CONGRATS, CLASS OF 2025! – College of the Canyons honored the Class of 2025 during the 56th Commencement Ceremony at Cougar Stadium on Friday, June 6. More than 2,100 graduates – among them 33 international students, 62 veterans, and 100 student athletes – received their diplomas in 106 different majors. Chris Schauble, co-anchor of the KTLA Morning News, served as keynote speaker.
Firefight Like a Girl
May 29, 2025 – Student-athlete Samantha Miranda Rodriguez is ready to redefine what it means to be a firefighter. At 21, Rodriguez is already blazing a trail in a field where women are rare. When she graduates with an associate of science degree in fire technology, she will join the ranks of 90,000 female firefighters in the country. At 5-foot-2, she says being a woman in fire science has meant working harder to achieve her lifelong dream. “Some people told me I wasn’t strong enough or big enough. I just stayed away from that negativity and worked twice as hard to prove them wrong.”
A Second Chance
May 19, 2025 – After overcoming addiction and experiencing tremendous loss, Zoe Hollenbeck reached her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse thanks to College of the Canyons. When she told her first-grade teacher she wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse, she didn’t know exactly what that meant. But something about it stuck. "I had a feeling I was supposed to be that,” she said. That feeling stayed with her, even when her life veered off course. At 15, she became addicted to heroin and dropped out of high school. “I didn’t want to be anything. I didn’t think I could be anything.”
The announcement that federal immigration agents can make arrests at educational institutions has prompted questions about how to respond should that occur on one of our campuses. College of the Canyons is committed to following all laws and ensuring the safety of our students, faculty, and staff. All employees must abide by board policies, as well as state and federal laws. Please follow the link for the recommended response.
New Healthcare Program this Fall
June 9, 2025 – College of the Canyons will launch its Diagnostic Medical Sonography program with an 18-student cohort this fall. The hands-on program will train students to use ultrasound technology to capture diagnostic images that support patient care and medical decision-making. “With specialized instruction, clinical experience, and preparation for national certification exams, students will gain the skills needed to thrive in this fast-growing field,” said Dr. Thea Sweo Alvarado, interim assistant superintendent/vice president of instruction.
Pharmacy Program Enrolling First Cohort
June 6, 2025 – The College of the Canyons Pharmacy Technology program is accepting applications for its first 18-student cohort until Monday, June 30. Launching this fall, the program will prepare students for entry-level pharmacy technician positions across various settings, including in-patient and out-patient hospital pharmacies, retail, compounding, veterinary, and specialty pharmacies.
Students will gain knowledge and skills in pharmacology, pharmacy calculations, sterile and non-sterile compounding, and retail and institutional pharmacy operations.
Two Students Awarded Coveted Scholarship
June 5, 2025 – Two College of the Canyons students – Daniel Begel and Amir Erfan Shahla – have been awarded scholarships from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. Begel and Shahla are among 90 community college students nationwide to be selected for the prestigious Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship based on their academic achievements, unmet financial needs, persistence, and leadership qualities. The award is significant, providing each student up to $55,000 per year for up to three years.
PTA Program Enrolling First Cohort
May 27, 2025 – The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, which allows the program to move forward with its first 28-student cohort. Expected to launch this fall, the program will prepare students to become skilled healthcare professionals who work under physical therapists to help patients recover from injuries, manage chronic conditions, and improve mobility.
Summer Learning, Future Earning
April 25, 2025 – Registration is now open for more than 500 summer classes in a wide range of subjects and disciplines. Four sessions – starting June 9, 16 and 23, and July 14 – offer classes in a variety of formats to help students achieve their educational goals.
Second Straight State Championship
May 13, 2025 – For the second year in a row and 12th time in team history, the men's golf team remains on top after their two-round performance at the 3C2A State Championships on May 11 and 12. With a 36-hole tournament that yielded just two rounds under par, the team overcame an elite field and championship-caliber course at Bayonet in Seaside. COC shot a team score of 762 (376-386) to win the state title, just three shots ahead of back-to-back state runner-up Reedley College.
Foundation Names Chief Development Officer
April 30, 2025 – College of the Canyons has named Monica Lee “ML” Copeland as chief development officer for the COC Foundation. Copeland will work closely with Interim Superintendent/President David C. Andrus, J.D., the Board of Trustees and the foundation's board of directors to coordinate fundraising, identify potential donors, and develop relationships with community leaders.
Golf, Football Honored as Scholar Teams
April 29, 2025 – The 2023 state championship women's golf team and the 2023 football team have both been named 2023-24 California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) Scholar Team Award winners. The honor is the highest academic team achievement given annually by the 3C2A. It emphasizes the academic achievement of all members of one specific team. Only one team is selected for each 3C2A sport, with a total of 23 men's and women's teams honored for the 2023-24 academic year.
