-packed exhibit hall and listened to motivational keynote presentations on a broad range of business topics.

During the trip, the group was also able to visit the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Millennium Park and the Navy Pier.

FBLA-PBL is the largest and oldest student business organization in the world, with a quarter million members and advisers in over 6,500 active middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. The organization is dedicated to its mission of bringing business and education together with innovative leadership and career development programs.

For more information about the College of the Canyons Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL), visit www.canyons.edu/Departments/bus/FBLA .

was a team effort marked by dedication, enthusiasm and a sense of purpose,” Dr. Van Hook said.

The visiting team of peer evaluators commended the college for successful fiscal management; developing a welcoming, student-centered learning environment; promoting effective student leadership; highlighting the talents of students by displaying student artwork throughout both campuses; and cultivating robust community partnerships.

For more information about accreditation, the self-evaluation report, and the visiting team’s report, visit www.canyons.edu and click “Accreditation” in the “About Canyons” drop-down menu

WE HAVE YOUR DEGREE PROGRAM! GET YOUR BACHELOR’S OR MASTER’S DEGREE RIGHT HERE! All of the programs listed here are offered by a variety of excel- lent universities at the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center, conveniently located on the Valencia campus of College of the Canyons. We’ve taken the long commute to distant campuses out of the equation, making it more convenient than ever for you to get that degree you’ve been dreaming about. Your degree is waiting!

INFORMATION (661) 362-5474

www.cocuniversitycenter.com

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Brandman University

Cal State Northridge

BACHELOR’S DEGREES

MASTER’S DEGREES

Applied Studies Computing Technologies Criminal Justice Legal Studies Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice Psychology Social Science Social Work

MASTER’S DEGREES Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy Emphasis Psychology, MFT & Prof. Clinical Counseling Emphasis

CERTIFICATE OR AUTHORIZATION Autism Spectrum Disorder

Cal State Bakersfield BACHELOR’S DEGREES Communications Sociology

Public Administration Social Work

National University BACHELOR’S DEGREES Nursing Paralegal Studies Sport Psychology

MASTER’S DEGREES Criminal Justice

CERTIFICATE Applied Behavior Analysis

University of La Verne

Child Development Liberal Studies Organizational Management

MASTER'S DEGREES Business Administration Educational Counseling Educational Leadership Leadership Management Special Education School Psychology

CREDENTIALS Mid-Moderate Preliminary Education Specialist Preliminary Administrative Pupil Personnel Services Single-Subject/Multiple-Subject Teaching

CERTIFICATE CLAD/CTEL, M.Ed. Special Emphasis

BACHELOR’S DEGREES Accounting Business Administration

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COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • SUMMER 2015

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER UNVEILS SEASON TIME JUMPERS

JOHN MICHAEL MONTGOMERY

KANSAS W

rent album “Revelation,” this band knows how to bring an audience to their feet.

If powerful drumming that you can feel all the way to your toes combined with the beauty of exotic costumes and athletic bodies interests you, then make plans to see the performance group TAO which makes a return visit to the PAC in its newest show “TAO: Seventeen Samurai” on March 13.

The season finishes strong on April 17, with one of the biggest stars in country music — John Michael Montgomery. With hits like “Life’s a Dance” to “I Can Love You Like That” audiences are sure to recognize some of Montgomery’s most beloved songs being crooned from the PAC stage.

In addition to these fantastic COC Presents shows the PAC will also offer a number of lively community performances from ESCAPE Theatre, Santa Clarita Ballet, Santa Clarita Master Chorale and Santa Clarita Regional Theatre.

The COC theatre, dance and music departments will also be performing throughout the season, offering you the chance to see the stars of tomorrow shine on stage today.

With so many enticingly diverse shows being offered this season, you wont want to miss your chance to add the PAC to your “to do” list.

Start planning now as series subscription tickets go on sale June 24, with individual ticket sales beginning July 15.

hether you prefer the heart-stirring twang of a country song, the hilarity of talented animals or the heavy beat of a drum, the 2015-16 Season at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center (PAC) at College of the Canyons has exactly what you need for an unforgettable afternoon or evening out on the town.

This year’s stellar season kicks off Sept.

12, with the incomparable classic rock band Kansas.

Known for timeless hit singles like “Carry On Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind,” this powerhouse rock band is responsible for serving as the soundtrack for the lives of multiple generations of music lovers.

Hot on the heels of Kansas comes Nashville — or rather the talent-filled super group from Nashville known as The Time Jumpers.

A favorite at the world-famous Stagecoach Musical Festival this year, the band features musical greats Vince Gill, Kenny Sears, and Riders In The Sky front man Ranger Doug Green, along with a host of other well-known musicians.

The Time Jumpers very rarely leave the arms of their Nashville residency, so don’t miss your opportunity to see this band live in action Sept. 30.

If family shows are more your style, consider purchasing tickets to one, or all, of the PAC’s Family Series shows.

The production of “Room on the Broom”

will delight audiences on Oct. 24, as the tale of a sweet witch and a cat and a very tall hat comes to life before your eyes. The Golden Dragon Acrobats are also scheduled to flip, dance and amaze their way onto the PAC stage in a spectacularly colorful show taking place Oct. 30.

Not to be outdone by those pesky humans, the show “Stunt Dog Experience” will bring an afternoon of high-energy excitement — in the form of some seriously talented furry friends — to the PAC on Nov. 13.

The final Family Series show brings to the stage one of the most recognized and beloved storybook characters in history with a production of “The Cat in the Hat,” on Jan. 17. Accompanied by fellow Dr. Seuss characters ‘Thing One’ and ‘Thing Two’ this mischievous Cat has some tricks up his sleeve!

The PAC season is also proud to serve up some cultural flavor with a diverse offering of soulful springtime shows.

The ultra hot group Pink Martini graces the PAC stage on Feb. 9, bringing with them their multilingual music and skillful arrangements. Known to have sold out the Hollywood Bowl in years past, this is your chance to see the group up close and personal.

