Celebration Posted Date: 10/6/2009 As Fresno City College prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2010, the search is on to find “100 Stars for 100 Years.” These are people who have made a lasting impact on our community and our college. The Centennial Honorees will be recognized throughout the year of celebrations with the first 10 announced at the Centennial Ball on December 31, 2009.

The Centennial Ball will kick off the 100th anniversary celebration of California’s first community college with a dinner and dance in Valdez Hall at the Fresno Convention Center. Fresno’s Joe Lenigan Band will provide the entertainment. The first 10 Centennial Honorees will be introduced as part of the evening’s festivities.

Nominations for the Centennial Honorees are now being accepted. The public is invited to nominate a Centennial Honoree who best exemplifies Fresno City College and who has exhibited exceptional merit and achievement which have brought fame and honor to the college. These honorees can include alumni, instructors, staff, donor or volunteers. Nominations for the first 10 honorees will be accepted through October 31. To submit a nomination, go to www.fresnocitycollege.edu/centennial. In 500 words or less, tell us why your nominee should be considered to be names a Centennial Honoree.

Tickets for the Centennial Ball are also now on sale. Tickets are $100 each or $1000 for a table of 10. Sponsorships are also available for the Centennial Ball.

Go to www.fresnocitycollege.edu/centennial for ticket information and a Centennial Honoree nomination form. Call (559) 442-8258 for more information.

History of the Founding of Fresno City College

For almost 100 years Fresno City College has been a leader in education in the central valley and the state. It has an interesting start that began with the visionary leadership of C.L. McLane. Click here for a detailed account of how FCC began.

Founded in 1910 as Fresno Junior College by Superintendent of Schools C.L. McLane, Fresno City College is California’s first community college and the second oldest in the nation.

Opening September 12, 1910 with 20 students and three new faculty members, the new junior college became an extension of Fresno High School, which at the time was located at Stanislaus and O streets in downtown Fresno.

From 1921 to 1948, Fresno Junior College was located at the Fresno Normal School campus on University Avenue where the two schools shared staff and facilities while still operating independently.

In 1948, Fresno Junior College returned to its original site at Stanislaus and O Street, which was now Fresno Technical High School. FCC remained at that site until the late fifties when it returned to the University Avenue campus permanently when Fresno State College moved to northeast Fresno.

Today, Fresno City College, now part of the State Center Community College District, is a bustling and vibrant community college serving over 25,000 students each semester. With eight academic divisions and two student service divisions, it boasts award-winning programs in areas such as nursing, fine arts, athletics, science, vocational training and more. In addition to the main campus, the college includes the Career & Technology Center in southwest Fresno, the Manchester Educational Resource Center and the Training Institute, a contract education program providing customized training. Fresno City College prepares students for the workforce or transfer to four year universities.