COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS' 2004 GRADUATING CLASS BIGGEST YET 997-STUDENT TOTAL REPRESENTS 27% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - College of the Canyons' 2004 graduating class was its largest yet, with 997 students receiving associate's degrees Friday.

The class of 610 women and 387 men earned a total 1,013 associate degrees, a 27 percent increase from the 2002-03 school year. Its grade- point average was 3.05, slightly higher than last year's average of 3.03.

``Every graduating class has their personality, and you can never tell what it's going to be until the graduation ceremony,'' Michael Wilding, acting vice president of student affairs, said Thursday. ``They've gone through so much to get here.''

Money has been a challenge for students, who weathered a fee increase from $11 to $18 per unit this year and a steadily rising cost of living, Wilding said.

Still, 12 students graduated as valedictorians after posting 4.0 grade- point averages. Only five students from last year's class earned straight As.

Also, the college's nursing program turned out 92 registered nursing and licensed vocational nursing graduates. Of those, 64 were trained through a partnership formed two years ago with Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. Students receive on-the-job training as hired staff at the medical center. Their pinning ceremony is scheduled today.

``This is the first class of College of the Canyons students to graduate from the program we've entered into with Henry Mayo,'' college Executive Vice President Phil Hartley said.

Still, most associate's degree graduates plan to continue their education at a four-year college or university, with California State University, Northridge, as the most popular destination.

For David Hamilton, who finished College of the Canyons with a computer networking degree, it will be his second shot at a bachelor's degree. He had attended CSUN as a freshman just out of high school, but couldn't keep up with his studies and dropped out.

``It gave me a second chance,'' said Hamilton, 21. ``Now I'm an honor student, where before I dropped out.''

Justin Bush, who plans to study business and film at CSUN, said the past two years spent at College of the Canyons helped ease him into the rigors of higher education after finishing Valencia High School.

``It helped me get out of the high school phase,'' said Bush, 20, of Canyon Country. ``It gave me the college experience without all the pressures of starting at a four-year.''

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Hayley Slobodzian waves to friends at the College of the Canyons graduation ceremony Friday. Slobodzian was one of 997 students graduating this year - the college's largest class yet.

(2) A sea of caps and tassels fills the College of the Canyons quad on Friday during graduation ceremonies. This year's class had a grade-point average of 3.05, slightly higher than last year's average of 3.03.

David Crane/Staff Photographer