B.J. Atkins

1975

B.J. Atkins has provided both professional and personal contributions to College of the Canyons and its students. After graduating from Hart High School, B.J. entered COC and majored in natural resource sciences. He was on the first COC football team to play in Cougar Stadium. He started at offensive center, snapping the ball to then-quarterback Chuck Lyon, who went on to become head football coach for COC, winning a National Championship in 2004. B.J. left COC in 1975, having won what amounted to an athletic scholarship to Humboldt State University, where he earned a degree in oceanography and economics.

He is proud to serve as co-owner of Atkins Environmental H.E.L.P, Inc., southern California's regulatory compliance outsource leader. B.J. was re-elected to the Newhall County Water District Board of Directors in 2009. B.J. is also honored to serve in the capacity of Newhall's appointed representative on the Castaic Lake Water Agency Board of Directors. He served two years as the chairman of the COC Foundation Board of Directors. Now emeritus to the foundation board, he sits on the COC Foundation Resources Council and was a member of the Major Gifts Committee involved in fundraising for the University Center. He is a past president of the Valley Industrial Association (VIA), has had leadership roles in a number of organizations in the local community, including the SCV Chamber of Commerce. B.J. was part of the effort to return football to COC in 1998, and continues to be a loyal fan. He was instrumental in steering the campaign to build the Cougar Den, a picturesque BBQ area just to the southwest of Cougar Stadium which is used for many college and local events. BJ enjoys serving as an usher at Grace Baptist Church, and makes his home in Newhall. He and wife Jeannie spend much of their time volunteering on a regular basis at the college and throughout the community.