Athletic Stars Enshrined
March 20, 2025 – College of the Canyons rolled out the blue carpet for honorees inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame during a gala event at the Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, March 19. Follow the links below for video highlights:
- Greg Herrick, women’s basketball coach
- Ruby Herrera, all-American softball player
- Corey Honeycutt, track & field state champion
- Carlton Spencer, WSC player of the year
- Men's Soccer Team, 2010 state runner-up
Bachelor's Degree Program Honored
March 18, 2025 – The College of the Canyons Bachelor of Science in Building Performance program – launched in January – is already making waves in the design world. A team representing the new program has been honored with the California Building Energy Modeling Foundational Step Forward award. "It is so exciting to be recognized for the work the college has done to promote Building Energy Modeling through our new Bachelor of Science in Building Performance degree," said Jason Oliver, chair of the Architecture and Interior Design Program.
Generosity Celebrated
Scholarship recipients and the donors who made the awards possible came together during the Scholarship Awards Celebration on Thursday, May 29. The annual event at the University Center recognized donors and gave students an opportunity to thank them for the more than $265,000 in scholarships awarded this year. Overseen by the College of the Canyons Foundation, the Canyons Scholarship Program disbursed awards to 240 students.
Brilliance on Display
The College of the Canyons STEM Expo showcased outstanding research in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics on Friday, May 16. Hosted by the STEM Equity Alliance at the Takeda Science Center at the Canyon Country campus, the annual event exhibited a wide variety of academic and career-oriented projects undertaken by S-STEM Scholars in collaboration with faculty mentors.
Excellence Applauded
The Athletic Department honored graduating and transferring student-athletes during the Student-Athlete Academic Achievement Dinner on Thursday, May 22. Six student-athletes were singled out for academic excellence: Owen Crockett, golf; Ryan Curtis, football; Emily Fairbanks, cross country/track & field; Alex Freund, baseball; Vivian Martinez, soccer; and Brooke Petretti, softball. The 2025 graduating class includes more than 110 student-athletes with a combined GPA above 3.38. Awardees must have competed in their sport for two seasons and demonstrate strong leadership qualities. READ MORE
Shining Stars
College of the Canyons celebrated classified and confidential employees during Classified Appreciation Week May 12 to 16 with breakfast, ice cream socials, and an awards luncheon. Congratulations to our awardees: Lisette Godinez, Employee of the Year; Michelle Goodman, Sandra Hernandez Empowerment & Mentorship; Edwin Bizarro, Professional Achievement; Meredith Hamilton, Dare to Dream; Ashley Basset, Humanitarian; Blanca Schreier, Gloria Jackson Customer Service; Lisette Godinez, CSEA Member of the Year; and Michael Monsour, Classified Spirit.
ZTC Progress
California Community Colleges Board of Governors President Hildegarde Aguinaldo offered remarks during a statewide ZTC Summit at College of the Canyons on Friday, May 9. The summit – a convening conference for a statewide ZTC (Zero Textbook Costs) grant – documented progress grantees have made during the grant program's second year. It was the second such summit hosted by the college, which serves as technical assistance provider for the chancellor's office. Interim Superintendent-President David Andrus also spoke to attendees.
Artivism
Billed as a celebration of the intersection of art and social change, Teach-ins with Artivism featured a variety of hands-on activities, performances, and artistry on Wednesday, May 7. Held in and outside the Intercultural Center, the event featured metalwork, jewelry, graphic design, paintings, and poetry – all designed to challenge and inspire action for positive change. The event concluded with keynote speaker Shonda Buchanan (above, lower left), author of The Lost Songs of Nina Simone and the award-winning memoir Black Indian.
Starstruck
The Canyon Country campus celebrated its 30th Star Party & Science Showcase on Friday, April 25. The event featured high-powered telescopes for viewing the night sky, hands-on demonstrations and activities organized by students and faculty members, and an informative lecture on "The Unfolding Story of Exoplanets" by College of the Canyons Astronomy Professor Michaela Blain. The popular community event is held twice a year, in the spring and fall.
STEM Intro
The college hosted a STEM Open House for young black scholars on Saturday, April 26. Organized by Dr. Gretchen Stanton, the event engaged 45 children and their families with hands-on science activities in an effort to spark curiosity and highlight the contributions of black innovators. Professor Kelly Cude demonstrated how to use microscopes, and Professor Jeremey Patrich and his team invited participants to explore the geology and dinosaur labs.
Colleague Honored
Members of the college community gathered on Thursday, May 1, to remember a treasured colleague and dedicate the John Turturro Lab in his memory. An assistant professor in architecture and interior design, Turturro passed away in 2024, having spent more than 20 years teaching.
Garden Walk
Members of the college community participated in the Spring Garden Walk on Friday, May 2. The educational tour at the Canyon Country campus included bird watching, plant and tree identification, and some spring planting. The event is held twice a year, in the spring and fall.
