Bill Leach, Semi-Finalist for Academic Honors

1973 Calif. Community College Awards

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Photos (2x2-inch negatives, Kodak Safety Film) by Ken Faggetter/The Signal.

March 28, 1973 — College of the Canyons student William W. "Bill" Leach (Hart High 1967) is one of eight semi-finalists in the Southern California regional California Community College Awards program, sponsored by Bank of America. Leach was one of two SoCal junior college students selected in the social science-humanities division. The ceremony was held at the Sportsmen's Lodge in North Hollywood.

Below, from left: Bob Riggs, manager of Bank of America's Newhall office; NoHo resident Jeannette E. Crane, a student at Los Angeles Valley College; Leach; and Dr. Robert Pax, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Ventura Community College District.

At the finals on May 2, Crane won first place ($2,000 prize money) in the social science-humanities division, and Leach came in second ($1,000 prize). (See Los Angeles Times, 5/13/1973.)

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Bill Leach Award Winner

The Signal | Wednesday, April 4, 1973.

Bill Leach of 24751½ Chestnut Street, Newhall, and a student at College of the Canyons, was among eight semi-final winners in Bank of America's $85,000 California Community College Awards program.

The semi-finalists, two from each field of business, technical-vocational, social science-humanities, and science engineering, will now advance to the Southern California Finals to be held May 2 at the Los Angeles Hilton Hotel where they will then have the chance at four $2,000 first place awards.

Second-place awards will be $1,000, and third place winners will each receive $500. Area winners are assured of at least $250.

At the area competition recently held at the Sportsmen's Lodge in North Hollywood four students from each of the eight participating community colleges appeared before a panel of business and civic leaders to discuss an unannounced subject related to their field of study.

Along with College of the Canyons, other participants included Antelope Valley College, Glendale, Los Angeles Pierce, Los Angeles Valley, Moorpark, Santa Barbara City and Ventura.

Download additional photos from this event (non-COC students) here. Signal Photo Archive, Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society collection.

EARLY COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS