90th Anniversary Celebration October 22

SMC Celebrates 90 Years of Innovation and Excellence on October 22

Celebration Highlights Include Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Reception, Keynote Event with Darroch “Rocky” Young

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica College (SMC) will celebrate its 90th Anniversary with a series of events Tuesday, October 22, culminating in a special program featuring guest speaker Darroch “Rocky” Young.

Anniversary activities — which will be held at the new Student Services Center on the main SMC campus at 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica — include:

• 11:30 a.m. — Ribbon Cutting Ceremony — SMC’s new signature gateway building houses the largest network of counseling and student support services in California. The three-story building is designed to meet LEED Platinum standards, incorporating innovative solar, cooling, water-saving, and natural light features. Site amenities include a generous setback from the street, drought-resistant landscaping, visually striking solar screens, and distinctive LED accent lighting. The building also houses a 500-space underground parking garage and a vehicle entryway system able to accommodate visitors and guests to the campus.

• 5:30 p.m. — Reception — A chance to meet the people who make SMC the success it is today, the reception is free and open to the public. Space is limited, so reservations are encouraged and reservations may be made online. The reception is hosted by the Santa Monica College Associates, a community-based support group to support student excellence, and the SMC Associated Students. The reception includes hors d’oeuvres and light refreshments.

• 7 p.m. — Keynote Event with Darroch “Rocky” Young — The former Vice President at Santa Monica College and retired Chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District will talk about SMC’s history of innovation and excellence in serving students. Mr. Young has written, lectured, and consulted extensively on leadership in higher education, particularly in community colleges. Mr. Young’s presentation will be preceded by introductory remarks from SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery, SMC Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez, and other celebratory student, faculty, and leadership voices, both past and present.

SMC opened its doors as “Santa Monica Junior College” in 1929, at the end of the Roaring Twenties and the beginning of the Great Depression. Today, Santa Monica College offers more than 110 degrees and certificates in six locations in and near Santa Monica, with a new satellite campus under construction in Malibu. SMC is ranked #1 in transfers, job training, and financial aid, and fully accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Free parking for anniversary events is available in SMC Parking Lots 3, 4, and 6, located off of Pico Blvd. Parking is allowed in student parking spaces only. Attendees are encouraged to arrive via the Expo line, the bus, or a ride-sharing service. Various ways to reach the main SMC campus can be found on the SMC Transportation web page.

More information is available on the 90th Anniversary website or by calling 310-434-4100.