Lake Tahoe Community College begins 50th anniversary celebration

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was on March 5, 1974, when the voters of South Lake Tahoe narrowly approved the formation of a community college district for the city after years of advocating, hard work, and planning. With 66 percent of the vote, the journey to success was underway and the college opened on Sept. 18, 1975. The first campus was in a converted motel on US50 with 119 classes offered to 1,407 students.

Local parents had sought to establish a local college to eliminate the need for students to travel for education. Initially rejected by the state board in 1965, the community’s proposal gained traction in 1967 when the state formed the Board of Governors and the Chancellor’s office, advocating for community colleges in every region.

A celebration was held on March 5 to kick off an 18-month-long birthday party for the cornerstone of the South Lake Tahoe community, Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC). In attendance was a member of the first Board of Trustees, Roberta Mason, who went on to serve as a trustee for 40 years, and current Trustee Kerry David who has been serving for 31 years. Two of the four past presidents of the college were also there - Dr. Guy Lease and Dr. Kindred Murrillo.

When asked what her proudest moment was, the 95-year-old Mason said the groundbreaking of the current campus. The first campus was at the motel for 14 years before opening in its current location.

Since those early days, the campus has been transformed and has just finished a multi-year construction project to update offices and classrooms. The current dormitory project will bring 100 beds to the campus, adding to the current 31 beds they currently have off-campus.

The 50th anniversary celebration will go until September 2025 when the ribbon will be cut, welcoming students to the new dormitory. There will also be a 50th Gala at the Tahoe Blue Event Center on May 17, 2025.

From its humble beginnings, LTCC now has 2,000 full-time equivalent students, 224 Promise students, 700 dual enrollment students (high school-college), over 600 Rising Scholars, 150 full-time employees, and many other part-time staffers.

“As we mark 50 years of Lake Tahoe Community College, we celebrate our rich history and our continued growth and evolution,” said Jeff DeFranco, LTCC President. “This milestone is an opportunity to look back on our humble beginnings in a converted motel and our current standing as a soon-to-be residential institution serving the South Shore of Lake Tahoe and our region.”

During last night’s event, LTCC announced a new campaign to recognize Fifty Awesome Alumni and the Fifty Faces of LTCC. This alumni initiative will be a collaborative effort to identify those who attended LTCC and are now making an impact in their respective communities. The Faces of LTCC initiative will seek to identify those individuals who made a lasting impact on the institution as employees, supporters, or other stakeholders. Nominations are now open. Those who are interested in nominating can visit ltcc.edu/50 and complete either of the forms. Those who qualify can also nominate themselves via the website form.

“Lake Tahoe Community College is a cornerstone of education in our region,” said Joe Irvin, City Manager and LTCC Alumni. “We Celebrate 50 years of dedication to equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in diverse career paths that support our community and region.”

A new logo was also unveiled to mark the milestone.