COLBY -- In recognition of Colby Community College’s 60^th anniversary, the public is invited to help celebrate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, near the Beatrice Davis Clock Tower in the center of campus.

Commemorative T-shirts will be handed out during the event. The schedule includes youth activities, bouncy houses, a photo booth, tours of the campus and the college farm, and a free meal and ice cream bar from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The men’s basketball team will have an open practice at 8 a.m. at the Colby Event Center, and the Trojans baseball and softball teams have home games that begin at 1 p.m. on the City of Colby Fields.

It's been a long and steady path for CCC, which received its charter as Colby Community Junior College. In August 1964, the first classes served 119 students in the Colby Junior High School building. Four years later, the institution opened the current campus on South Range Avenue, which consisted of four buildings that cost about $1.5 million. The North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools granted CCJC its first multiyear accreditation in 1972.

Today, the college has developed into a thriving academic leader, attracting students from across the globe. According to data from 2024, more than 2,250 students representing 35 countries were enrolled. Colby has been No. 1 in graduation rates for six of the last nine years and has been at the top for fall-to-fall student retention in four of the last five years. The only community college in Kansas with positive enrollment growth over the last decade is located in the seat of Thomas County.

“We are honored to share this event with the community and our alumni,” said President Dr. Seth Carter. “Colby Community College has been such a formative component in the lives of so many, and we are excited to start the College’s next 60 years of academic excellence and serving students.”

For more information on the Sept. 21 celebration, contact the Public Relations Office at (785) 460-5411 or publicinfo@colbycc.edu.