Just a few weeks later, the American Chicano rock power trio Los Lonely Boys will visit the PAC on Feb. 20. From their smash hit debut single “Heaven” to their cur-

Santa Clarita Regional Theatre: Mary Poppins - Saturday, July 25, August 1, 8 & 15, 2015 and Saturday, July 26, August 2, 9, 16, 2015

COC Music: Electronica Musique and Multimedia Concert - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

COC Theatre: Dog Sees God - Friday – Saturday, March 18-19 & 24-26, 2016 and Sunday, March 20, 2016

COC Music: Holiday Jazz Band Concert Friday, December 4, 2015

COC Music: Swing It! - Friday, March 25, 2016

COC Music: Music and Imagination - Saturday, December 5, 2015

Symphony of the Canyons: In the “Spring” of Things - Saturday, April 16, 2016

Dancing With Our Stars - Friday, August 28, 2015 COC Presents: Kansas - Saturday, September 12, 2015 Santa Clarita Ballet: Sleeping Beauty Saturday, September 19, 2015 and Sunday, September 20, 2015

2015/16 SEASON

Santa Clarita Master Chorale: The Season of Light - Sunday, December 13, 2015, 3:30pm

COC Presents: John Michael Montgomery - Sunday, April 17, 2016

COC Presents: The Time Jumpers Wednesday, September 30, 2015

COC Dance: Dancepirations - Thursday, December 10, 2015 and Friday, December 11, 2015

COC Theatre: In the Heights - Friday – Saturday, April 29-30 & May 6-7, 2016 and Sunday, May 1 & 8, 2016

COC Theatre: Dracula - Friday – Saturday, October 9-10 & 16-17, 2015 and Sunday, October 11 & 18, 2015

Santa Clarita Ballet: The Nutcracker Saturday, December 19, 2015 and Sunday, December 20, 2015

COC Music: Annual POPS! Jazz Concert - Friday, May 13, 2016

COC Music: Symphony of the Canyons & the COC Chamber Choir - Saturday, October 17, 2015

COC Presents: Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat - Saturday, January 17, 2016

COC Music: The Music of World War II - Friday, October 23, 2015

ESCAPE Theatre: Peter Pan - Friday, January 29, 2015 and Saturday-Sunday, January 30-31, 2016

COC Presents: Room on the Broom - Saturday, October 24, 2015

COC Presents: Los Lonely Boys - Saturday, February 27, 2016

COC Presents: Golden Dragon Acrobats Friday, October 30, 2015

Santa Clarita Master Chorale: The Armed Man – A Mass For Peace Sunday, March 6, 2016

COC Theatre: Raisin in the Sun - Friday – Saturday, November 13-14 & 20-21and Sunday, November 15 & 22, 2015 COC Presents: Stunt Dog Experience Friday, November 13, 2015

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COC Presents: Tao: Seventeen Samurai Sunday, March 13, 2016 COC Presents: USAF Band of the Golden West - Monday, March 14, 2016

Symphony of the Canyons: Symphonic Dance - Saturday, May 14, 2016 COC Dance: Dancing to the Icons - Thursday-Friday, May 19-20, 2016 COC Music: Electronica Musique and Multimedia Concert - Wednesday, June 1, 2016 Santa Clarita Master Chorale: Come Sing the Songs of Africa - Sunday, June 5, 2016

LOS LONELY BOYS

STUNT DOG SPECTACULAR

TAO: SEVENTEEN SAMURAI

DR. SEUSS’ THE CAT IN THE HAT

GOLDEN DRAGON ACROBATS

Tickets

Individual tickets on sale now PHONE Box Office: (661)362-5304 ONLINE www.canyonspac.com BOX OFFICE Performing Arts Center 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91355 (The Performing Arts Center is located at College Circle and Rockwell Canyon Road)

Santa Clarita Ballet: Peter Pan - Saturday, June 11, 2016 ESCAPE Theatre: Beauty and the Beast Friday, June 17, 2016 and Saturday-Sunday, June 18-19, 2016

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COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • SUMMER 2015

6

MEASURE M: REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

CAMPUS COMPLETION: A DREAM FULFILLED Opening of Culinary Arts Facility Represents Final Major Construction Project for Valencia Campus

Aerial view of Valencia campus.

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he familiar sights and sounds of construction activity are fading into memory with the opening of the College of the Canyons Institute for Culinary Education, which, as the last major construction project, signifies the completion of the Valencia campus.

“I am proud to say that all projects listed in the Master Plan are complete and made possible by the people of the Santa Clarita Valley, who put their faith in us when they approved two critical bond measures over the last 14 years,” Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook said. “We had the plan, but we couldn’t have implemented it without the community’s enduring support.”

The bond measures – Measure M and Measure C – played a decisive role in allowing College of the Canyons to meet the demand, and exceed expectations, for relevant, cutting-edge educational and training programs; build and equip state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate them; develop an entirely new campus in Canyon Country; create an innovative facility where residents can earn university degrees locally, and be as thoroughly prepared for the future as possible.

With major construction coming to an end at the Valencia campus, attention will turn to the Canyon Country campus, where permanent buildings have been planned to meet the demands of a fast-growing campus that surpassed enrollment projections from Day 1.

Housed primarily in modular buildings,

Aerial view of Canyon Country campus.

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the Canyon Country campus opened with more than 3,000 students in 2007. Within five years, enrollment topped 5,000, a figure that is greater than that of eight California community colleges.

“With the Valencia campus completed, our focus and energies will be directed toward ensuring that the Canyon Country campus has modern, up-to-date facilities that can accommodate educational and training programs both now and well into the future,” Dr. Van Hook said. “We’ve already completed much of the groundwork, with plans in place for three permanent buildings.”

