Page 15 - coccc5years

A Dream Realized

Students arrive for the first day of classes on Aug. 27, 2007
(above). The official ribbon-cutting ceremony (right) is
held the next day.
Preparation of the 70-acre site began in the summer of 2006, leaving little more than
a year to create a new campus from the ground up. Modular buildings (right) were
put in place beginning in late summer 2007.
OPENING DAY

FINDING THE BEST LOCATION A team of college faculty, staff and administrators worked seemingly endless hours to make sure
everything was ready for the morning of Monday, Aug. 27, 2007. e first class of Canyon Country
LOOKING BACK
A Site Selection Committee composed of local A poster announces the Campus students arrived for the historic first day amid much dirt and still-present construction
Aug. 28, 2007 ribbon- workers and their equipment. All told, more than 3,400 students can be included among the ranks
leaders was created to identify potential campus lo- cutting ceremony.
cations. It ultimately decided on a collection of of the pioneers who played a part in launching the new campus.
parcels encompassing 70 acres along Sierra Highway, about 2 miles
With this new site, higher-education access in Canyon Country progressed from two leased facil-
north of Soledad Canyon road (see photo on Page 8). Bond proceeds
ities with 14 classrooms in 12,600 square feet to a district-owned center with an initial square
from the voter-approved measures C and M provided the resources
footage of 35,000 and plans for permanent buildings in the future.
to buy the land.
e next day, on Aug. 28, 2007, Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook welcomed a crowd of dig-
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Dec. 6, 2005. Planning
nitaries, citizens, students and college staff before participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony
and permitting occupied much of early 2006, but by mid-year the
that officially heralded the opening of the new campus.
earthmovers began transforming the hills into a gently terraced college cam-
pus. Work progressed into 2007, leading to the campus opening on Aug. 27, 2007.
As everyone could plainly see, the Canyon Country Campus was now a reality.

12 C A N Y O N C O U N T R Y C A M P U S : F I V E Y E A R S I N R E V I E W C A N Y O N C O U N T R Y C A M P U S : F I V E Y E A R S I N R E V I E W 13