JWCC to hold 50th anniversary celebration April 19 at Pointe D’Vine Vineyard and Venue

QUINCY — John Wood Community College will hold a 50th anniversary celebration at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 19, at Pointe D’Vine Vineyard and Venue.

The event will honor the people and mission of the region’s community college and raise funds for the JWCC Foundation’s $500,000 Pathways to Promise scholarship drive. The theme for the celebration is “Trail Blazing Paths.”

The event will feature the unveiling of a commemorative book chronicling the college’s first 50 years. Through in-person remarks and video, the evening’s program will highlight the inspiring paths of current and former trustees, presidents, faculty, staff, alumni and students whose stories define the past, present and future of John Wood Community College. Among those making remarks will be Jim Reed, first chair of the charter JWCC board of trustees.

“In its first 50 years, JWCC went from a college without walls to an Aspen-recognized top 150 community college in the country,” JWCC president Bryan Renfro said in a press release. “This event is to celebrate the trail blazers who bravely founded this college, the faculty, staff, students, community members and supporters who helped it grow over these last five decades, and to reflect on the thousands of alumni whose careers started or restarted at JWCC. The communities we serve in this region are better because of the people and purpose of John Wood Community College.

“In the next 50 years, you will see the pioneering spirit continue as we open even more pathways to help students access education to keep our communities strong. We invite our community members to join us in this celebration and help us support the Pathways to Promise scholarship drive so every student of any age and background can pursue their hopes and dreams.”

Tickets are $50. Attendees will receive heavy hors d’oeuvres and a commemorative 50th anniversary book. The event will kick off with a social at 5:30 p.m., and a program will follow at 6 p.m. in The Hilltop Room at Pointe D’Vine Vineyard and Venue, 276 Highway 57. Entertainment will be provided by JWCC music students.

Tickets are available online at www.jwccfoundation.org, by calling 217-641-4105 or through Venmo @JWCCFoundation.

People who can’t attend but want to support the scholarship fund can donate at www.jwccfoundation.org. Reservations are due by April 15. For more information, contact the JWCC Foundation Office at 217-641-4105 or foundation@jwcc.edu.