BOTTOM LINE

College of the Canyons has developed thenew Fast Track Institute to provide acceler-ated job preparation programs for those

looking to jump-start their careers.Opening in October 2010, the Fast Track Insti-

tute will offer fast-paced, intensive job preparationcourses that will equip participants with entry-level job skills and enable them to begin workingin industries where applicants with up-to-datetraining are in high demand.

Some Fast Track courses will take as little as a

few months to complete, with participants earninga recognized professional certificate in their par-ticular area of study or a list of skill competenciesthey can share with potential employers.

“This trend-setting model offers significantbenefits both for our students and local busi-nesses,” said COC Chancellor Dr. Dianne VanHook. “We are proud to lead the way in creatingaccessible, responsive, timely solutions thatmeet the needs of Santa Clarita companies, andhelp local residents obtain skills to launch new

Are these theworst of times,or the best of

times, for CaliforniaCommunity Colleges?

The easy answer is tosay things are as bad asthey ever have been. Thestate budget was passed100 days late as Gover-nor Schwarzenegger andthe Legislature struggledto close a $19.1 billionbudget deficit. That wason top of the $20 billiondeficit that led to morethan $800 million in cutsto community collegesduring the two previousbudget years. But theeasy answer is notalways the right answer,and that is certainly thecase for community col-leges right now.

There are severalvariables at work thathave created a “perfectstorm” to thrust commu-nity colleges into thelimelight. Some mightcall them challenges, but I see them as oppor-tunities.See CHANCELLOR on Page 2

While continually striving to meet the emerging education and workforce training needs ofthe state, College of the Canyons has done much to position itself as a regional leader inthe move to develop renewable energy curriculum and training programs that will

prepare students to work in the region’s growing renewable energy industries.In August, the college was awarded a four-year grant totaling $3 million from the National Sci-

ence Foundation (NSF) to provide funding to create the California Regional Consortium forEngineering Advances in Technical Education (CREATE) Renewable Energy Regional

Center at the college.

W E B E L I E V E I N T E A C H I N G , L E A D I N G A N D S TAY I N G AT T H E F O R E F R O N T O F C H A N G E

See FAST TRACK on Page 9

See ENERGY on Page 10

N E W S & V I E W S F R O M C O L L E G E O F T H E C A N Y O N S F A L L 2 0 1 0

College of the Canyons Fast Track InstituteProvides a Fast Track to Employment

The Spark Of LeadershipCollege of the Canyons receives $3 million grant to lead renewable energy training effort

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Because of our current economic climate,we have seen our enrollment swell. Peopleare realizing education is not a one-timeaccomplishment. Instead, it is a life-longprocess that requires returning to college toobtain needed skills demanded by rapidlychanging industries. With record unemploy-ment in California, increasing numbers ofstudents have come to College of theCanyons in recent years with the hope oflaunching new careers. And, entire industriesare undergoing dramatic transitions and rein-venting and repurposing themselves, creatinga demand for us to teach reconfigured com-petencies not seen, nor in demand, before.

Other factors are bringing more studentsto our campuses. As the war in Iraq draws toa close, we are serving more and more veter-ans. They are eager to make the transition tocivilian life, and want to make the most ofthe benefits available to them through the GIbill. In Santa Clarita, they are coming toCOC to do so.

Students who would have attended Uni-versity of California or California State Uni-versity campuses turned to community col-leges when state funding cuts forced thefour-year systems to turn away thousands ofapplicants. The 2010-11 state budget restoressome funding to UC and CSU and willenable them to accept more students. Butnew legislation that creates a smoother tran-sition from community colleges to the CSUwill draw more students to two-year cam-puses who desire to complete their degreesin a timely manner with less hassle and fewerobstacles.

So it might seem that these are indeedchallenging times as we grapple with thecompeting forces of increased demand for

education and dwindling resources from thestate. But given these unique factors, I thinkthe best times are yet to come. From eco-nomical, political, and social perspectives,community colleges are being propelled intoa strategic position. We enjoy unprecedentedrecognition and appreciation from politiciansand policymakers, business leaders and stu-dents. Community colleges are finallyviewed as the strategic partners we havealways been, appreciated for the cost-effec-tive delivery of education, and our ability torespond quickly and address emerging needsin a fast-changing economic landscape.

These are truly amazing times, and Col-lege of the Canyons is poised to make themost of them. As you will read in this issueof Bottom Line, we are moving forward ininnovative ways to meet our community’sneeds.

