Valley Star

Issue date: 9/29/04 Section: News

It's on the bag at the bookstore and will be on your diploma. The official school seal represents the foundation of Valley College, which was founded in 1949. Originally named Valley Junior College, the school, which was once part of Van Nuys High School, was renamed Valley College in 1956.



"We needed to develop a seal that represented us," said English Department Chair Dr. Alfred Zucker, who was a student at Valley in 1950.

Dr. James Dodson, curator of the Valley Historical Museum, said in his 1977 book: "Los Angeles Valley College: The First Year," students were asked to submit suggestions for the new school seal in 1949 and the winning idea was submitted by Pat Perry, an art major. The sketch featured the book of knowledge with a lighted lamp of learning, a winged foot representing sports and a shield with "Monarchs" engraved on it.

But it was not until 1951 when art instructors Miss Perry and Miss Marie Scott incorporated a shield with a tree of learning growing through a book and at the bottom are the words "Verdad Jusitcia Cultura," which is Spanish for truth, justice and culture. Coincidentally, the Spanish initials are V.J.C., the same as Valley Junior College, the original name of the college. At the top of the shield is a large "V" holding a crown on which 1949 is inscribed.

The seal represents what Valley is to this day; the tree growing out of an open book illustrates students' growth through learning and the Spanish phrase is representative of the many cultures that make up our student body, faculty and staff.

"We chose Spanish because of the strong Spanish influence in the community," said Val Villa, foreign language department chair in 1950, who was also part of the committee responsible for the creation of the seal.

In 1797 a permanent settlement of the establishment of the Mission San Fernando Rey de España began; this mission gave the community the name Valley.

"The words in the seal describe our heritage, the sense of belonging, there was a lot of spirit in that first year," said earth science professor Richard Raskoff. He also stated that the geographical history of San Fernando and the Spanish and Mexican influence played a big role. The letters V.J.C. planted the seed of what our college is now. "We are a college whose mission is to give every opportunity possible."

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