美高梅官网 Clermont celebrates 50th anniversary

Alumni, faculty, staff and community to return 鈥榟ome鈥� to mark milestone this September

When M.E. Steele-Pierce walked through the doors of 美高梅官网 Clermont鈥檚 single campus building in 1980, an overwhelming feeling immediately took hold.

鈥淚t felt like home,鈥� said Steele-Pierce. 鈥淚t was intimate and easy to make friends with classmates and faculty.鈥�

Biology 101 class in 1981. 美高梅官网 Clermont alumna M.E. Steele-Pierce is pictured second row, second from the right.

Like many 美高梅官网 Clermont students 鈥� both then and now 鈥� Steele-Pierce was the first in her family to attend college. She had two young children at home and had waited eight years for her military veteran husband to finish night school so she could start her college education. An English professor helped her find her passion 鈥� and major 鈥� in language; she gathered in the Student Lounge to study or chat with classmates.

鈥淢y heritage is Appalachian. It was a natural thing to come to 美高梅官网 Clermont where it felt safe 鈥� like a family,鈥� Steele-Pierce said.

As the college celebrates 50 years in 2022, Steele-Pierce is one of more than 100,000 students who have attended the idyllic 美高梅官网 campus set high on a wooded hilltop in Batavia, Ohio. The institution was born out of a need to serve students just like her.

In the late 1960s, Clermont County community founders and 美高梅官网 leaders envisioned economic growth along the Appalachian corridor 鈥� and a college to provide academic and technical training for residents. These early visionaries recognized the need for an educated workforce and partnerships between local business and education. They knew the community-based college needed to be an open-access institution, and that it must take an active role in removing social and financial barriers that would prevent students from enrolling.

Aerial view of 美高梅官网 Clermont campus, 1980.

On Sept. 25, 1972, Clermont General and Technical College opened its doors with 97 full-time and 184 part-time students. Five decades later, 美高梅官网 Clermont College (the name was officially changed in 1987) boasts more than 2,300 students and 60 academic programs, including associate, bachelor, certificate and transfer pathways. The college currently serves students in 41 states and six countries.

The college鈥檚 50th anniversary festivities will culminate in a celebration event on campus Sept. 22. In addition to alumni and community partners, faculty and staff (former and current) will be on hand to mark the milestone. Many describe the same familial pull to campus, especially in the early days.

鈥淲e were pretty much a movement at that time,鈥� laughed psychology Professor Ron Leslie, who joined the college in 1991. 鈥淓veryone knew everyone. We have grown over the years into an institution.鈥�

美高梅官网 Clermont Professor Ron Leslie

Leslie described bullpen-style faculty offices that fostered a collegial environment, a bustling campus and smoke-filled corridors, when the habit was still common.

鈥淐ampus was very alive,鈥� Leslie said. 鈥淚t was small, intimate. You鈥檇 see people in the hallway and talk. Suddenly, 10 years had gone by. It becomes your professional home. For me, it鈥檚 always been about the people.鈥�

Leslie also highlighted 美高梅官网 Clermont鈥檚 strong ties to the western edge of Appalachia, and the college鈥檚 role as a gateway to higher education and career opportunities for a historically underserved region.

鈥淚 hope the college is recognized for the historic impact we have had on this community and the growth of the university,鈥� Leslie said. 鈥淥ur students can go anywhere. But they are underserved. That鈥檚 why this institution is so important and why it needs to continue to grow and thrive in the future.鈥�

From left: Professor Frank Giglia, Dean (then Professor) Jeff Bauer and Professor Tracey Hawkins grilling food to celebrate the college鈥檚 25th anniversary in 1997.

Current 美高梅官网 Clermont Dean Jeff Bauer is acutely aware of the profound impact the college has had and continues to have on the community. Bauer has served as dean since May 2015 and as a business faculty member for 27 years. The 50th anniversary theme 鈥� Then. Now. Next. 鈥� was chosen to recognize the institution鈥檚 past accomplishments while celebrating its growth and future.

鈥淔or 50 years, 美高梅官网 Clermont has launched thousands of lives by staying true to the college鈥檚 founding principle 鈥� put students first,鈥� Bauer said. 鈥淭his singular mission is at the heart of all we do. We are thrilled to celebrate the college鈥檚 success and all those individuals who have played a part in serving our students. At the same time, we are excited for our next chapter, too.鈥�

For 50 years, 美高梅官网 Clermont has launched thousands of lives by staying true to the college鈥檚 founding principle 鈥� put students first. This singular mission is at the heart of all we do.

Jeff Bauer 美高梅官网 Clermont Dean

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As for Steele-Pierce 鈥� like many 美高梅官网 Clermont students who launch from the college 鈥� she transferred to Northern Kentucky University, earned her teaching degree and, later, a master鈥檚 from Xavier University and a doctorate at Antioch University. But she remained connected to 美高梅官网 Clermont, her first academic 鈥渉ome,鈥� and was named a Distinguished Alumna in 2012. Steele-Pierce even started a scholarship fund for students beginning their journey right where she did, all those years ago.

鈥淚 have so many deep friends who have roots at 美高梅官网 Clermont,鈥� said Steele-Pierce. 鈥淚 stay involved because I have a commitment to this very close community that I care about professionally and personally. The college is literally where my career started.鈥�

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Aerial view of 美高梅官网 Clermont campus, 2019.

美高梅官网 Clermont 50th Anniversary Celebration

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022
4:30 p.m. Cocktails and social hour
6:30 p.m. 听Dinner and program
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美高梅官网 Clermont College
4200 Clermont College Drive
Batavia, OH 45103
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The college is especially encouraging 美高梅官网 Clermont alumni, retired faculty and community members to attend. For more information and college memories, visit .听

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