Moorpark College

Coordinates: 34°17′59.66″N 118°50′06.27″W / 34.2999056°N 118.835075°W / 34.2999056; -118.835075

Moorpark College
Established	1967
Endowment	$43,957,920[1]
President	Dr. Pam Eddinger
Students	14,360[1]
Location	Moorpark, CA, USA
Colors	Black and Columbia blue
Mascot	Raiders
Athletics	Western State
Website	www.moorparkcollege.edu

Moorpark College is a California-state funded community college located on a 134-acre (542,000 m²) property reclining on a hill in Moorpark, a town in Ventura County, California. It was established in 1967 and as of 2006, had an enrollment of 14,360 students and 175 full-time faculty members.^[1]

History

The Governing Board of the Ventura County Community College District established Moorpark College in 1967. In addition to the last already help by the District, Moorpark College expanded into a 134-acre (0.54 km²) parcel of land on Moorpark's eastern boundary, donated by a local ranching family, the Strathearns.^[2]

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.^[2]

Dr. Ray Hearon is thus far 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 4,000 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,^[3] located on California State University, Channel Islands' campus.^[4]

In 2000, a high school for juniors and seniors opened on the college campus, called High School at Moorpark College (separate fromn Moorpark High School, but part of the Moorpark Unified School District). The first class to graduate in 2001 numbered 25. Additional information about The High School at Moorpark College can be found at: http://mcweb.moorparkcollege.edu/htdocs/hs/about.html

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

Moorpark College currently ranks second in the state based on number of transfers to the University of California and California State University systems.^[2]

Trivia

The Moorpark College Jazz "A" Band, in the school's Auditorium

• The college is the only one in the US that has an Exotic Animal Training and Management (EATM) Program with an on-site zoo that is open to the public.

• 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/

• Local students, future students, and past students refer to the college as "Kraproom" which is "Moorpark" spelled backwards.

• The school is colloquially referred to as "Harvard on the Hill".

Notable alumni

• Jamal Anderson (Former NFL Running Back)
• Erica Arana (model, television host, speaker, and former NFL Cheerleader)
• April Bowlby (of the CBS television show Two and a Half Men)
• Brandon Boyd (Incubus)
• Gabe Kapler (major league baseball outfielder)
• Jose Pasillas (Incubus)

References

External links

• Official site
• America's Teaching Zoo