Allen Community College wrapped up a celebration 100 years in the making Wednesday afternoon with the unveiling of the final “Centennial Circle.”
The Centennial Circles are a series of photo collages that celebrate each decade since the college first opened its doors on the third floor of Iola High School on Sept. 10, 1923. The Iola Junior College became Allen County Community Junior College when the school relocated to its campus on North Cottonwood Street in 1970. The name later was shortened to Allen Community College and is now commonly referred to as “ACC” or “Allen.”
The school’s centennial celebration kicked off with a party on Sept. 12, 2023, with Lt. Gov. David Toland of Iola as the keynote speaker.
The Centennial Circle exhibit is installed along a hallway that, appropriately, separates the original main campus from a new, modern Student Union. Panels include hundreds of photos of former students, athletes, instructors, staff and board members.
The photo collages feature mostly black-and-white photos from the newspaper and yearbook archives until color was phased in starting with the 1980s panel. The first all-color panel begins with the 2000s, likely because digital photography made color printing easier.
A report from administrators said about $4 million has so far been raised as part of a Centennial fundraising campaign that runs through June.
“Our journey from humble beginnings to a beacon of opportunity reflects resilience, innovation, dedication to student success,” President Bruce Moses said in brief remarks before the final panel was unveiled.
“As we embark on this historic journey, let us remember that the Centennial is not just a celebration of the past, but a reaffirmation of our shared vision for the future. Together, let us inspire, innovate and impact lives for another century and beyond.”