With Measure M funding available and pending, the college qualifies for matching funding from the state to jump-start construction of permanent facilities at the Canyon Country campus. But construction is contingent on passage of a statewide facilities bond, which could be presented to voters in November 2016. The governor blocked a similar measure last year after it was approved unanimously by the Legislature.

As the second fastest-growing community college in the nation, College of the Canyons has experienced extraordinary growth, facilities progress and student success. Now in its 45th anniversary year, the college has grown from 735 students in 1969 to more than 31,000 annually at its two campuses.

The college’s commitment to student success is reflected in its student completion rate – the rate at which students earn degrees,

certificates or transfer-prepared status. It’s the highest of all community colleges in Los Angeles County and ranks in the top 10 among California’s 112 community colleges. And, the most recent commencement was the largest in college history with 1,343 graduates, 271 of whom graduated with academic honors.

This unprecedented level of progress and success has been achieved in large part by the optimism of a historically supportive community when it backed Measure M, the $160 million bond in 2006, and the bond measure that preceded it, the $82 million Measure C in 2001.

Measure M, specifically, is responsible for significant, prominent progress from one side of the Santa Clarita Valley to the other.

On the east, the college has established a compelling presence with an entirely new campus in Canyon Country. On the west, the Valencia campus has been built out with an assortment of state-of-the-art and architecturally striking buildings whose form has nevertheless followed function. Perhaps the most visible at the Valencia campus is the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center, which occupies a prominent perch along Interstate 5. The center has dramatically improved access to higher education by housing bachelor’s, master’s, credential, and certificate programs from five partner universities.

The most recently completed Measure M-funded projects include the College of the

Canyons Institute for Culinary Education and Canyons Hall, both of which opened at the Valencia campus in early 2015.

While not listed in the Educational and Facilities Master Plan, a culinary education facility emerged as a high priority in recent years as the program gained prominence and grew – despite not having a permanent home. The 12,200-square-foot culinary facility’s $10 million cost was funded by a combination of bid savings from previous construction projects, Measure M bond proceeds, and capital fundraising campaigns in both the community and among college staff. Nearly 700 community members contributed to the fundraising campaign, and fully 97 percent of College of the Canyons employees donated to the project.

Then there’s Canyons Hall, the Center for Student Services and Community Engagement, which stands near College Circle, the main entrance to the Valencia campus.

Coming in at a cost of approximately $17.1 million, the two-story, 46,000-square-foot building serves as a one-stop shop for a variety of student services and a centralized location for key administrative offices. Located within the building are Admissions & Records, Counseling, the Transfer Center, and the Job & Career Center.

Other recent Measure M-funded projects include the Applied Technology Education Center, the first permanent facility to be built at the Canyon Country campus, and the dramatic expansions of both Mentry Hall and the Library at the Valencia campus. The Library expansion also provided an expansive, stateof-the-art home to the popular and heavily utilized TLC (The Learning Center).

As a key component that has driven the college’s recent progress, Measure M will far exceed its original $160 million valuation – and save taxpayers money in the process – because the college has maximized every bond-issued dollar by leveraging other resources. The bond authorization’s actual value is now in the neighborhood of $303 million because of earned interest and state matching funds. Moreover, the college has capitalized on market conditions by refunding bonds to reduce the number of years of taxpayer payments.

“College of the Canyons has been very mindful and extremely diligent about delivering on the promises of Measure M,” Dr. Van Hook said. “With meticulous planning and oversight, we’ve exceeded those promises by leveraging Measure M bond funds to achieve the absolute maximum value possible as we build the best community college ever imagined.”

For more information about Measure M, including Citizens Oversight Committee meetings, agendas, financial reports and audits, visit www.canyons.edu and click “Measure M Oversight” in the “About Canyons” drop-down menu.

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COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • SUMMER 2015

MEASURE M: REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

PROJECTS UPDATE cant contribution toward meeting the area’s educational needs.

The campus has benefited from a number of improvements, including the opening of the Carl A. Rasmussen Amphitheater, a freestanding food concession, extensive landscaping improvements, and its first permanent building (see below).

Canyons Hall, Center for Student Services and Community Engagement Location: Valencia campus Status: Completed 2015 Size: 46,370 square feet Cost: $17.1 million This new facility features a Welcome Center, computer kiosks for student use, and a one-stop shop for key student services such as Admissions & Records, Financial Aid, Counseling, the Transfer Center, and the Job & Career Center.

College of the Canyons Institute for Culinary Education Location: Valencia campus Status: Completed 2015 Size: 12,208 square feet Cost: $10 million The new permanent home for the culinary arts program lends an elegant sophistication appropriate for a building that will serve both educational and social functions. Approximately $3 million of the construction costs came from bid savings on the Library/TLC expansion project. The building includes a Show Kitchen, Savory Kitchen, Sweets Kitchen, Wine Studies Room and Culinary Lab. Most importantly, the facility expands a premier culinary arts program whose quality is comparable to those offered by private culinary arts institutions, but at considerably less expense.

Canyon Country Campus Location: Canyon Country Status: Phase 1 completed 2007 Size: 70 acres Cost: $58 million The Canyon Country campus welcomed more than 3,000 students when it opened in 2007, fulfilling the community’s need for convenient access to educational and training programs in the eastern Santa Clarita Valley. The campus has made a signifi-

Applied Technology Education Center Location: Canyon Country campus Status: Completed 2011 Size: 10,315 square feet Cost: $7.1 million The Applied Technology Education Center, the first permanent building on the Canyon Country campus, houses a variety of educational and training programs, including alternative energy management, automotive technology, construction management, building inspection, landscape management and water systems technology.

Library/TLC Expansion Location: Valencia campus Status: Completed 2012 Size: 51,435 square feet (facility now 86,606 square feet) Cost: $15.8 million The Library was expanded and now provides a dramatically larger, 41,435-square-foot home for the heavily utilized TLC (The Learning Center), which delivers more than 100,000 hours of supplemental tutoring to students annually. The Library now occupies 45,171 square feet on two levels. The expanded facility features a new Computer Commons area with 100 student workstations, group-study rooms, and a Special Collections area to accommodate rotating exhibits of student and community art.

Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center Location: Valencia campus Status: Completed 2009 Size: 110,000 square feet Cost: $39.8 million The Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center provides instructional and support space for degree programs offered by partner universities such as Brandman University, California State University Bakersfield, Cal State L.A., Cal State Northridge, the University of La Verne and National University.

Since 2002, when University Center programs were housed in an interim facility, more than 30,000 students have enrolled in degree, certificate and credential programs. The facility also houses the TEACH program, the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Academy of the Canyons, the City of Santa Clarita’s WorkSource Center. The center’s unique approach to

AUDIT AFFIRMED

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providing easy access to degree programs from multiple universities was summed up by then-U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary Dr. Martha Kanter, who lauded it as a model of higher education access that should be emulated nationwide.

Mentry Hall Expansion Location: Valencia campus Status: Completed 2010 Size: 28,000 square feet added (facility now 78,237 square feet) Cost: $12.3 million The Mentry Hall expansion, a design-build project that was completed in less than a year, added more than 32,000 square feet of instructional space, including two computer labs, a large lecture room, 11 classrooms, a 2-D drawing classroom, a life/ drawing classroom, two conference rooms and 12 offices. Spacious corridors feature lounge areas where students meet and study. The expansion increased the overall size of Mentry Hall to 78,237 square feet.

Parking Lot Location: Canyon Country campus Status: Completed 2010 Cost: $1 million Technology Infrastructure Upgrades Location: District-wide Status: Completed Cost: $1 million Other Measure M-funded improvements include secondary effects in Bonelli Hall and Mentry Hall ($3.4 million), the Facilities Master Plan ($253,000), and various health and safety upgrades ($50,000) primarily on the Valencia campus. The Measure M construction pipeline is filled with myriad projects that are planned in the future, including several permanent buildings at the Canyon Country campus, and replacement of equipment, scheduled maintenance and other secondary effects.

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he Measure M Citizens Oversight Committee has accepted the results of an independent audit that confirms the college spent bond funds as authorized.

The audit verified that the college has complied with all laws and accountability measures set forth in Proposition 39, the California Constitution, and the California education code, and that bond funds were not spent on general administration or operational costs.

“This was a very impressive audit,” said Nick Lentini, chair of the oversight committee. “It did not contain any findings, which is a testament to the college’s strict fiscal controls and extensive staff efforts.”

In its financial and performance audits for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, Vavrinek, Trine, Day & Co. noted no adjustments, audit findings, questioned costs, or instances of noncompliance associated with the bond – further confirming that all funds were spent appropriately.

The auditing firm issued an unmodified opinion, the best rating possible. The audits were presented to the oversight committee during its Jan. 15, 2015 meeting.

“For eight years running College of the Canyons has earned a clean Measure M audit, reinforcing its reputation for appropriately managing its bond funds,” said Sharlene Coleal, assistant superintendent/vice president of business services at the college.

Local voters approved the $160 million general obligation bond in 2006. The district has $20 million in bonds to be issued at a future date, after issuing $80 million in bonds in May 2007, $35 million in bonds in May 2012, and $25 million in bonds in September 2014 (after the audit was performed).

By supplementing the bond funds with earned interest and roughly $132.6 million in matching state funds and other funding sources, an estimated $303.3 million in projects are planned.

The 2013-14 audit confirms approximately $125.7 million in resources from the first two bond issuances, which also includes earned interest and net premiums on the bonds.

Of that amount, more than $112.5 million has been expended on authorized bond projects, leaving the district with a fund balance in the neighborhood of $13.2 million as of June 30, 2014.

“We are proud of our record of clean audits, which confirm that we continue to deliver on the promises made to voters when they approved Measure M,” Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook said. “The Santa Clarita Valley expects us to create a college that is capable of delivering cutting-edge education and training that allows students to achieve their goals. I’m proud that we’re exceeding those expectations through the resources they entrusted to us through Measure M.”

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COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • SUMMER 2015

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SUN NEVER SETS ON COLLEGE’S ISP

Proyecta students gather at the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center.

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he College of the Canyons International Services and Programs (ISP) office currently sits in an unassuming building on the outskirts of the Valencia campus, but it’s hard to find a more active corps of administrators and instructors.

Through increased global partnership, and an ambitious vision to chase the untapped potential of the department, ISP director Jia-Yi Cheng-Levine and company are building an atmosphere and curriculum that’s already resulted in a significant increase in the international student population on campus.

Since stepping into the position during the spring 2014 semester, Cheng-Levine has seen her department’s numbers explode from 117 full-time students a year ago to 171 in 2015 — a 48 percent overall hike.

“The International Services and Programs department is dedicated to promoting global awareness across campus,” said Deborah Rio, the college’s Dean of Enrollment Services. “We love international students because they bring

cultural richness and introduce the general COC population to diverse viewpoints. It reminds us that we are part of the world around us.”

In April, Rio and Cheng-Levine departed for a 12-day trek to China and Korea where they worked to help educate students in “second-tier” cities (regions often untouched by American study exchange recruiters) about the American system of community colleges.

For instance, when visiting East Asia the goal is to attract students to COC, or at the very least establish a dialogue with a group of people who would otherwise have no exposure to educational opportunities provided by a two-year community colleges.

In places such as Mexico, the ISP has worked in cooperation with national education initiatives to establish a student exchange programs, including the recent “Proyecta 100,000” program that the ISP department became involved with during the fall 2014 semester.

The initiative, a cooperative of President

Obama’s “100,000 Strong in the Americas” program, aims to send 100,000 Mexican students to the United States for English education by 2018.

In exchange, 50,000 American students will eventually travel to Latin American countries for study abroad programs of their own.