• A $3 million National Science Founda-tion grant will enable us to establish the Cal-ifornia Regional Consortium for Engineer-ing Advances in Technical Education (CRE-ATE) Renewable Energy Regional Center atthe college. Charged with developing andexpanding renewable energy courses andworkforce-training programs, the center willlead the way in preparing workers to launchnew careers in the rapidly expanding field ofalternative energy.

• Another innovative program will alsogive an edge to job-seekers looking toupgrade their skills. Opening in fall 2010, theFast Track Training Institute will offer a vari-ety of intensive job preparation courses thatwill allow students to quickly develop entry-level job skills and begin working in localindustries where applicants with up-to-datetraining are in high demand.

• At the same time, we are upgrading andexpanding our facilities in order to createmore environments that will enhance learn-

ing opportunities for our students. A 30,000-square-foot expansion of Mentry Hallopened at the beginning of the fall semesterand serves students studying animation,architecture, interior design, art, graphic andmultimedia design, photography and mediaentertainment arts.

• Within the next month, we expect tobreak ground on a 50,000-square-foot expan-sion of the Library. The new space will housean enhanced Tutorial Learning Center (TLC)lab, as well as instructional labs, classrooms,offices and expanded Library facilities.

• And at our Canyon Country Campus,construction is under way on the newApplied Technology Education Center(ATEC). This first permanent structure onthe campus will provide the space needed tolaunch several programs with an emphasison green technology built into the curricu-lum. COC programs slated to move into theATEC upon its scheduled completion inspring 2011 include: alternative energy man-agement, solar panel installation training,automotive technology, electrical/electron-ics, construction management, plumbing andwater systems technology.

These innovative programs set us apartand exemplify our overall commitment toeducational and economic leadership inSanta Clarita, and beyond. With our can-doenthusiasm, our unwavering determination,our belief in ourselves, and the continuedsupport of our community partners, we willmove forward to meet the emerging needs ofour community with vision, creativity, andpassion.

Clearly, this is the best of times for com-munity colleges, and College of the Canyonsin particular, and I think they will only getbetter!

Dr. Dianne Van Hook is chancellor ofCollege of the Canyons.

T H E B O T T O M L I N E l F A L L 2 0 1 02

ChancellorFROM PAGE 1

PhotographyJasmine FosterJesse Munoz

Nick PavikJohn McElwainWendy Trujillo

Phone(661) 259-7800

Internethttp://www.canyons.edu

Mailing AddressCollege of the Canyons

Santa Clarita Community College District26455 Rockwell Canyon Road

Santa Clarita, CA 91355

EditorEric Harnish

StoriesJesse Munoz

Celina Baguiao

Design/LayoutJohn GreenEvelyn Cox

Vice President, District Communication,

Marketing & External RelationsJohn McElwain

Director, Public Relations and Marketing

Bruce Battle

The Bottom Line is published by the College of the Canyons Public Information Office to inform thecommunity of news and events of interest in the Santa Clarita Community College District.




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T H E B O T T O M L I N E l F A L L 2 0 1 0 3

With construction crews still making final touches andmoving furniture into classrooms mere hours beforefall semester classes began August 23, the new Men-

try Hall expansion was officially unveiled to students – lessthan one year after the project broke ground in September 2009.

Adding an additional 30,000 square feet of instructionspace – including 11 classrooms, two computer labs, a large lec-ture room, conference rooms, a state-of-the-art animation the-ater and a digital darkroom — the new facility will give stu-dents the space and equipment needed to excel in the arts,whether they’re working with paint or pixels.

The expanded Mentry Hall, which originally opened in Jan-uary 1997, now encompasses a total of 73,000 square feet, andhouses the college’s animation, architecture, interior design, art,graphic and multimedia design, photography and media enter-

tainment arts departments, along with the COC Art Gallery.The added space will accommodate more students, while

providing the flexibility for departments to hold classes in com-puter labs and other discipline-specific instruction areas like thedigital darkroom and animation theater.

“The building and dedication of a college building is initself an act of faith,” said Dr. Floyd Moos, dean of fine and per-forming arts, at the building’s ribbon cutting ceremony. “AtCollege of the Canyons we believe in the capacity of our stu-dents to learn valuable skills that are indispensible in creatingtheir own future, and we value the transformative force that isthe fine and performing arts.”

“To be sure,” added Moos, “here is a building that will sup-port great ideas and boundless curiosities.”

The $10.7 million Mentry Hall expansion project was fundedSee MENTRY HALL on Page 11

As a second generation Italian-Amer-ican whose parents stressed thevalue of a good education and the

importance of giving back to others, DianaCusumano has done much to make herfamily, and community, proud.

