Moorpark College

History

The board of the Ventura County Community College District established Moorpark College in 1967. In addition to the land already owned by the District, Moorpark College expanded into a 134 acre parcel of land on Moorpark's eastern boundary, donated by a local ranching family, the Strathearns.

In 1965, the citizens of Ventura County passed a bond for 8 million dollars to build the first part of the college. Construction of the administration, science, technology, gymnasium, and Maintenance buildings, and the Library and Campus Center began in 1966.

Moorpark College officially opened on September 11, 1967. The college's first president, John Collins, welcomed almost 1,400 students and 50 faculty members.

Robert Lombardi became the college's second president in 1971. During his tenure, enrollment doubled, and the college added emphasis on preparing students to transfer to four-year schools.

Ray Hearon is the longest-serving president, in office from 1974 to 1989. In 1980, the Moorpark College Foundation was formed to fund construction of an athletic stadium, amphitheater, and observatory. The 6,000-seat stadium, completed in 1985, was named after Paul Griffin Jr., a major benefactor. In 1987, the Charles Temple Observatory, the only public observatory in Ventura County, and Carlsberg Amphitheater were dedicated at the college's 20th anniversary celebration.

Nearby Oxnard College solicited Moorpark's help in establishing a Camarillo Center, located on California State University, Channel Islands's campus.[[File:Moorpark College Raider Walk.jpg|thumb|Raider Walk, looking eastward|left]]

In 2000, a high school for juniors and seniors opened on the college campus, The High School at Moorpark College (separate from Moorpark High School but part of the Moorpark Unified School District). The first class to graduate in 2001 numbered 25.

For the 2007 transferring cohort of eligible students (2,252), Moorpark College transferred 130 to a university in two years, 480 in three years, and 793 and four years.

In 1973, the college started an Exotic Animal Training and Management program. In 2011, the college broke ground on a new center for the program to house over 200 animals on campus.

Bernard Luskin was appointed interim president of Moorpark College in September 2013. Luis Pablo Sanchez was appointed for a term beginning February 3, 2015. After serving as interim president, Julius Sokenu was installed as president of the college on April 14, 2021.

Athletics

Moorpark's athletic teams are nicknamed the Raiders. The college currently sponsors eight men's and eight women's varsity teams. The college competes as a member of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) in the Western State Conference (WSC) for all sports except football and wrestling, which compete in the Southern California Football Association (SCFA) and Southern California Wrestling Association (SCWA).

Notable people

Alumni

Main article: List of Moorpark College alumni

Faculty and staff ===

• Gene Berg – faculty chair and professor of chemistry
• Pam Eddinger – president; later president in the Massachusetts Community College System and of Bunker Hill Community College
• George Gabriel – audio engineering teacher; multi-instrumentalist and composer
• James Jarvaise – former artist in residence
• Sam Kane – former math instructor
• John Loprieno – theater arts instructor; former actor and writer
• Eric Marty – former assistant football coach
• Adam Mazarei – former assistant associate head basketball coach
• Peggy O'Neal – acting instructor, voice actress
• Ron Stillwell – former baseball coach

References

References

1. "College foundations differ widely in how much they raise, what they spend » Ventura County Star".
2. California, State of. "California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office – Data Mart".
3. "Archived copy".
4. (2007). "History – Moorpark College". Official site.
5. Cowden Moore, Jean. (January 12, 2013). "College foundations differ widely in how much they raise, what they spend". [[Ventura County Star]].
6. (2006). "Oxnard College History". Oxnard College, Official site.
7. (2004). "Welcome to Camarillo Satellite". State of California, Official site.
8. California, State of. "California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office – Data Mart".
9. Willer-Allred, Michele. (March 2, 2010). "Moorpark College breaks ground on new zoo facility". [[Ventura County Star]].
10. Willer-Allred, Michele. (September 29, 2011). "New EATM complex at Moorpark College nearly finished". [[Ventura County Star]].
11. "[http://www.vcccd.edu/departments/chancellors-office/dr-luskins-bio Dr. Luskin's Bio]," ''Ventura County Community College District website''. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
12. "[http://tricountysentry.com/blog/vcccd-board-of-trustees-and-mayor-janice-parvin-join-chancellors-surprise-dedication/ VCCCD Board of Trustees and Mayor Janice Parvin join Chancellor's surprise dedication]," ''Tri County Sentry,'' 16 July 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
13. Bullock, Brian. "[http://santamariatimes.com/lompoc/news/local/education/hancock-s-sanchez-named-president-at-moorpark-college/article_01f6859e-8a8d-5dfd-986f-5282ae370a85.html Hancock's Sanchez named president at Moorpark College]," ''Santa Maria Times,'' 14 December 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
14. Garcia, Agustin. "[http://www.studentvoiceonline.com/4003688/news/introducing-our-new-president-luis-pablo-sanchez/ Introducing our new president: Luis Pablo Sanchez]," ''Student Voice,'' 22 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
15. Moore, Jean Cowden. "[http://archive.vcstar.com/news/local/moorpark/moorpark-college-gets-new-president-ep-840204686-349842651.html Moorpark College gets new president]," ''Ventura County Star,'' 23 December 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
16. "Dr. Julius Sokenu Named Moorpark College President".
17. "2019–20 CCCAA Directory". California Community College Athletic Association.
18. "Department of Chemistry Faculty".
19. "Office of the President".
20. Trude, Caitlin. (2016-09-08). "Career Education Center in Moorpark ready for students".
21. (2017-03-17). "Chronology".
22. "Class of 2022".
23. "John Loprieno".
24. "Eric Marty - Football Coach".
25. "Grizzlies hire Keith Smart and Adam Mazarei as Assistant Coaches {{!}} Memphis Grizzlies".
26. (2016-01-28). "Ron Stillwell, former baseball coach and USC co-captain, dies at 76".