COC was selected as one of 160 American institutions to host the first wave of Proyecta students, accommodating 100 Mexican students last November for an accelerated course in English.

While on campus, Proyecta students also participated in standard ISP activities such as iCOC Passport, which encourages students to experience the international lifestyle without ever having to leave campus by attending events and academic discussions spanning a variety of cultures and disciplines.

By serving the Proyecta students, the total population of full- and part-time students served by the ISP grew from 169 to 304.

“In terms of funding, the increases in stu-

dent population have allowed our budget to grow by about $300,000,” said Cheng-Levine.

“The long term goal here is to use ISP as a hub for internationalization,” added Cheng-Levine. “As a destination for international students, we already rank highly in comparison with well-established four-year universities, so it’s important to continue building the college’s reputation as one of the best in serving the international community.”

On a smaller scale, a series of workshops similar in format to last semester’s iCOC Passport itinerary will continue throughout the spring semester. Such acculturation activities are designed to provide context about what the actual quality of life and education is like in modern-day China.

According to Cheng-Levine, Chinese students accounted for 31 percent of all international students in the U.S. during the 2013-14 academic year.

The ISP at College of the Canyons currently serves students from 49 different countries.

CULINARY FROM PAGE 1 sophistication appropriate for a building that will serve both educational and social functions. The building’s many amenities include a Show Kitchen, Savory Kitchen, Sweets Kitchen, Banquet Kitchen, Wine Studies Room and Culinary Lab. The facility’s $10 million cost was funded by a combination of bid savings from previous construction projects, Measure M bond proceeds, and capital fundraising campaigns in both the community and among college staff.

Nearly 700 community members contributed to the capital campaign to build and equip the facility, and 97 percent of College of the Canyons employees donated to the fundraising campaign.

“Without their generosity, we would not have this amazing facility,” Dr. Van Hook said. “We have accomplished our goal because we had the help of passionate, supportive friends who believe in the power of education – and see the potential of College of the Canyons.”

The facility expands a premier culinary arts program whose quality is comparable to, but far less expensive than, culinary programs offered by private institutions.

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Students hard at work in one of the iCuE’s teaching kitchens.

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COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • SUMMER 2015

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SCULPTURE COLLECTION UNVEILED

Largest Simi Dabah Sculpture Collection in World

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ollege of the Canyons’ recently unveiled collection of unique steel sculptures, crafted by renowned artist Simi Dabah, is the largest such collection in the world.

The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees and College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne Van Hook hosted a special dedication ceremony to unveil the collection late last year. The installation of the welded-steel sculptures began last summer at both the Valencia and Canyon Country campuses.

Locations include the Valencia campus Honor Grove, Performing Arts Center courtyard, the Library and TLC, Early Childhood Education Center and main entrances at both campuses The sculptures were created by Southern California artist Simi Dabah and generously donated for permanent installation.

“As we celebrate the college’s 45 years of opportunities, memories and growth, there couldn’t be a more appropriate contribution than these original works from Simi Dabah,” Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook said. “These sculptures have been strategically placed throughout our two campuses and will only enhance the college’s ambience and environmental beauty, as they inspire students and staff from every angle.”

Welded from pieces of industrial scrap metal, Dabah’s sculptures have been praised for being both friendly to the environment and inspirational to the viewer.

Prior to the installation, students from various departments in the Fine and Performing Arts Division were given the opportunity to submit potential names for each piece.

“The joy that these sculptures will bring to everyone who visits College of the Canyons will be evident for years to come,” Van Hook added, “and we are eternally grateful to Mr. Dabah for that.”

Simi Dabah is a self-taught artist/welder who has been creating welded steel sculptures from industrial scrap for more than 40 years. His sculptures include a wide spectrum of nonrepresentational designs, and range from tabletop size to more than 20 feet high.

Upon completion, most of the outdoor pieces are left in their natural state and allowed to rust to a warm patina.

Dabah has a studio in Los Angeles where he creates most of his pieces, and a second studio in Joshua Tree, where his sculptures are displayed on eight acres of land. He donates his sculptures to public and non-profit organizations for permanent installation and to help in their fundraising efforts. His sculptures have been installed in public venues throughout the Southwest.

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COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • SUMMER 2015

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CANYONS HALL OPENS

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anyons Hall, the Center for Student Services and Community Engagement, stands proudly near College Circle and welcomes students and guests alike. Built at a cost of approximately $17.1 million, the two-story, 46,000-square-foot building serves as a one-stop shop for a variety of student services and a centralized location for key administrative offices. Among the occupants of the new building are Admissions & Records, Counseling, Financial Aid, the Transfer Center, and the Job & Career Center.

Doreetha Daniels receiving her degree at 2015 graduation ceremony.

GRADUATE FROM PAGE 1 “There will be some tears of accomplishment for sure,” Daniels said during an interview prior to commencement. “I understand that to earn a degree in college at age 99, that’s a bit unusual.”

In spring 2009, Daniels began taking courses at the college’s Canyon Country campus with a goal to earn her degree and walk at graduation.

To those who may have wondered why Daniels would pursue such a goal so late in life,

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Daniels simply explained she had always lived life to the fullest, and achieved many things, but never completed her education.

While most students attend college to earn a degree with the hope of launching a career or enhancing their skillset in order to climb the corporate ladder, Doreetha came to COC with the simple goal of bettering herself.

Surrounded by students typically ranging in age from 18 to 24, Daniels was without question an outlier. As a result, she had to overcome a number of associated challenges on her educational journey.

Seemingly routine tasks, such as driving to school and traversing the campus, took

considerably more effort to coordinate for Daniels than the average student.

In the classroom, other challenges presented themselves – namely the necessity of computer literacy in order to complete modern college courses. Daniels also experienced issues related to hearing class lectures and keeping pace with other students.

But she persevered – even when that meant venturing into the often-dreaded arena of college-level math and statistics courses.

“It’s been 63 years since I’ve taken algebra even,” Daniels said. “But I’ve learned a lot.”