Time and again, she has shown thatthose values are the cornerstones of her lifephilosophy. In honor of her record of ser-vice, the College of the Canyons Founda-tion Board of Directors has namedCusumano the recipient of the Silver SpurCommunity Service Award for 2011.

“Diana is not only a tireless, dedicatedvolunteer, but also she is a leader whoinspires others to give of themselves,” saidCollege of the Canyons Chancellor Dr.Dianne Van Hook. “Her legacy of selflessservice epitomizes everything that is great

about the Santa Clarita Valley, and we soappreciate the opportunity we have to rec-ognize and thank her for all that she hasdone to touch so many lives for so manyyears.”

Over the years Cusumano has served asa College of the Canyons Foundationboard member, playing a key role in orga-nizing the annual Silver Spur award gala,while also volunteering her time to the col-lege’s Library Associates and EducationScholarship committees.

Cusumano’s distinguished record ofcommunity service to this valley beganwhen she and her family moved here in1981. A former high school Englishteacher, Cusumano was always an activevolunteer in her children’s classrooms andfor school reading programs. She served asPresident of the Wiley Canyon ElementarySchool Site Council and spearheaded theestablishment of the Newhall ElementaryEducation Foundation.

When her children moved on to high

A Bigger CanvasMentry Hall expansion provides more space and learning opportunities

for art and media students.

See SILVER SPUR on Page 11

Diana Cusumano Earns Her Spurs

Diana Cusumano




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ASouthern Californian native with a love for the ocean’svast beauty, College of the Canyons biology instructorAmy Foote eventually saw her pas-

sion for academia take a turn toward theocean. She shared her oceanic knowledge atthis semester’s College of the Canyonsscholarly presentation on November 10.

“Since the surface of the Earth is approx-imately 71 percent water and mainly madeup of our oceans, I feel it’s very important toeducate the community on the many impor-tant features of this vast entity, and how wecan do our part to preserve it,” Foote said.

Foote sat down with Bottom Line writerJesse Munoz to share someinsights from her research.

Obviously you have a passionfor the ocean. Where does thatstem from and what led you towant to explore it more, bothacademically and professional-ly?

I was brought up around theocean and on boats my entire life.After high school I started myacademic adventure and attendedclasses at Ventura CommunityCollege. One semester I decided totake a marine biology course, and itwas in that class that I realized thatthis is where I wanted to be. Fromthere it was just a question of whereI wanted to study marine biology.Now I get to teach and share infor-mation about the largest and mostdynamic natural phenomena on earth,for a living.

What made you want to share yourpassion and knowledge in an academ-ic setting like the scholarly presenta-tion?

Even though Santa Clarita is in adesert type of setting, we’re still veryclose to the ocean. Because we are soclose, it’s important for people to knowwhat the ocean holds for us aside fromthe waves and coastline we see on a daily basis. I just feellucky I have the background to be able to share that.

What type of information did your presentation include?Only a few scientists have ventured to the mid depths of

the ocean, and I shared some of their amazing findings.

The ocean is dark past 1,000 meters because light cannottravel that deep. But have you ever wondered how this affects

the organisms that live at those levels? How do they eat? How do they communi-

cate? How do they reproduce, especially ifthey can’t even see what is around them?

I also discussed the physical and chemicalcharacteristics of the ocean and how organismsadapt as the depth of the ocean increases. Ahuman on land experiences approximately14.7 lbs. of pressure per square inch of itsbody. But the mid-water organisms I’ll be dis-

cussing, which live at about 1000meters, experience roughly 1,470 lbs.of pressure per square inch of theirbody. How can a living thing with-stand that kind of pressure?

You mentioned that this presenta-tion touched on the human effectson our oceans and marine life.What most concerns you aboutwhat we are doing to our oceans?

As humans we do many thingsthat affect our oceans, but proba-bly the largest is the lack of educa-tion out there about our oceans.I’m talking about the entireocean, not just the parts we mightencounter on a trip to the beach.It takes education and informa-tion for people to understandthat when they pollute thewater, or put toxins down ourdrains, that there are conse-quences.

But the only way to trulyimpress the community onissues like this is to educatethem about what’s out there,and show them the beautythat can potentially bedestroyed.

What is the main thing youwanted people to learn or take

away from this presentation?Number one, that our oceans are precious. But more

importantly, the fact that we need to be better educated abouthow to take care of our oceans. There are some spectacularcreatures living in our oceans. Hopefully, I touched on enoughof what is out there to intrigue people to want to learn more –because there are definitely some mysteries out there that wedon’t even know about yet.


