Full year of activities scheduled to commemorate community milestone
FORT WORTH, Texas Jan. 23, 2015) – Serving more than 100,000 students each year, Tarrant County College, the nation’s 15th-largest higher education institution, is “Celebrating 50 Years of Success Within Reach.”
To commemorate the milestone year, TCC has planned two major celebrations in 2015 that include the public in the College’s year-long observance. Former President and Prime Minister of Israel Shimon Peres, pictured right, will be the special guest and luncheon speaker for the first special event, “A World View,” benefiting TCC Foundation scholarships and programs. The event will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 23, at the Fort Worth Convention Center Ballroom.
Peres is one of only a handful of individuals who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Peace Prize. During the event, he will share his unique insight on current international affairs, education, the Middle East region, its impact on the world and implications for the world’s future leadership.
Congresswoman Kay Granger and Former Speaker of the House, the Honorable Jim Wright, will serve as honorary co-chairs for the event. Bell Helicopter is the luncheon event’s presenting sponsor. Ticket and sponsorship information is available from the TCC Foundation at 817-515-5277 or online at www.tccd.edu/foundation.
“The TCC Foundation Board of Directors is so pleased to have the unique occasion to host President Peres in Fort Worth and provide our community a ‘once in an era’ opportunity to hear him speak, and share his global perspective,” said Foundation Executive Director Joe McIntosh.
On Aug. 1, TCC will host a hallmark community celebration to be held at historic Panther Island from 5 to 8 p.m. More details will be available closer to the event. TCC campuses will host a variety of events highlighting their unique course offerings, programs and services and the success and contributions of their students and faculty.
“Since Tarrant County residents went to the polls to create a community college 50 years ago, the College has established and sustained a legacy of great service to our students,” said TCC Chancellor Erma Johnson Hadley. “Our faculty, staff, and administration have taken great pride in fulfilling the needs of the community. We look forward to staying true to our rich heritage as we embrace the future.”
Sponsors for the 50th Anniversary celebration are Freese and Nichols, Inc., GCA Services Group, JPMorgan Chase & Co. Weaver, LLP.
Steering committee members for the 50th Anniversary celebration are: Eduardo Aguilar, Louise Appleman, Kenneth Barr, Bob Benda, Cindy Boyd, Johnny Campbell, David Clinkscale, Robert Cluck, Bill Coppola, Suzanne Cottraux, Michael Crawford, Jeff Davis, and L. Clifford Davis.
Also on the committee are: Dan Dipert, Tahita Fulkerson, Jenkins Garrett, Reginald Gates, Joy Gates-Black, William Greenhill, Conrad Heede, Lou Hillman, Alexandra Holloway, Dixon Holman, Tim Johnson, Peter Jordan, William Lace, Elva LeBlanc, Glenn Lewis, and Norm Lyons.
Other committee members include: Tim Marshall, Jimmy Madison, Arturo Martinez, Mark McClendon, Joe McIntosh, Delaina Milligan, Kelley Mills, Mike and Rosie Moncrief, Carlos Morales, Gwen Morrison, Steve Murrin, Elzie Odom, Evelyn Parkhurst, and Jnell Pate.
Additionally, the committee includes: Nina Petty, Christine Rivera, Angela Robinson, Alann Sampson, J. Thomas Schieffer, Stephanie Scroggins, Liz Sisk, Joy Thomas, Alicia Thomas, Ginny Tigue, Julie Wilson, Jason Wooten, Jim Wright, and Gil Zepeda.
The public may stay abreast of TCC happenings and learn more about the college by accessing the anniversary Web site at: http://www.tccd.edu/50th
About TCC
TCC got its start as Tarrant County Junior College on July 31, 1965, after voters gave their approval.
It since has grown to five campuses from the initial opening of South Campus in 1967. With 4,272 first-term students, the South Campus’s opening enrollment represents the largest in the history of a single new junior college campus.
Within a year of opening its first campus, TCC opened the Northeast Campus in 1968 followed by the opening of the Northwest Campus in 1976, which claimed the distinction as the only bicentennial community college in the country. The May Owen Center, named after charter board member and late board secretary May Owen, opened March 1983 in downtown Fort Worth. In August 1993, a $70 million bond issue was approved by voters, funding the construction of the Southeast Campus in Arlington, which opened in fall 1996, and the addition of new classroom facilities and renovations at the three other campuses. Trinity River Campus opened in 2009 after the District purchased the corporate headquarters of RadioShack in downtown Fort Worth. Two years later, Trinity River Campus East: Center for Health Care Professions opened. Recently, TCC added its virtual campus, TCC Connect, which provides online courses and Weekend College, and expanded its aviation program with the opening of the Northwest Campus Center of Excellence for Aviation, Transportation and Logistics (CEATL) at Alliance Airport.
TCC also assists employers in training their workforces through its TCC Opportunity Center. TCC is one of only 79 Achieving the Dream Leader Colleges in the nation, earning the prestigious distinction during its first year of eligibility.
The Board of Trustees voted in February 1999 to change the name of the College from Tarrant County Junior College to Tarrant County College.
