Hughes' gift of $250,000 in May 1968 provided funds to continue the community college in Elko, which was the first in the state, and would then lead to the formation of the Nevada Community College Division in February 1969. Charles Donnelly was hired in 1970 as the first—and only—President of the Nevada Community College Division, and plans were made to bring college students to Carson City and Las Vegas.

The approach of the community college is comprehensive, its objective is to provide a wide range of programs to meet the needs of all people in the community—the college will make every opportunity to provide services to all people.

Advisory Boards Established

The WNCC Wildcats, under Head Coach Joe Ayarbe, played their first basketball game against Lassen College in Nov. 1972.

It's obvious we're serving a purpose. The steady increases in enrollment support that. Our best advertisement is from student word-of-mouth...It's going to be a big school. There are nothing but good things in sight for this school.

Photo: Head Coach Joe Ayarbe (front, left) with the 1974-75 WNCC Wildcats Basketball team.

As the demand for classes and services grew, it became obvious the college was in need of a permanent home.

Count Alessandro Dandini played a major role in acquiring 467 acres of land in north Reno from the U.S. Government (Bureau of Land Management) for the Desert Research Institute and what would become Truckee Meadows Community College.

In a time when print journalism was king, The Western Echo began publishing in 1976 to give student journalists a voice on campus. While a few names were used for the publication over the years, including The Echo beginning in 1980, and a brief period as Voices (1994-1997), the last few years saw The Echo reinvent itself as an online blog-style format before ceasing publication in 2016.

By Spring 1977, students began taking classes in the Red Mountain Building, which consisted of four floors and was noted by student journalists for its "unusual architecture".

The first of the multi-phases of construction for a permanent campus became the central hub for the staff, programs and students in Reno.

A time capsule containing records of the event was placed during a Cornerstone Ceremony, led by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. The building added new spaces for health, business, trade and industry occupations, liberal arts, and community service programs. A new cafeteria was now available for students, where coffee cost a quarter.

The first official Commencement ceremony of Truckee Meadows Community College was held at the Pioneer Theatre Auditorium in Reno. Subsequent ceremonies were held in various locations around Reno/Sparks, before moving to an outdoor ceremony at the Dandini Campus in the 1990's.

Photo: TMCC President V. James Eardley spoke at the 1981 TMCC Commencement ceremony, held at John Ascuaga's Nugget.

With a goal to support student scholarships, as well as the expansion of needed physical space, technology and academic programs, the TMCC Foundation called on private philanthropists, foundations and corporate sponsors.

Photo: In this photo taken in downtown Reno in the late 1980's, TMCC President John Gwaltney (second from right) accepted a donation to the TMCC Foundation.

President Gwaltney (1986-1994) sought to expand academic offerings, and he would oversee major construction projects at the Dandini Campus in the coming years.

I am proud to be a part of the growth and progression process that has occurred. It honors me to know that with diploma in hand, TMCC students will find new channels to direct their energies.

TMCC has always used 1971 as our anniversary date! In 1986, we celebrated 15 years of education in Reno/Sparks.

With permission from their principals, local high school students began earning credit for both high school and college courses at the same time. Today, this continues to be an attractive option for students who want to maximize their education.

With a growing student body, the Dandini Campus began construction on both the Vista Building, which can accommodate 1,000 students, and the E.L. Cord Foundation Child Care Center, which provides early childhood education to the young children of students, employees, and the community.

Under the leadership of Interim President Rita Gubanich Huneycutt, student internet access accounts were available through sign-ups with System Computing Services (SCS). TMCC welcomes President Ken Wright (1995-97).

TMCC is a great institution with the potential to be even greater. This will be the year that we achieve a much more harmonious, collaborative culture through each of us pursuing our passion and supporting our peers.

Photo: TMCC President Ken Wright

TMCC High School opened its doors, as did the kindergarten at the E.L. Cord Foundation Child Care Center, bringing students on either end of the K-12 spectrum to the Dandini Campus. The high school offers an opportunity for motivated students to earn both their high school diploma and an associate degree at the same time. At the same time, TMCC establishes an International Student Program to begin the following year with 84 students on F-1 visas.

Photo: This TMCC promotional photo from the late 1990's highlights students between classes near the coffee bar outside the Elizabeth Sturm Library.

When the former Department of Public Safety became the TMCC Police Department, it employed three officers, a number of Community Service Officers and student cadets, while taking over campus monitoring from the Reno Police Department. TMCC Police served until 2016, when the department was consolidated with the University of Nevada Police Services.

During another change in leadership, Interim President Rita Gubanich Huneycutt presided as the first class of 11 TMCC dental hygiene graduates, starting a tradition of excellence in this sought-after program.

The Board of Regents approve a ten-year lease for the former Keystone Theater, and performing arts classes began in the space known as the Nell J. Redfield Foundation Performing Arts Center.

Photo: The 2003 cast of the TMCC Theatre production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"

After a long process with input from students, employees, alumni and the community, TMCC began using a new mountain logo and school colors: green, white and black.

TMCC signed on to operate the Truckee Meadows Learning Channel, a public access network at Channel 200 on Charter Communications, which brings a variety of courses and information into homes across the region until it was retired in 2015.

Former VP Delores Sanford stepped in as Interim President until Dr. Maria Sheehan (2008-2015) was named President in Fall 2008. She led TMCC during the fallout from the national economic crisis that resulted in a surge in unemployment in northern Nevada. In 2009-10, TMCC experienced a record high enrollment (13,544 students in Fall 2009) when many return to school.

It's not about what I've done in my career and at TMCC, it's what the team has done—and the TMCC team is doing wonderful things.

Photo: TMCC President Maria C. Sheehan

The annual Commencement ceremony reached a new milestone this year, when 963 degrees and certificates were awarded. With the largest number of graduates and audience members ever, the space in the outdoor Plaza at the Dandini Campus was deemed too small for future Commencement ceremonies, and 2010 was the last year to hold a traditional Commencement ceremony at the Dandini Campus until 2021.

Solar panels donated by Black Rock Solar were mounted on the Vista and Sierra Buildings to power TMCC. A public-facing website allowed visitors to view the amount of energy produced and compare the amount of kW generated to that produced by wood or petroleum. Sustainability became important to degree programs too: since 2009, TMCC has offered a construction technologies associate of applied science degree with an emphasis on renewable energy.

The new addition housed the Maxine S. Jacobs Nursing Program, the Radiologic Technology Program, the Veterinary Technician Program and the Certified Nursing Assistant Program.

Dr. Karin Hilgersom (2016-) was named TMCC President, and spearheaded the addition of a new Core Value: Stewardship of Resources, which expands the College's sustainability efforts.

Student success at TMCC is appropriately measured by certificate and degree completion. We are proud to exceed national benchmarks when we count annual completions. And yet student success at TMCC is so much more; success for our diverse student population can be amorphous. We are in the business of cultivating true natures so that students learn to fly professionally, academically, and even personally.

Honoring TMCC's commitment to diversity, the U.S. Department of Education recognized TMCC as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) when student enrollment surpassed the 25% full-time equivalent Hispanic student population threshold.

TMCC was named one of 150 community colleges eligible to compete for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation's signature recognition of high achievement and performance in community colleges.

In early 2020, the new building opened to the TMCC community, and included a full-size gymnasium, weight room, two classroom spaces, and locker rooms. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the grand opening event was postponed.