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Open house kicks off 70th anniversary of ACC

News Photo by MJ Smith Director of Public Information and Marketing Jay Walterreit and Sue Fitzpatrick listen intently as Joseph Rybarczyk (right) discusses his campus tour video in the new Fitzpatrick Lecture Hall.

ALPENA — On Saturday, Alpena Community College opened its doors to the public in honor of its 70th anniversary.

Members of the community joined alumni, current students, staff, and faculty outside of the Besser Technical Center as Mary Eagan, director of alumni relations, kicked off the celebration with a speech.

“Today is as much about celebrating the community as it is about celebrating the college,” Eagan said.

President Don MacMaster reiterated ACC’s mission to honor and connect with the community in his subsequent speech.

“The college is the most important resource this community has,” he said.

News Photo by MJ Smith Dr. Donald L. Newport (right) and former ACC President Dr. Olin H. Joynton (left) accompany President Don MacMaster (center) during the cake-cutting at Alpena Community College’s open house celebration.

MacMaster went on to welcome special guest Kelly Lively, Representative of Sen. Gary Peters, who was there to present a Certificate of Special Senatorial Recognition on his behalf.

“ACC’s dedication and focus on student learning, delivered by quality faculty and staff, has created generations of success — of which to be proud,” Lively said.

The remainder of the celebration featured a cake-cutting led by MacMaster and guided campus tours, aided by The Thunder Bay Transportation Authority, who provided shuttle service for attendees around the college grounds. The Hypnotones, a local jazz group, performed in the Granum Theatre, located within the Donald L. Newport Center.

Since its opening in 1952, ACC has undergone many changes. In addition to extensively renovating Van Lare Hall in 2021, construction began on the Fitzpatrick Lecture Hall that same year.

This project was made possible by Tim and Sue Fitzpatrick, who donated $1.45 million to bring the vision to life. Their goal was to aid students pursuing the newly offered Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

Sue Fitzpatrick described the new lecture hall as “part of the puzzle” in assessing what was lacking in the program.

“Trades are so essential to this community,” she explained.

An integral part of the construction was the installation of a high-quality video wall to facilitate remote learning. Its capabilities were demonstrated with a screening of a virtual campus tour video, directed by local videographer Joseph Rybarczyk.

Saturday’s open house was only the beginning of this year’s celebration. Those interested in learning more or taking part in the celebration are encouraged to check the college’s website frequently for announcements and upcoming events.

More renovations are also on the horizon for ACC, with the Charles R. Donnelly Natural Resources Center next on the agenda. Additionally, there are plans to expand campus housing as the student body grows.

“Let your imagination run wild with what the next 70 years will bring,” Brenda Herman, executive director of the ACC Foundation, said.

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