By Kaki Joiner ’21
Oscar Cancio ‘04 returned this year to the school campus as the Associate Director of Admission.
After graduating from the school and attending both The University of Southern California and the University of LaVerne, Cancio decided to revisit his alma matter. Cancio said the best part of his day is when he finds time to play on the basketball court, which he played on as an incoming freshman.
In addition to playing basketball, Cancio said he loves the cafeteria food as well as interacting and collaborating with fellow students and faculty, including President Rick Commons.
Cancio spoke about what it is like to work with his former teachers.
“It is very strange calling my former teachers by their first names; I feel like I will get in trouble,” Cancio said.
Cancio said his fondest memory as a student at the school was his daily morning drives with then ninth grade dean, Greg Gonzalez, where they talked about food and listened to National Public Radio.
The advice Cancio would give to students on campus is to listen to their teachers.
“Teachers aren’t just telling you things to make your life more difficult, they know what they are talking about,” Cancio said.
Cancio said he remembers a certain instance where his teacher, Dr. Lisa Rado told him to take more notes in his book, which he later realized was for his own good.
Admission Administrator, Meagan Salmon, spoke about what it is like to have Mr. Cancio as part of the school’s admission team.
“He brings so much knowledge from past experiences in graduate school admissions and a great energy to the student ambassador program,” Salmon said.