By Dr. Kenneth Atwater, President, South Mountain Community College
They said it couldn’t be done.
But guess what? We did it.
When South Mountain Community College was created three decades ago, more than a few thought the school would not survive. An institution of higher learning built in Phoenix, south of the Rio Salado? Many had their doubts.
But we did it.
And this year, South Mountain Community College will mark 30 years of providing quality instruction to students and serving the educational needs of our community.
It was on August 23, 1979 that ground was broken for a permanent college campus near the intersection of 24th Street and Baseline Road in Phoenix. And from that day forward, South Mountain Community College has been “the little college that could.”
The smallest of the ten colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District, South Mountain arose from truly humble beginnings. The main campus was built on a tiny budget, using portable buildings, and offering classes in local elementary schools and churches along the way. A small but committed faculty was assembled, meager in number but rich in spirit, some of whom continue to teach at the college today, and all with the commitment to students that quickly established SMCC as “the college with a heart.”
But we didn’t merely survive—we thrived!
And the main reason for our success is inherent in our name: community. South Mountain Community College was created and uniquely equipped first and foremost to serve our community….an extremely diverse array of homes, neighborhoods, ranches and farms that span the Baseline corridor, from Ahwatukee and Guadalupe on the east to Laveen on the west.
And among the residents of this unique and dynamic section of the Valley of the Sun were many individuals for whom a college education had been only a dream. Our college was created for those residents, to help them attain their educational goals in a friendly and supportive environment, and show them that one’s accomplishments are limited only by the extent of one’s desire and willingness to work.
Yes, we built it, and they came—more than 100,000 students over three decades, with many thousands of those students leaving with degrees and certificates, well prepared to take the next step in pursuit of their chosen careers.
As such, the college has served as a beacon of progress for Phoenix, and the South Mountain Village in particular. And over the decades, the college has grown along with the community. Those original temporary structures that were built with uncertainty 30 years ago have slowly been replaced and edified with the permanence of bricks and mortar. And bold new structures, like our Technology Center and award-winning Performance Hall, have further strengthened the college’s presence and added distinction and character to the community landscape.
Regional SMCC centers were created to serve unique and vibrant student populations in Guadalupe, Ahwatukee and Laveen. And investments in property made in those communities will ensure a presence for the college for years to come.
And soon we will break ground on yet another exciting addition to the college campus: the South Mountain Community Library, created jointly with the City of Phoenix, and designed to serve not only our students but the residents and families of the South Mountain Village. This new structure, scheduled for grand opening in the summer of 2011, will be yet another step forward in strengthening the ties between college and community.
The theme for our 30th anniversary celebration is “Celebrating the Vision: 30 Years of Excellence,” and we are looking forward to many exciting events and activities throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. You’ll find a calendar of events and much more by following the “30th Anniversary” link on our college Web site, at www.southmountaincc.edu.
If you have not had opportunity to experience our campus, I hope you will take advantage of the exciting activities we are presenting this anniversary year, and visit us soon.
In the meantime, we at South Mountain Community College will prepare for our next 30 years by holding true to our institutional vision: educating lives; transforming minds; touching hearts; and building community.
We invite you to share in that vision.