Scholarly Presentation Probes Deep Seas

Amy Foote

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Employee Training Institute welcomes Kevin Walsh

Companies needing help in adapting their employees to thecontinuous improvement methods and processes of theirparticular industries now have a new ally at College of the

Canyons, as Dr. Kevin Walsh has been appointed interim directorof the college’s Employee Training Institute (ETI).

Walsh takes over the position vacated byformer ETI director KristinHouser, who is the col-lege’s new dean ofCareer and TechnicalEducation.

“It’s an honor to beappointed interim direc-tor of the EmployeeTraining Institute,”Walsh said. “As everybusiness leader knows,quality training is criticalto achieving organization-al excellence. The ETI hasproven it can help localbusinesses achieve strate-gic, long term success.”

Walsh will work closelywith Dr. Dena Maloney, vicepresident of economic devel-opment and the CanyonCountry Campus, to provideleadership, direction and man-agerial oversight of the ETI and its operations.

“College of the Canyons is thrilled to have Dr. Kevin Walsh atthe helm of the Employee Training Institute,” Maloney said.“Kevin has a wealth of experience in understanding business andorganizational training needs, as well as preparing training pro-grams that have a real impact on the bottom line.”

The ETI offers easily accessible professional and organiza-tional development services and employee skills improvementand training courses, taught by experienced consultants and train-ers with strong industry knowledge.

Walsh has worked part-time at ETI since 2006, designing cur-riculum, serving as an instructor, and facilitating training servicesin areas including communication, leadership and customer ser-vice.

From 2003 to 2007, Walsh served as senior facilitator withDestination: Change, where he developed customized trainingsfor more than 100 corporations and non-profit organizations.

Walsh also served as assistant director of employee relationsat Loyola Marymount University (LMU) from 2001 to 2003,where he developed and facilitated more than 50 training semi-nars targeted at faculty, staff and students. He has also served as apart-time faculty member at LMU since 2007.

Walsh holds a Doctorate of Psychology in OrganizationalConsulting from Philips Graduate Institute in Encino and a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication from SyracuseUniversity.

Center for Applied CompetitiveTechnology selects Joe Klocko

Continually looking for new and innovative ways to helpboost and grow the economy, the Santa Clarita CommunityCollege District has announced the appointment of Joseph

Klocko as director of the college’s Center for Applied CompetitiveTechnology (CACT).

Providing workforce-training programs, demonstrations ofnew manufacturing technologies and access to

federal, state and localresources, the CACT atCollege of the Canyonshelps industry partnersachieve greater opera-tional efficiencies,enhanced productivity andincreased organizationalperformance.

Prior to assuming hiscurrent position, Klockoserved as interim director ofthe College of the CanyonsI3 Advanced TechnologyIncubator (ATI).

Klocko, who comes toCollege of the Canyons withmore than 35 years of busi-ness experience in the aero-space and industrial manufac-turing industries, will workclosely with Dr. Dena Maloney,vice president of economic

development and the Canyon Country Campus to provide leader-ship, direction and managerial oversight of the CACT and its oper-ations.

“We are so pleased to have the benefit of Joe’s aerospace anddefense manufacturing experience as the Director of the CACT atCollege of the Canyons,” Maloney said. “Joe is truly an asset toour manufacturing and technology community and brings a wide-ranging and unique set of skills to the CACT.”

Klocko previously served as president and chief operating offi-cer of Tactair Fluid Controls, Inc., an aerospace and defense man-ufacturer located near Syracuse, New York. Prior to joining Tac-tair, Klocko held senior management positions at HR Textron inSanta Clarita, as well as at several operating divisions of Honey-well, previously known as Allied Signal, Inc.

In addition, Klocko is a former member of the College of theCanyons Foundation board of directors. He holds a bachelor of sci-ence in Commerce and Finance from Wilkes University, an MBAin Finance from Loyola University Maryland, and has completedthe Global Leadership Forum at the University of Pennsylvania’sWharton School of Business.

“I am looking forward to working to improve the competitiveposition of our region’s businesses while contributing to thevibrancy of California’s economy by better positioning companiesto successfully compete in the changing markets of the globaleconomy,” Klocko said.

Economic Development calls on twoexperienced leaders for key positions

Kevin WalshJoe Klocko

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How would you like to see a 150 percent return on yourmoney? For a limited time, every dollar donated to one ofthe College of the Canyons Foundation’s Endowed Schol-

arship Funds will bring two and half dollars to COC students,thanks to generous challenge grants from the Henry MayoNewhall and the Bernard Osher Foundations.

In the spring of 2008, the Bernard Osher Foundation made anhistoric $25 million financial commitment to the 112-member Cali-fornia Community College (CCC) System and Foundation for Cali-fornia Community Colleges (FCCC), while pledging to provide a 50percent match, of up to $25 million, on all scholarship funds raisedby all CCC schools through May 2011.

In July, the Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation established itsown $50,000 scholarship endowment with the COC Foundation,pledging to contribute up to another $50,000, on a dollar-for-dollarbasis, to match all future funds that COC raises for scholarshipendowment purposes.

As a result, the College of the Canyons Foundation has

embarked on a capital campaign to raise as many additional schol-arship dollars as possible before these unique gift-matchingopportunities expire in May and June 2011, respectively.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to help our local studentsfulfill their educational aspirations,” said Murray Wood, chiefdevelopment officer for the COC Foundation. “These matchinggrant opportunities enable our donors to leverage their gifts andmaximize the value of their contributions, like never before.”

Since the initial Osher campaign was launched, the COCFoundation has raised approximately $230,000, which when com-bined with the approximately $115,000 in matched Osher funds,makes for a total endowment of $345,000.

Those newly raised funds equate to 32 new endowed scholar-ships that College of the Canyons will award in perpetuity.

This year more than 1,250 students applied for scholarshipassistance at COC. While 470 were eligible for such aid, fundswere only available for 154 awards, or about 32 percent of all eli-gible applicants.

Matching Funds Boost Power ofScholarship Donations

The College of the CanyonsFoundation raised $67,000at its annual golf tourna-ment, held September 13 at Valencia Country Club. Teeing off to support stu-dents were (top right) JasonMunoz from Lundgren Man-agement, and Mike Hal-covich, Len Mohney, andChuck Lyon from College ofthe Canyons. Len Mohneyand Barry Gribbons (middleright) from the college getready to hit the links. Theevent was presented byKlassen Corporation andLundgren Management.

See RETURN on Page 9




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Evoking the innovative and entrepreneurially-minded attitudethat is so prevalent at College of the Canyons, a team ofCOC architectural design and engineering students was

awarded first place at the Buildable Visions sustainable develop-ment design competition for their unique “sky path” campustransportation design idea.

The 2010 Buildable Visions design competition was held thissummer in conjunction with the California Higher Education Sus-tainability Conference hosted by the Los Angeles CommunityCollege District.

For the competition, architectural design and engineering stu-dents from the University of California, California State Univer-sity and California Community College systems were invited tosubmit project designs that pro-vided forward-thinking solutionsto urban design and transporta-tion issues facing the communi-ties on or around their collegecampuses.

The ‘Avant Verdant’ teamfrom COC included Jolene Lain,Denisse Alejandre, Charlyn Bjerg, Jorge Cea and Eric Wagner,with COC adjunct architecture instructor Jason Oliver serving asfaculty advisor.

Participating in the competition outside of class and on their owntime, the team spent more than three months generating ideas anddesign solutions to a variety of issues affecting the college’s Valen-cia campus — including transportation, pedestrian accessibility, heatreduction and the generation of on-campus wind and solar energy.

“These students enthusiastically chose to address some of theissues they saw related to transportation around the campus.”Oliver said. “As their faculty advisor I was extremely impressedwith the way they came together and worked as a team to devel-op their design solution.”

What they came up with was a plan to build a wind and solar-

powered, elevated tram system known as the “sky path,” thatcould be used to transport students, staff and visitors betweenbuildings and across the 153-acre Valencia campus.

Also included in the hypothetical design were connecting bikeand pedestrian paths that would connect to three main campus“sky plazas” or tram ports.

Solar tents positioned along the tram path and throughout col-lege parking lots would provide shade, collect the energy neededto operate the tram and light the campus’ exterior.

“The inspiration and focal point of our project was to solve agrowing problem that was not only relevant, but something thatwas immediately viable,” said Bjerg about the collaborative pro-ject. “This design will encourage walking and biking, lessen the

need for parking, increase energyefficiency and improve pedestri-an lifestyle.”

As a result of their efforts, thestudents were awarded a $500check and recognition in front ofthe audience at the CaliforniaHigher Education Sustainability

Conference held in June 2010.The Team was invited to present their design proposal to COC

Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook and the college’s Board ofTrustees in early September.

“I want to thank you for daring to imagine the future, andbeing so bold about it,” Van Hook said after seeing the presenta-tion. “I think your proposal is historic. In a few years, when theseideas are adopted on a widespread basis, we’ll look back andremember that we first heard about them from a group of studentsat College of the Canyons.”

