Moorpark College kicked off the holiday season on Saturday, Dec. 3, with its Holiday Lights and Arctic Lights celebration.

It was Moorpark College Foundation’s first Holiday Lights show hosted by the Associated Students. The event ran alongside the two-day Arctic Lights annual event held by America’s Teaching Zoo.

Vendors, food and games lined the campus’s center walk while students, faculty, and members of the community gathered to celebrate the holidays.  At the zoo, children and families were enjoying real snow, crafts and exotic animals in support of Polar Bear International.

Lea Reiss is an EATM student and was excited to continue the Arctic Lights tradition.  She explained that since the zoo is small, they rely on community support through general admission, but also wanted to use the event to raise funds to help the polar bears.

On the main area of campus, the MC Foundation members were present and excited to host their first holiday fundraiser, and looked forward to making Holiday Lights an annual tradition.

Dan Peate, who is a former MC student body president and retired chair of the foundation, attended the Holiday event.

“Moorpark College gave me so much in my life, and I would feel irresponsible if I didn’t give back,” Peate said.

Lights that were sponsored by local businesses went on display after a brief ceremony at dusk.

Holiday Lights was derived from a similar event at Barstow College.  Moorpark adopted it as an alternative fundraiser after recent economic downturns inspired more practical and inexpensive events.  Previously, the Moorpark College Foundation used black tie dinners and other upscale events to raise money.

Elad Goren is the president of the Moorpark College Foundation and is happy to raise money to benefit the college.

“We take that money and give it back to the school in the form of scholarships for the students at the college or going on to other colleges,” Goren said.

In addition to the food and games outside, there was a raffle and a silent auction held inside Fountain Hall as another mean of raising money.

“Most importantly it’s supporting the school and it’s supporting them,” Goren said.

Representatives from a few campus clubs had tables set up inside.  Greg Karakashian, the president of the Honors Club, and other club members were selling baked goods to support their program and the Moorpark College Foundation.

“It is incredibly important that we experience our school through involvement with Holiday Lights as well as our club,” Karakashian said.

Cassandra Soltero is the Vice President of The Honors Club.  She explained that they support students by promoting transfer guarantees and reaching out to universities.  They also support the Guadalupe Center with a food drive during the holidays by leaving boxes for canned food donations around campus.  The Holiday Lights event is a cause the club was especially excited to take part in this year.

“It’s another way to be festive and keep a communal atmosphere,” Soltero said.

Both events attracted many members of the community as well as students, and Elad Goren hopes that in years to come, Holiday Lights will continue to grow and lights can spread further around campus.

A 5k Mud Run will take place on March 25 as the foundation’s next fundraiser sponsored by Simi Valley Hospital.  For more information, visit www.moorparkmudrun.com.

The snow play zone at the Moorpark College Zoo on December 3, 2011. Photo by Jeffrey Farrar. (Photo by Jeffrey Farrar)