Recognizing these challenges, Daniels simply worked harder. That work paid off.

Twice a week, she could be found studying, doing homework and working with tutors at the campus’ Tutoring & Learning Center (TLC) – all before class even started.

Described as “one of the most dedicated and hardworking students in the class,” Daniels passed the statistics course in the fall of 2014 and began her final semester this past spring.

Along the way she completed 1-unit internship in the Counseling Department – again routinely arriving 20 minutes early each day to begin completing her assigned tasks.

She also formed some lasting friendships.

“Doreetha is a living testament to the saying, ‘If there is a will, there is a way,’ ” said counseling faculty member Liz Shaker, who helped Daniels navigate the process of fulfilling her graduation requirements. “Her desire to get out of bed each day and come to school and face the challenges in and outside of the classroom inspired us all. She is truly an amazing woman who has impacted my life and I feel so fortunate that I was able to experience her journey alongside her.”

Daniels’ story is an example of the type of unbridled ambition that is all too rare in today’s world.

Since arriving at the college in 2009, she has served as a continued source of inspiration to students, college staff and community members of all ages.

Last month, Daniels took the opportunity to reflect on the importance of education, when she asked to speak to some of her fellow students as part of a Career and Life Planning course at the college.

“It seems like the iPhones in their lap are sometimes more important to students than what’s going on in the classroom,” Daniels said. “I think somebody needs to say something or something needs to happen to show the younger ones how special and unique their opportunity to learn is.”

By earning her degree and graduating, Daniels did just that.

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COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • SUMMER 2015

ATHLETIC PROGRAMS ON HOT STREAK

to end its season on a high note. Prior to running at the state meet, Canyons had finished second at the WSC Championships and third at the SoCal Regionals. COC also have five athletes named to the All-WSC team.

Women’s Soccer The women’s soccer team had a dominant regular season in 2014 winning the WSC, South title for the fourth consecutive year and going 15-2-3 overall with a 12-1-1 conference record.

Canyons outscored its opponents 62-7 during the regular season and won 11 of its final 12 regular season games before being eliminated from the postseason on penalty kicks by Cypress College.

Freshman forward Marissa Kneisel was named 2014 Conference Player of the Year and head coach Justin Lundin was named Conference Coach of the Year to highlight a group of 12 COC players who received All-Conference honors.

College of the Canyon’s Cross Country State Champions.

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he College of the Canyons athletic department is riding a hot streak dating back to the 2013-14 academic year.

Back in August, COC Athletics was awarded its first ever Western State Conference (WSC) Supremacy Award for the collective performance of its sports programs during the 2013-14 academic year — including six conference championships.

Not satisfied with that accolade, coaches and student-athletes started the fall season on the prowl for additional titles and awards — and certainly did not disappoint.

The Cougars won four more WSC titles in fall 2014 (men’s cross country, women’s volleyball, women’s golf and women’s soccer). Then in November, COC topped things off by winning a men’s cross country California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championship for the first time since 1975.

Here’s a closer look at how the college’s sports programs have fared:

FOOTBALL PLAYER LAYS DOWN LAW

Men’s Cross Country The men's cross country team hoisted a state championship trophy for the first time since 1975, as the Cougars ran to a 79-86 victory over three-time defending state champs American River College at the 2014 CCCAA Cross Country State Championships held Saturday, Nov. 22, at Woodward Park in Fresno.

With its win, the team achieved the cross country equivalent of a triple crown season — taking the WSC title, the SoCal Regional title and the State Championship — while seeing seven athletes earn All-WSC honors.

Head coach Lindie Kane also became the first female coach to win a CCCAA men's cross-country state championship.

Women’s Cross Country The women's cross-country team also had a successful season, finishing in second place at the State Championships

Women’s Volleyball The women’s volleyball team finished the 2014 regular season with a 20-3 record, while going undefeated in conference play to clinch the Cougars’ second consecutive WSC, South title.

The Cougars also won a school record 16 consecutive games to finish the regular season before drawing the eventual State Champions, Irvine Valley College, in the opening round of the CCCAA Regional Playoffs.

However, the impressive season turned in by COC did not go unnoticed as sophomore standout Serena LeDuff earned AllState Team honors and her second straight conference player of the year award to headline a class of eight Cougars named to the all-conference squad.

Head coach Lisa Hooper was also named WSC South Coach of the Year for a second straight year.

MEN’S GOLF WINS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

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atthew Morris came to College of the Canyons in 2004 as a wide receiver on the football team. Eleven years later, the former Cougar is on the verge of a career breakthrough as the founder of the Morris Law Practice, a San Fernando Valley-based business that’s the logical product of years of dedication and ambition.

“When you open up your own practice it’s important to understand the branding and direction you want to take your company in,” said Morris, a member of the COC paralegal studies program’s first graduating class in 2008.

“I’d been in the legal realm for a few years as a student, clerk and other positions,” added Morris. “I saw a lot of things that I didn’t like about the field, and I began this venture with the idea that we’d do things differently in a way that honors what attorneys with integrity are supposed to bring to the table.”

After spending two years at College of the Canyons, Morris began taking classes at Santa Monica College, only to return to COC in 2007 when he heard about the new paralegal studies program being started by then-professor Deborah Orlik.

“There’s literally been nothing like what I experienced (at COC),” Morris said. “The professors actually cared and wanted to see you do well, and the quality of the learning environment was something that I hadn’t experienced up until that point — which really, really pushed me.”

Upon completing his time as a community college student, Morris started ambitiously tackling his dream of becoming a law professional.

In the fall of 2008, he enrolled at the University of California at Riverside, a move that led to one of the most physically challenging chapters of the young law student’s life.

At that time Morris and his two-year-old child were unable to find housing near the Riverside campus, and were subsequently placed on an 18-month-long waiting list.

