Ventura College continued their 80th anniversary celebration on top of a float, parading through the historic downtown Ventura, joined by loud band music and people from all over the community.

The parade was festive according to Lisa Wagner, 28, who was watching on the sidelines with her children.

“It was short,” said Wagner. “But it was nice to see the community recognizing the college.”

Main Street was blocked off for the 18th Annual Ventura County ‘Hats off to Education’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 18 at 10 a.m. The parade commemorated Ventura College on its 80th anniversary.

The Grand Marshal of the parade was a former VC Nursing and Sciences Department Professor Dr. Thomas O’Neill, who passed away last year.

Dr. O’Neill had been a part of Ventura College for 45 years, and retired in 2000 as the longest-serving faculty member in district history. He was a highly esteemed professor and made numerous valuable contributions to the college.

He founded and advised the VC Biology Club, began the Dr. Thomas O’Neill’s Nursing Scholarship Fund to assist struggling nursing students, and played a key role in the creation of the Academic Senate.

Dr. O’Neill passed away December 2005 and his family rode in the parade on his behalf.

The campus has conducted a series of events, such as creating a list of campus-wide “80 Acts of Kindness”, and hosting an elementary school poem and essay contest where the winners toured the campus with VC President Dr. Robin Calote.

The parade began with the sound of a whistle, and the VC float was first in line, carrying college students, faculty members, children, and other VC representatives.

VC’s 80th anniversary celebration will continue with an Open-House March 29 at 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information contact the Public Information Office at 654-6462.