“These five students are a genuine reflection of the entrepre-neurial spirit at work here at COC,” said Oliver, “and are aglimpse of the next generation of leaders in the field of sustain-able design.”

Students Win Top Architecture Award

Renderings designed by the COC team depict the Valencia campus enhanced with a “skypath” elevated tram system.

“These five students are agenuine reflection of the entrepreneurial

spirit at work here at COC.”




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A New ChapterT H E B O T T O M L I N E l F A L L 2 0 1 08

A 51,000-square-foot expansion to

the College of the Canyons Library

is expected to break ground

in November. The new space will

provide facilities to house the

Tutorial Learning Center (TLC) lab,

instructional labs, classrooms,

offices and expanded Library

facilities. With an 18-month

construction schedule, the new

facility should be open for students

in the fall 2012 semester.




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“More students than ever before now struggle to make endsmeet and stay in school,” Wood said. “Expenses for books, housing,transportation and childcare present a growing barrier to students.”

In recent months the COC Foundation has received major giftsfrom Western Filter/Donaldson Co., The Betty Ferguson Founda-tion, Martin Sosin and the Stratton Petit Foundation, while alsohaving several individual scholarship endowments established bya variety of campus and community organizations.

One such example, the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook “Dare toDream” Endowment for reentry students, has already receivedcontributions from a number of donors, including many of VanHook’s colleagues, business and community partners, friends,along with members of the college’s faculty, administration andstaff.

The COC Foundation Board of Directors has also established itsown scholarship endowment, further demonstrating that both thecollege and Foundation’s leadership are committed to this endeavor.

“This is the last chance for potential donors to have their giftsmatched with Osher Foundation dollars,” Wood said. “Thisendowment and these scholarships will last forever.”

For more information about the College of the CanyonsFoundation, or the Bernard Osher and Henry Mayo Newhallscholarship endowment programs, please contact Murray Woodat (661) 362-3433.

careers in industries that are actively hiring newemployees.”

According to the Los Angeles County EconomicDevelopment Corporation, the county’s unemploymentrate is expected to hover at about 12.4 percent throughthe remainder of 2010.

However, several local employers have maintainedtheir market position, and are predicting job growth with-in their respective industries. Local manufacturers havean almost constant need for employees trained to performentry-level jobs related to micro and precision assembly— positions with the potential to pay $18 an hour.

The Fast Track Institute’s first offerings will feature18 programs in Manufacturing, Green Technology,Medical/General Office and Managerial/Professional.

Fast Track Institute classes will typically be offeredas intensive day and evening classes held at severalSanta Clarita Valley locations, including the college’straining center at Aerospace Dynamics International,Inc., in Valencia and at both College of the Canyonscampuses.

Classes being offered in fall 2010 include MachinistTraining, Precision Assembly, Inspection/Quality,Office Automation and Medical Office Administration.

Courses are fee-based and paid for by the student orthrough the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) system,subject to student and course eligibility.

For more information, please contact Pete Bellas at(661) 362-5182 or [email protected].

FAST TRACKFROM PAGE 1

Manufacturing (5 Programs):• Machinist Training• Precision Assembler• Inspectors/Quality Technician• Inventory, Stocking and Shipping Clerk• Industrial Maintenance –

Including Programmable Logic Controller

Green Technology (4 Programs):• Energy Auditor• Green Plumbing for current plumbers• Solar Concepts for current electricians• Green Demolition-technician

Health Care and General Office (5 Programs):• Office Administration• Medical Billing and Coding• Medical Office Administration (existing

program through Community Education)• Pharmacy Technician (existing program

through Community Education)• Customer Service Representative

Managerial/Professional (3 Programs):• Supply Chain Professional (Test Preparation)• Project Management (Test Preparation)• Six Sigma/Quality Systems Professional

RETURN FROM PAGE 6

College of the Canyons Foundation Chair Jill Mellady (from left), ChancellorDianne Van Hook, Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation Board Member TonyNewhall, and COC Foundation Chief Development Officer Murray Wood celebrate a $50,000 contribution by the Newhall Foundation.




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The purpose of the Center will be to develop and expandrenewable energy courses and workforce-training programs, pur-chase equipment, hire new instructors and/or train current facultyin new areas in order to help address the high demand for renew-able energy technicians throughout the state — particularly in thewind and solar energy fields.

