Southwestern Michigan College has celebrated its 60th anniversary by holding its first ever Founders Day.

SMC alumni relations coordinator Emily Schrock tells us the college gathered graduates from throughout its six decade history on November 1 to reflect on how the college started and how it’s grown since. She says SMC began when Cass County voters approved a millage to establish a community college in the area in 1964.

“We had a committee of very thoughtful individuals come together to decide that higher education was something that was needed here in our communities, and one of those people being Dr. Fred L. Matthews leading the charge,” Schrock said.

Dr. Fred Mathews was board chair for SMC for 50 years after its founding. He died in 2017.

Schrock says Founders Day featured the very first SMC student, Dr. Bruce Watson, who went on to become a school superintendent in three districts after graduating. Guests also heard from a pediatrician from Malawi, who started her educational journey at SMC.

“Chloe Itimu was able to talk to us about her dreams of coming here, getting a medical pre-professional degree and ultimately going back to her country.”

Schrock says SMC’s first graduating class was just 93 students. It averages around 200 per year now. With the 60th anniversary now celebrated, the college is planning to make Founders Day an annual event.

Photo: SMC Trustee Tom Jerdon and Dr. Bruce Watson.