Students on the steps of the Kohl Mansion, CSM’s home from 1923 to 1927.

College of San Mateo opened its doors for the first time on August 28, 1922. Since then, the College has changed the lives of many thousands of students through education and career preparation.

The College will celebrate its centennial in 2022-23 with a major community outreach initiative, as well as commemorative videos, website, and special events. Acting President Kim Lopez has established a President’s Centennial Committee to advise the College on these planning efforts. Members include San Mateo County business executives, elected officials and staff, nonprofit leaders, and other community members. In its first meeting on January 16, the group received an overview on the College, its students, the communities we serve, and the College’s instructional programs. They also received a brief history of the development of the college, its prominent alumni, and the vision for the Centennial. The committee will focus special attention on programs, partnerships, and events that can establish strong and lasting impact on the community. This will likely include a gala celebration as well as a large-scale community “birthday party.”

This winter, CSM will also organize a work committee of students, faculty, staff, and alumni to plan the campus celebration. Under the leadership of Bill Rundberg and Gus Petropoulos, the emeriti faculty have completed an oral history project of nearly 100 video interviews. There is also a vast digital archive of historic photos from College of San Mateo, Cañada College, Skyline College and the San Mateo County Community College District. See https://smccd.edu/photoarchives/. More materials will be developed in the coming years.

A planning committee of students, faculty, staff, and alumni will be formed in spring 2020 to begin planning the campus celebration. Stay tuned for more details.