KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Dr. Richard Rush, president of California State University Channel Islands, delivers his "State of the University" speech at the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce's annual Connection Luncheon on Wednesday at Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo.02-20-2013CAMARILLO, CA$RETURN$$RETURN$

KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Micah Cookes (center), a liberal studies major, listens to the president of her school, Dr. Richard Rush with California State University Channel Islands at the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce's annual Connection Luncheon on Wednesday at Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo. 02-20-2013 CAMARILLO, CA$RETURN$$RETURN$

KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Andrea Mozqueda (left) and Valerie Valdez, both communication majors at California State University Channel Islands, share each other's company at the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce's annual Connection Luncheon on Wednesday at Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo. 02-20-2013CAMARILLO, CA$RETURN$$RETURN$

KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Kathy Long, Ventura County supervisor (left) and Julia Brownley, United States congresswoman, attend the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce's annual Connection Luncheon on Wednesday at Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo. 02-20-2013CAMARILLO, CA$RETURN$$RETURN$

Photo by Karen Quincy Loberg, Karen Quincy Loberg

KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STARSteven Jordan, an economics major at California State University Channel Islands, attends the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce's annual Connection Luncheon on Wednesday at Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo. 02-20-2013 CAMARILLO, CA

When Richard Rush walked onto the campus that was to become CSU Channel Islands, he saw water pouring down a wall with exposed wires, a broken pipe repaired with a strip of cloth and rats occupying what is now the Grand Salon.

We had more large raccoons than I had ever seen in my life, said Rush, president of the Camarillo university, whose campus used to be a state hospital. And they claimed ownership.

Since then, the university has won awards for its environmental practices, community work and for being a great college to work for. As Channel Islands celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, its also developing new projects, including a boating center at Channel Islands Harbor and a partnership

with the National Park Service to build a research station on Santa Rosa Island.

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CSU Channel Islands president gives then-and-now look at university, including raccoons