Because he was a transfer student, and his window of time in college was limited to begin with, Morris elected to keep his family in Santa Clarita and make the 174 mile round trip commute to class.

“I only knew Matthew for a short time, but it was enough to give me the impression that he was someone who would do whatever it takes to achieve his goals and dreams,” said Nicole Faudree, chair of the college’s paralegal studies department. “I know that it took a lot of sacrifice, but the rewards are endless.”

After obtaining his bachelor’s degree, Morris passed the LSAT and completed his academic career at Southwestern Law School.

Morris spent his initial post-college years in an insurance litigation firm, while also racking up other professional achievements.

The former COC football player, who is now a husband and father of three, clerked for a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge as well as for Business and Legal Affairs at NBC Universal Film Music before opening his own business in 2014.

“When you start your own firm, it doesn’t really have that conventional 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. rhythm,” added Morris.

“The business just doesn’t stop and it’s exciting to pursue.

This was just a vision that came to me piece by piece, and thankfully things lined up.”

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he College of the Canyons men’s golf team has won the 2015 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championship. Canyons carded a five-man score of 733 at Kings River Golf & Country Club in Kingsburg to hold off tourney host and second place finisher Reedley College at 741. Canyons held an eight-stroke lead on Riverside College after the first round of play, with freshman Matt Murray and sophomore Eric Kim each turning in under par rounds of 71 to lead the Cougars over the first 18 holes. Kim would shoot a 74 in the second round to finish with a 36-hole score of 145. That mark would tie with sophomore Sam Sloman who turned in rounds of 74 and 71 to

tie Kim for the team lead. Sloman’s score ranked him seventh among the tourney’s individual finishers. Despite having an identical score, Kim was slotted two spots back to finish the tourney in ninth place. The 2015 State Championship is the seventh in COC men’s golf program history -- all coming under head coach Gary Peterson. Canyons also won state titles in 1993, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008 and 2013. With the win, Peterson becomes the winningest men’s head coach in CCCAA golf history. Earlier this season, Canyons also won its sixth straight Western State Conference championship and second consecutive SoCal Championship. Congratulations to Gary and his entire team.

FORMER STANDOUT ATHLETES CELEBRATED

The College of the Canyons Athletic Hall of Fame hosted its bi-annual dinner and induction ceremony on Jan. 30. The 2015 class of inductees were: Chip Chavez, Meritorious Service Graduated from COC in 1974 ... as a player, earned First Team, All-Conference and All-State Honorable Mention recognition as a kicker on the college’s football team… member of football feasibility committee which recommended that COC bring back its football program … Served as volunteer assistant coach from 1998-2007, and again in 2013. Member of the 2004 National Championship team coaching staff … Inducted into COC Alumni Hall of Fame in 2009.

Jim Luster, Wrestling, 1974-76 Graduated from COC in 1976 ... two time Western State Conference (WSC) champion in 142lb weight class (1975, 1976) ... Finished as runner-up at 1975

CCCAA State Wrestling Championships ... 1975 COC ‘Most Outstanding Wrestler Award’winner ... 1976 WSC Most Valuable Wrestler Award ... 1977 NCAA Div. III All-American at Humboldt State.

Frank Halcovich, Baseball, 1985-86 Graduated from COC in 1986 ... two time All American, CCCAA Southern California Player of the Year and All-Conference selection ... member of 1986 state championship baseball team, and 1985 state runner-up team ... 15-0 as a pitcher in 1986 ... member of University of Arizona baseball team 1987-88 ... earned All-PAC 10, South honors as a utility man in 1988 after batting .361with 12 HRs, 49 RBIs and leading the team with seven wins as a pitcher ... earned U of A Scholastic Achievement Award ... drafted by Kansas City Royals Dana Rattler, Track & Field, 2005-06 Graduated from COC in 2006 ... two time All-American Athlete ... participated in

two CCCAA state track meets ... Placed fourth and established school record at 2005 SoCal Heptathlon ... won 2005 SoCal Championship in 100m hurdles, while setting school record ... 2005 WSC Champion and All-Conference selection in 100m hurdles and 4x100m relay, Honorable Mention in 400m hurdles ... Placed fourth at 2006 SoCal Heptathlon Avon Riley, Football, 1977-78 Graduated from COC in 1979 ... two-time All-WSC selection as linebacker (1977, 1978) unanimous selection in 1978 ... Most Outstanding Linebacker Award (1977, 1978) ... Two-time team captain (1977, 1978) ... Earned a full athletic scholarship to UCLA ... earned All-PAC 10 honors in 1980 ... co-recipient of UCLA Paul I. Wellman Memorial Award for All-Around Excellence ... drafted by Houston Oilers in ninth round of 1981 NFL Draft ... Played six seasons with Houston and one with Pittsburgh Steelers.

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COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • SUMMER 2015

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COLLEGE RECOGNIZED FOR LEADERSHIP

Open Educational Resources Reduce Student Costs and Increase Access to Higher Education

C

ollege of the Canyons has been recognized for its continued leadership in promoting the use of Open Educational Resources in the classroom as a means to help reduce student costs and increase access to higher education.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are free, electronic educational content materials, which are increasingly being used in the classroom as an alternative to traditional textbooks and course manuals.

OERs are licensed in a way that allows them to be legally and freely shared, reproduced and modified. For example, when a publisher releases a textbook in the OER for-

mat, it can be used by others legally and at no cost.

OERs offer community college students a no-cost alternative to costly commercial textbooks while helping to make the price of college more affordable to all.

College of the Canyons students save an estimated $750,000 a year by using openly licensed materials rather than commercial textbooks.

“By engaging in the global OER movement College of the Canyons has been able to fulfill one of our missions as a community college, which is to help make education more accessible,” said James Glapa-Grossklag, dean

of educational technology, learning resources and distance learning at the college.