As a part of the grant, funding will also go toward developingrenewable energy programs and workforce training at the consor-tium’s partner colleges, which include: Cuesta, Cerro Coso, SantaBarbara City, L.A. Pierce, Oxnard, Merced, and Porterville com-munity colleges; California State Universities in Los Angeles,Fresno, and Channel Islands; and University of California, Davis.

“We are very enthusiastic about taking on this leadership rolein a field that is far-reaching and forward-looking. The grant willgive us the chance to be prepared for opportunities that may notbe clearly evident at the moment, but will make themselves avail-able before we know it,” said COC Chancellor Dr. Dianne VanHook. “We can get a jump-start on equipping students with theskills and education needed to secure well-paying positions. That,of course, will also lead to significant positive economic impactsin those communities where our partner institutions are located.”

Through the consortium, College of the Canyons can nowbegin a wide scale assessment of the renewable energy curricu-lum available at all partner colleges, in order to better align thosecourses, programs and training methods with both the currenteconomic climate and the identified needs of industry partnersand employers throughout the region.

“With that assessment, the college will play a larger role indetermining what curriculum areas most need to be strengthened,and in what areas of the region new renewable energy programswould prove to be most beneficial,” said Kathy Alfano, COC fac-ulty member and Director of the CREATE Center.

Another area the consortium will explore is training for thegrowth of non-technical positions associated with sales, clerical,leadership, IT and other office jobs.

“An education in renewable energy can be beneficial on sev-eral levels,” Alfano said.

ENERGYFROM PAGE 1

New Facility to Give Studentsa Green Employment Edge

At the college’s Canyon Country campus, construction iscurrently underway on the new Applied Technology Edu-cation Center (ATEC), which will provide the facility

space needed to begin introducing several programs with anemphasis on green technology built into the curriculum.

COC programs slated to move into the ATEC upon its sched-uled completion in spring 2011 include: alternative energy man-agement-solar panel installation training, automotive technology,electrical/electronics, construction management, plumbing andwater systems technology.

ATEC will include five classrooms and 10,000 square feet of

workshop space. The new facility will provide students and com-munity members with a multitude of hands-on learning and train-ing opportunities that can be put to use in the renewable energyand green technology industries.

“Adding the Applied Technology Education Center to theCanyon Country campus will expand our ability to provide cutting-edge education that leads directly to employment,” saidDr. Dianne Van Hook, College of the Canyons Chancellor. “Theprograms housed in the ATEC will be specifically focused on thein-demand, new technologies our economy needs and our com-munity expects to receive from College of the Canyons.”

RENEWABLE ENERGYBY THE NUMBERS• Wind turbines in California provide enough energy

to power over 747,000 California households.

• The CA Wind Energy Association (CalWEA) expects

wind energy to serve five percent of California's

electricity needs by 2012 or sooner.

• Wind energy could realistically provide 20% of

California's electricity supply by 2020.

• About half of the nation’s solar energy installers

work in California.

• In 2007, wind energy production increased

by 21 percent nationally, and the U.S. Department

of Energy suggests wind could contribute 20%

of the nation’s electricity by 2030.




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entirely by Measure M funds, the generalobligation bond passed by SCV voters inNovember 2006.

The project was completed using aninnovative design/build constructionmodel, whereby both the design and con-struction of the project are contractedthrough the same entity, in this caseKlassen Corporation, and performed atthe same time.

By overlapping the design and con-struction aspects of the project, the con-tractor is able to streamline the buildingprocess, while cutting costs and acceler-ating the construction timeline.

Though common in the private sectorand gaining acceptance with other types

of public sector projects, until recentlycommunity colleges had been preventedfrom using this model.

In fact, the college’s Mentry Hallexpansion was one of just a handful ofprojects allowed to utilize thedesign/build project model as part of ademonstration pilot used to test the feasi-bility of implementing that specificapproach on future projects.

Of the five projects originallyapproved for the trial, four were parkingstructures. Mentry Hall was the onlyinstructional facility approved fordesign/build construction.

While the normal timeline to requeststate approval, plan and design, secure

funding and construct and open a build-ing takes roughly seven years – the Men-try Hall expansion was completed in lessthan 12 months.

“The Mentry Hall expansion movedalong remarkably fast, and with very fewproblems along the way, which is a testa-ment to the design/build constructionmethodology,” said Jim Schrage, vicepresident, facilities planning, operationsand construction at the college.

“For the district to end up with exact-ly the building they wanted, at a fixedcost and per a pre-determined fast-tracked schedule, only proves that thisconstruction delivery method is here tostay,” added Schrage.

