Moorpark College

Coordinates: 34°17′59.66″N 118°50′06.27″W / 34.2999056°N 118.8350750°W / 34.2999056; -118.8350750

Moorpark College

Motto	Bridge to the Future
Established	1967
Endowment	$99,410 (2011/2012) [1]
President	Luis Pablo Sanchez [2]
Academic staff	490
Administrative staff	159
Students	13,756[3]
Address	7075 Campus Road, 93021, Moorpark, CA, USA
Campus	150 acres (61 ha)
Colors	Black and Columbia blue
Athletics	Western State
Mascot	Raiders
Website	www.moorparkcollege.edu

Moorpark College is a California state community college with a 150-acre (61 ha) campus on a hillside in Moorpark, in Ventura County, California. It was established in 1967 with enrollment of 2,500 students, and enrolled 14,254 students in 2014.^[4] An Exotic Animal Training and Management center houses over 200 animals on campus.^[5][6]

Moorpark College was ranked number 13 in Wallethub's 2016’s Best & Worst Community Colleges rating.^[7] The ranking was based on evaluations of colleges' costs and finances, education outcomes, and career outcomes.^[8]

History

The Moorpark College Jazz "A" Band, in one of the school's Auditoriums

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 (54 ha) parcel of land on Moorpark's eastern boundary, donated by a local ranching family, the Strathearns.^[9]

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, Dr. John Collins, welcomed almost 1,400 students and 50 faculty members.

Dr. Robert Lombardi became the College's second president in 1971. Under his direction, enrollment doubled, and the college added emphasis on preparing students to transfer to four-year schools.^[9]

Dr. 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.^[10] 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.

The nearby Oxnard College solicited Moorpark's help in establishing a Camarillo Center,^[11] located on California State University, Channel Islands' campus.^[12]

In 2000, a high school for juniors and seniors opened on the college campus, called 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.

In 2004 and 2005, various bond projects were completed, such as a parking lot renovation and all-weather track.

For the 2007 transferring cohort of eligible students (2,252), Moorpark College transferred 130 to a 4-year accredited universities in two years, 480 in three years, and 793 and four years.^[13]

Dr. Bernard Luskin who was the former president of Orange Coast College and Coastline Community College and EVP and COO of AACC was appointed interim president of Moorpark College in September, 2013.

Trivia

• The Wall of Fame is a collage of MC athletic action photos, and was featured in the TV show “The White Shadow”
• The college operates an Exotic Animal Training and Management (EATM) Program with an on-site zoo that is open to the public which was founded by William Brisby^[14] in 1971.
• Award-winning film director, producer and screenplay writer Gregory Nava first taught cinematography classes at Moorpark College from 1976–1978 after graduating from UCLA film school.
• Moorpark College's campus newspaper (The Student Voice) covers information for both Oxnard College and Ventura College. http://www.studentvoiceonline.com/

Notable alumni

Gabe Kapler

• Jamal Anderson - former NFL running back^[15]
• Erica Arana - model, television host, speaker, and former NFL cheerleader^[16]
• Chris Beal (attended), CIF State Champion wrestler; professional Mixed Martial Artist for the UFC^[17]
• April Bowlby (Did not graduate) - of the CBS television show Two and a Half Men^[18]
• Brandon Boyd (Did not graduate) - Incubus^[19]
• Colbie Caillat (Did not graduate) - pop singer/songwriter^[20]
• Jason Dolley - actor and musician^[21]
• Nicole Johnson - Miss California 2010, Michael Phelps' fiancé
• Alex Hoffman-Ellis - football linebacker
• Gabe Kapler - major league baseball outfielder^[22]
• Ken Lutz - American football player^[23]
• Matt Mahurin - Illustrator, photographer^[24]
• Isaiah Mustafa (2012) - Former Football Player, The Old Spice Man^[25]
• Jose Pasillas (Did not graduate) - Incubus^[26]
• Julie Scardina (AA Exotic Animal Training and Management) - Sea World Busch Gardens Animal Ambassador^[27]
• Abby Sunderland (Did not graduate) - camera assistant, inspirational speaker and sailor^[28]
• Dan Winters - photographer^[29]
• Elliot Rodger (Did not graduate) - perpetrator of 2014 Isla Vista killings^[30]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College.

• Moorparkcollege.edu: Official Moorpark College website
• Moorparkcollege.edu: America's Teaching Zoo