A transformation is taking place in the hearts and minds of students at the College of the Canyons Canyon Country Campus, as those attending the new facility have shunned the notion that their classrooms are simply a satellite of the college. Instead they have begun to embrace the new campus as their own.Though many of the students attending the Canyon Country Campus already hail from the eastern side of the Santa Clarita Valley, those who have taken classes at the new campus are confident that more and more students will begin to realize the virtues of attending classes in Canyon Country – just like they did.

“I didn’t really have much interest in (the Canyon Country campus) until I started attending it,” said College of the Canyons student Greg Alfaro, 18, who lives within minutes of the new campus in Canyon Country. “But once I did start to attend I realized that it’s really of the same magnitude as the Valencia campus. Honestly, my expectations weren’t to the same (scale), but this campus is just as great.”

Echoing that sentiment is 18-year-old Canyons student Kevin Camonayan, who like Alfaro was initially attracted to the campus’ convenient proximity to home and work, but later experienced all of the campus’ other positive attributes.

“The Canyon Country Campus provides the same opportunities and the same resources, it’s just smaller and with less students, which could be a good thing for some people,” Camonayan said. “Even if the Valencia campus were closer to me, I like the smaller setting here better. It’s a lot less confusing and there are a lot less lines.”

But despite their firsthand experience at the Canyon Country Campus, both Camonayan and Alfaro believe there is a perception about the new campus that needs to be changed – a belief that has prompted both students to get involved with the campus’ Associated Student Government (ASG).

“A lot of people talk about how this campus is dead compared to Valencia and that there’s nothing social going on,” commented Camonayan, ASG vice president of activities, about why he initially got involved with ASG. “I just wanted

to see if maybe I could help make a difference in the way people view this campus.”

In fact, Alfaro, who serves as an ASG student representative at the Canyon Country Campus, argues that the new campus’ small size and lower student population helps increase the number of familiar faces seen each day and allows for more socialization opportunities and a greater number of classroom friendships.

“Students here are very in tune with each other,” said Alfaro, pointing out that many students run on the same work-by-day and school-by-night schedule, “and because there are less students, it’s more intimate, definitely.”

In addition to ridding students of their false perceptions about the new campus, Alfaro and Camonayan are also interested in helping to bring more student activities and events to the Canyon Country Campus -- in hopes of attracting students to the new facility and building a positive reputation for their campus among fellow students.

“To some extent I don’t think people take full advantage of all this campus has to offer. I think some still see it as a satellite to the Valencia campus,” Alfaro said. “So we’re trying to get people hyped up for this campus and show just how much we have to offer.

“There is a lot more in store for the Canyon Country Campus, and it’s something people should definitely keep their eyes on. This is a great school,” he said.