MENTRY HALLFROM PAGE 3

school, Cusumano became a member ofthe Hart High School Parent AssociationBoard and the Hart Auditorium Angels,which raised money to repair, restore andimprove the historic Hart Auditorium.

Cusumano has also volunteered forthe Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hos-pital (HMNMH) in a variety of capacitiesand is a director and current chairman ofthe Foundation Board of the SCV Child &

Family Center, a founding member of theSCV Heart Association board and a for-mer Betty Ferguson Foundation boardmember.

“Diana has integrity, and is a person ofher word,” Dr. Van Hook said. “She nevercompromises her standards of care, com-passion, commitment and quality.”

The 2011 Silver Spur Celebration willtake place Saturday, March 5, 2011, at the

historic and exclusive California Club,located at 538 South Flower St., in LosAngeles. The event begins at 6 p.m. andthe dress code is “black tie optional.” Theevening includes a dinner, live auction anda tribute video to the honoree.

Please call the Foundation at (661)362-3434 to purchase tickets, become anevent sponsor, or receive more informationabout Silver Spur.

SILVER SPURFROM PAGE 3

Former Cougar Isaac Sopoaga will be inducted into the COC AthleticHall of Fame

2011 Athletic Hall of Fame January 20, 2011

Hyatt Regency Valencia, (661) 362-3434, www.cocathletics.com

The College of the Canyons athletics department is gearing up forits fourth Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday,Jan. 20, 2011, at the Hyatt Regency Valencia.

The 2011 class of inductees includes: the 1993 state championshipmen’s golf team; women’s basketball player Kyetra Brown; footballplayer Mike Herrington; women’s soccer player Kristine Marbach; andfootball player Isaac Sopoaga.

This year’s keynote speaker will be former NFL player and Universityof California head football coach Joe Kapp. Kapp began his football careerin the Santa Clarita Valley as a quarterback for the Hart High School Indi-ans and transferred to Cal to play his college ball. He spent four years inthe NFL with the Vikings and Patriots, where the effects of his standagainst the league in an antitrust case helped shape today’s NFL contracts.

Top of their ClassAthletic Hall of Fame Welcomes 2011 Inductees

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Santa Clarita Community College District26455 Rockwell Canyon Road

Santa Clarita, CA 91355

BoarD of TruSTeeS

Michael D. Berger

Bruce D. Fortine

Michele R. Jenkins

Joan W. MacGregor

Scott Thomas Wilk

Nick Onyshko, Student Trustee

With its highly anticipated worldpremiere taking place on open-ing night of LA Opera’s historic

25th Anniversary season, criticallyacclaimed composer, librettist andesteemed College of the Canyons facultymember Daniel Catán’s new Spanishopera “Il Postino” captured the hearts ofaudiences throughout Southern California.

Based on the Academy Award-win-ning film of the same name and the novel“Ardiente Paciencia” by AntonioSkármeta, “Il Postino” tells the story of ashy young postman in a tiny Italian fish-ing village who discovers the courage topursue his dreams through his dailydeliveries to the famous (real-life)Chilean poet Pablo Neruda.

“I realized, from the very first time Isaw the film, that it was a perfect theme

for an opera,” said Catán in a recentinterview about the project. “It deals withArt and Love: the foundations uponwhich we build our lives.”

Starring world-renowned tenor andopera legend Plácido Domingo in therole of Pablo Neruda — whose poetry isfeatured extensively in the opera — thesix-show run of “Il Postino” premieredSept. 23, 2010 at the Dorothy ChandlerPavilion in Los Angeles to rave reviews.

“This was one of those all-too-rarenights when every individual elementmelded marvelously into a whole, a per-formance that reminded us that opera —at its best — can touch emotions and tellstories like no other medium,”exclaimed music critic Robert D.Thomas in his review of the openingnight performance.

“‘Il Postino’ delivers in a way fewmodern operas do,” wrote Ronald Blumof the Associated Press. “Catán has creat-ed a throwback, with arias, duets and lushtonal music, closer to the style of Puccinithan of Catán’s contemporaries.”

Because of the excitement surrounding“Il Postino,” LA Opera officials quicklyannounced a series of free public screen-ings of the opera to be held at outdoorvenues in Los Angeles and Orange Countyduring the month of October — openingup the opera to an even wider audience.

“Having someone of Daniel Catán’stalent on our faculty enhances the status ofour college as a place of creativity andinnovation and, as that translates to ourclassrooms, a place of academic rigor andexcellence,” said College of the CanyonsChancellor Dr. Dianne Van Hook.

Acclaimed Composer Catán Puts COC on Opera’s Big Stage




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