$5.8M Lisa Maloff University Center celebrated with grand opening

A new chapter for Lake Tahoe Community College started Thursday, 32 years after ground broke on the South Lake Tahoe campus, moving the school from an old motel into a new home on Al Tahoe Blvd. Construction is now complete on the $5.8M Lisa Maloff University Center and the doors are open, ready to welcome students enrolled in upper division classes with Sierra Nevada College, Brandman University and Washington State.

On August 16, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to officially open the center, located adjacent to Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC).

"This is more than the opening of a new building," said LTCC Board of Trustee President Kerry David. "It's is the opening of a new chapter that is life changing."

Philanthropist Mrs. Lisa Maloff donated the funds to create the new center in 2014 so students in South Lake Tahoe don't have to defer their dreams, much as she had to do in 1958. That year, Lisa and Robert Maloff moved to South Lake Tahoe. She had a degree from UCLA and wanted to get a teaching credential but found the community a geographic isolation from the nearest college, the University of Nevada Reno.

"Lives will be changed by one building and the programs inside, all because of Lisa," said LTCC Superintendent/President Jeff DeFranco. "These are very exciting times at Lake Tahoe Community College."

As those in attendance gave Mrs. Maloff a standing ovation, DeFranco said, "people are clapping around the Basin."

Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village was the first partner for LTCC with four students graduating with a bachelor's degree last May. They offer degrees in global business and psychology. Next on board was Brandman University who will offer liberal arts degrees and teaching certificates, and then master's degrees in education. Washington State's top five hospitality program is now in South Lake Tahoe. Besides the degree being offered in Washington state, it is also available in Switzerland and now South Lake Tahoe.

Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto couldn't be at the ceremony but sent Jennifer Crowe from her office to make a special announcement since Mrs. Maloff is a Nevada resident. Lisa Maloff is being read into the U.S. Congressional Record for her outstanding philanthropy (read this at end of story).

Architects, contractors, college staff, past LTCC presidents and board members were all there to celebrate the new center, all who were introduced by DeFranco.

"It takes a village to make this possible," he said.

Dr. Kindred Murillo was the LTCC Superintendent/President when the center's plans first began in 2014 after she saw a similar building at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita. She couldn't be at the grand opening but sent a statement about the new opportunities on the campus.

"Great things can happen when great people come together," said Dr. Murillo.

Not only did DeFranco honor Lisa Maloff, but he also honored Roberta Mason who was on the original LTCC Board of Trustees and stayed on the board for 40 years. It was her friendship with Lisa Maloff that helped bring the large donation to the campus.

"She is a testament of the impact one person can have on a community," DeFranco said of Roberta.

Brandman University, Sierra Nevada College and Washington State all sent representatives Thursday as well and the high-tech classrooms are ready to take students. Smart boards, smart tables, video and sound systems are in each room, creating a 21st century classroom. They also have state-of-art security features in each room.

When teachers are in the classroom they are fitted with a microphone and the cameras in the room follow them as they teach, giving students watching from another location a two-way experience as if they were present in the same room.

There are also smart meeting rooms the public can take advantage of for summits, trainings or other needs.

They aren't your mother's classrooms, and even the lobby doesn't resemble a college with a fireplace, high ceilings and a fountain in Lisa's honor.

The fountain reads:
This University Center is a reality because of the vision and passion of Lisa Maloff. Her desire to bring greater opportunities for higher education to the Lake Tahoe Basin will be realized in these walls.

All those who pass through the building to achieve their educational goals and dreams will have Lisa to thank. Her spirit of giving will serve many future generations here in Lake Tahoe.

"A college education is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make." ~Lisa Maloff.

Mrs. Maloff arrived at the dedication ceremony with another check in her hand, this time in the amount of $100,000 for the LTCC Foundation to fund scholarships for LTCC students who plan to continue their studies at the Lisa Maloff University Center.

LTCC aims to be California's premier destination community college with the center being the cornerstone of taking them to the future, according to DeFranco.

"It is a transformational shift for our college and community," he said.

"This is yours to enjoy," said Lisa she officially opened the center.

Being read into the Congressional Record:
MS. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, today I recognize Mrs. Lisa Maloff, of Zephyr, Nevada, on the grand opening of the Lisa Maloff University Center at Lake Tahoe Community College. On August 16, 2018, members of the Lake Tahoe community will come together for a ribbon cutting ceremony. The facility will help Californians and Nevadans alike achieve their goal of obtaining a four-year college degree.

Upon moving to Lake Tahoe in 1958, Lisa hoped to complete a teaching credential and give back to her community through public service. Unfortunately, the closest four-year institution was the University of Nevada, Reno. The geographic isolation of the Tahoe Basin’s mountainous terrain, sometimes-unpredictable weather, and travel time forced Lisa to defer her dream of teaching and stymied her educational goals. Some of these challenges persist today, especially for the area’s working students with families. Now, with the opening of the Lisa Maloff University Center through partnership with nearby universities, the dreams of a four-year college degree will become a reality to scores of students in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

This center is one of many philanthropic contributions by Mrs. Lisa Maloff and her husband Robert Maloff, and adds to the lore that has earned her the moniker of “Angel of Tahoe”. Mrs. Maloff has been a strong supporter and advocate for a variety of Lake Tahoe causes, including: Barton Memorial Hospital, the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe, the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, George Whittell High School and Tahoe Youth & Family Services. Her passion for improving services, programs, and the quality of life in the Lake Tahoe community is commendable and serves as a great example to all Nevadans.

Today, I celebrate the many contributions of Mrs. Lisa Maloff to the Lake Tahoe Basin community and her work to enhance the opportunities for all young Nevadans to succeed and thrive. It is with pride that I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Lisa Maloff for her generous philanthropy, her commitment to education, and her efforts to change outcomes for people in the Lake Tahoe Basin.