ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR FORMER COUGAR B.J. ATKINS STILL HAS HIS EYE ON THE PRIZE.Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA - As the center for the Cougar cougar: see puma. cougar or puma or mountain lion or panther Species (Puma concolor) of large, graceful cat that lives in a wide variety of habitats in the Americas, from southern Alaska to Patagonia. football team in 1974, B.J. Atkins snapped the ball to current College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. head coach Chuck Lyon, and since has continued to help the football team and college succeed. In recognition of his support, Atkins was presented with the 2001 Alumnus of the Year award Saturday at an annual alumni barbecue event held before the football game against Santa Monica College Santa Monica College was first opened in 1929 as Santa Monica Junior College. Current enrollment is 32,000 students in more than 90 fields of study. The college also has one of the largest international student populations of any community college in the US, with approximately . The long-time Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. resident and William S. Hart High School Hart High School may refer to:
``It was very exciting. It's a beautiful facility to play football in,'' Atkins said. Atkins graduated from College of the Canyons with a degree in natural resources sciences, and through his success on the football field, he earned a football scholarship to Humboldt State where he earned a bachelor's degree in oceanography oceanography, study of the seas and oceans. The major divisions of oceanography include the geological study of the ocean floor (see plate tectonics) and features; physical oceanography, which is concerned with the physical attributes of the ocean water, such as and economics. ``At COC See chip on chip. , I was able to get the one-on-one attention that I needed to succeed. What talent I had was showcased, so I was able to go on and get a full scholarship to Humboldt State,'' Atkins said. Since 1985, Atkins has served on the board of directors of the College of the Canyons Foundation. He joined the foundation when it was just getting started, and has been instrumental in turning it into an important fund-raising organization for the college. ``Its beginnings were small, but it has now grown into something that is helping the college in a significant way,'' he said. Atkins is the owner of Atkins Environmental HELP, Inc., a Valencia firm that manages regulatory affairs and completes special projects for other companies. But he still finds the time to make it to all of the Cougar football games, even the away games when possible. ``When I can go, I'm there,'' Atkins said. ``I call Chuck now and then to see if he needs anything for the team, because I want to do what I can do help.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: B.J. Atkins looks out over Cougar Stadium at College of the Canyons, which has named him its 2001 Alumnus of the Year. David R. Crane/Staff Photographer |
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