College of the Canyons has an established history of adopting such learning tools with faculty members in the college’s biology, history, sociology, geology, mathematics and water technology departments all currently using OERs. That trend should only continue with Glapa-Grossklag having recently been elected president of the Open Education Consortium, a worldwide community of higher education institutions and associated organizations committed to advancing open education and its impact on global education.

As the global advocate for the use of OERs, the consortium now includes more than 250 institutional members around the globe.

However, COC has been involved with the consortium since its humble beginnings more than eight years ago.

In 2013, Glapa-Grossklag was also elected to the consortium’s board of directors, becoming its first community college representative.

In his new role as president, Glapa-Grossklag will provide oversight of the organization’s management, finances and programs, as carried out by a professional staff located around the world. He will also work to develop and maintain partnerships with non-governmental organizations and professional associations interested in the use of OERs. Glapa-Grossklag is not alone in advancing these efforts.

At the recent Open Education Global Conference held April 22 to 24 in Banff, Canada, sociology professor Anne Marenco was honored with the organization’s Educator Award for Excellence, recognizing her work to encourage fellow educators to share their materials more openly.

“Anne has worked tirelessly to expand, adapt and even author openly licensed textbooks that are used by the hundreds of students she has in her classroom each year,” said Glapa-Grossklag. “She has also inspired dozens of her colleagues to do the same, thereby expanding that benefits to literally thousands of students.”

It’s estimated that the use of openly licensed sociology textbooks alone saves College of the Canyons students approximately $180,000 per year.

In fact, a recent national survey released by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group found that 50 percent of students reported taking fewer college courses or different courses due to textbook costs.

In addition, 65 percent chose to not buy the textbook at all, while 94 percent expressed concern that their grades would suffer because they could not afford the textbook.

“Stories and statistics like these have pushed the college to expand its use of OERs,” said Glapa-Grossklag, “so that eventually COC students will be able to complete an associate degree program using only openly licensed materials.”

GRANT TO DEVELOP HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE

A

fter receiving a two-year Industry Driven Regional Collaborative (IDRC) grant valued at approximately $230,000, College of the Canyons finds itself on the ground floor in the development of the Healthcare Information Technology Statewide Workforce Training Model, a specialized coding program designed to supplement the needs of a booming segment in the state’s healthcare industry.

The grant comes as the result of a multi-college partnership among Saddleback College, Santa Barbara City College and College of the Canyons, the grant host. Also included in program development are colleagues from California State University, Northridge and Mesa College.

With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, the demand for well-trained frontline workers has increased statewide. While two-year-degree programs already exist in healthcare technology, the rapid evolution of the industry has placed a high premium on the development of more skilled workers.

The grant will help to develop an on-time, five-course certificate program that includes training in computer information systems,

healthcare information technology and health sciences.

“This is an excellent opportunity to develop a program that strengthens the workforce in the health care industry with expanding the knowledge, skills and abilities of a technical support staff person,” said Paula Hodge, deputy sector navigator of information and communication technologies and digital media at the college.

“We are excited to have our industry and education partners recognizing the value that both bring to this training model,” added Hodge, who also serves as sector director for the state’s South Central Coast Region.

The planned program features five components, each lasting eight weeks, with each focused on a specific concentration in some aspect of the healthcare industry. Topics range from basic medical terminology to special-purpose programming language to electronic security and privacy.

This comprehensive training strategy will help new workers acclimate to a demanding industry. However, incumbent workers are also encouraged to utilize training in order to keep their employability competitive.

“This project will align two merging sec-

tors in health and information and communication technologies. We’re providing training to incumbent workers to be competitive in the healthcare workplace,” said John Cordova, deputy sector navigator of allied health at the college and sector director for the South Central Coast Region.

“An example would be a medical assistant given added job duties in data input and creating reports, but without the necessary training or skill set. ‘Upskilling’ the current workforce provides greater performance, increased job value and employment sustainability.”

College of the Canyons is one of seven colleges to receive a program award, which is funded by the Workforce and Economic Development Division of the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

Two of the three courses included in the program have already been accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Health Information and Information Management Education.

The grant also establishes a statewide panel that will provide further program developments, internships and local outreach opportunities for those completing the certificate program.

MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF A CHANGING WORLD...

TOGETHER!

The Chancellor’s Circle is a partnership between College of the Canyons and a diverse group of businesses, community members, non-profit groups, govern- ment leaders and others who are committed to strengthening our community – by actively supporting a strong community college. The underlying tenet of the Chancellor’s Circle is the strong belief that by working together we can add value to a community college education, provide support for creative and innovative programs that enrich the educational experience of students, and provide need- ed workforce skills that will strengthen and sustain our economy – that we can achieve, by working together, much more than we can by working alone.

Please consider joining us!

• Call the College of the Canyons Foundation at (661) 362-3435 • Visit canyonsfoundation.org and click the Support Groups button

VISIONARY UCLA Health, Santa Clarita

LEADER AT&T Boston Scientific - Lisa Welker-Finney Honda Performance Development, Inc. Mark Jenkins and Roxie Ramey Elliott & Judith Wolfe Family Trust

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ADVOCATE Aerospace Dynamics International Dr. Jerry L. Buckley Bradley J. Kirst D.D.S., Inc. Gary and Diana Cusumano Dr. Susan Komsky & Mr. Martin Fruitman Tim and Holly John and Janice Hoskinson Math Support Services, Inc.

Jim and Jill Mellady Southern California Edison - Anna Frutos Sanchez Mitzi and Randy Moberg Lloyd Sreden, CPA Mortensen Law, Tax, Trust & Estate Attorneys, P.C. Dr. Dianne and Mr. Roger Van Hook Dr. Skip Newhall Wells Fargo NE Systems, Inc. - Ed Padilla Dennis Witzel & Sheila Chovan Newhall Escrow Company - Steve Corn Kirk and Ana Palmer LIFETIME MEMBERS Reyes Winery - Robert Reyes Lou and Rita Garasi Shepard Insurance Agency Tom and Colleen Lee

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