Lorain County Community College - 60th Anniversary

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY

Lorain County Community College celebrates 60 years of impact and leadership

Head of the Class

As Lorain County Community College celebrates 60 years it stays true to its tradition of putting community first.

As Marcia Ballinger, president of Lorain County Community College (LCCC), looks out at the campus from her second-floor office in College Center, she reflects on how LCCC has grown and the milestones it’s achieved since being chartered in 1963 as the first Ohio community college to have a permanent campus. Although the college’s evolving range of academic accomplishments is renowned throughout the state, there’s one that’s remained constant during the institution’s history.

“We’ve never stopped leaning hard into our middle name — which is ‘community,’” says Ballinger, who joined LCCC in 1991, and served as vice president for strategic and institutional development; provost and vice president for academic affairs; and

DR. MARCIA BALLINGER

director of marketing and media relations before taking the helm in 2016. “When the college was created 60 years ago, it was driven by employers in our community who wanted to ensure they had access to

a qualified workforce, and residents in our community who wanted access to higher education close to home. It was a coming together of those two pieces which led to where we find ourselves today.”

The goal of establishing a network of community colleges around the country was sparked following World War II, when President Harry Truman’s Commission on Higher Education recommended that community colleges expand their mission to include apprentice training and cooperative programs for youth and adults; ensure students are prepared to earn a living for a productive life by offering integrated programs that include general education and vocational coursework; and provide comprehensive adult-education programs.

“In the early ’60s, Lorain County was experiencing a time of transition,” Ballinger explains. “Back then, the transformation was from an industrial perspective. It was automotive, it was the steel mills, it was the supply chain. Fast-forward six decades, and we find ourselves at a similar moment in time where technological change is creating immense opportunities with the onshoring of microchips being manufactured in the United States.

“Lorain County,” she adds, “is uniquely positioned in the middle of that ecosystem. Part of the reason for that is because of the talent we have here. Grit, perseverance and determination are part of the DNA of the county, our residents, our employers and Lorain County Community College.”

Those attributes were clearly evident in 1995 when Lorain County voters approved the launch of the University Partnership with a 1.2 mill

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levy, which was renewed in 2022. The program enables students to obtain bachelor’s and master’s degrees on the LCCC campus from 14 partner institutions across Ohio in more than 100 programs. Groundwork for the program was laid the year before the election when the college convened more than 300 community residents as part of the University Center Partnership Plan Summit Conference. Together, they developed the proposal which assured that residents didn’t have to travel miles to earn additional degrees.

“The collaboration and partnership we have with universities is truly a hallmark of ours,” says Ballinger, who penned the

Still proud of her antiquated student number “00007,” Georgeane Poplar recalls her hopeful excitement as she attended her first LCCC classes at an elementary school in Elyria. Her family couldn’t afford to send her away to college, so she was grateful for the opportunity to earn an associate degree locally. After graduating in 1966, there was a teacher shortage in the area, so she started her career teaching fifth grade at the age of 19 while also pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Kent State University. Years later, while working as a guidance counselor, Poplar found her way back to LCCC and her old “00007” student number when she decided to earn a special education certificate through the University Partnership program. She was thrilled to have bragging rights with the younger students and yet another avenue to boost her successful career.

“I really feel that LCCC gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to get an education and then to move on with a career that I’ve loved and worked in for a very long time.”

As a seasoned educator still working in Lorain County as an intervention specialist, she’s just as impressed with the education offered by LCCC today as she was almost 60 years ago.

“I think I knew at the time that I was receiving a good education and now I probably appreciate it even more as I’ve gone through the education system all of these years,” she adds.

Scan here to learn more about Georgeane:

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Lloyd Miller

1971

While working at the General Motors factory, Lloyd Miller decided he wanted something more. So he headed to the unemployment center in Elyria to explore some other options. When he was offered the opportunity to attend LCCC through the GI Bill, Miller, who served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1965, and his wife of 60 years, Judy, knew it was the right decision at the time for their growing family. But it wasn’t always easy. Miller’s class schedule, Judy’s pregnancy complications, jobs and maintaining a household, forced them to persevere together to achieve their mutual goal of him earning a degree. Miller graduated in 1971 from LCCC with an associate’s degree in accounting and then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree at Baldwin Wallace University.

“Well, actually, if it hadn’t been here, Oberlin is very expensive. Kent State is an hour away and that’s hard with the jobs. So it really made it possible,” Judy says.

Lloyd adds that he remembers his graduation day fondly. “I was graduating in the courtyard. Her parents came. And my parents came. I felt very proud that I could get my education here,” he says.

Lloyd went on to put his degree in accounting to use working at Bendix before starting his own companies.

Scan here to learn more about Lloyd:

Georgeane Poplar

1966

original concept paper. “While associate degrees prepare our students for great jobs, many of them come here planning to transfer to a [four-year college] for a bachelor’s degree. The University Partnership provides a unique model and opportunity our community has continued to support.”

The president understands the program’s value firsthand: A University

ALUMNI David Fisher

1970

Partnership graduate, Ballinger earned her MBA from Kent State University on the LCCC campus.

“Having seen the program come full circle by helping to design it, work with the community to create it and then walking in the shoes of being an adult learner taking classes on Friday nights and Saturday mornings was a tremendous opportunity,” Ballinger recalls.

After David Fisher spent most of high school just getting by to stay eligible for sports, he really didn’t have a desire to go to college. But his parents urged him to just give it a try and thankfully, he did. Two years later in 1970, he earned an associate’s degree in mechanical engineering. And today, he credits LCCC for igniting his passion for engineering and paving the way for his successful career.

“When I was in high school in machine shop class, we had a teacher that made you learn every part of the machine before you could even start it up. And then I remember coming in here. It was all hands-on. And to me, that’s the best way to learn.”

In 1985, he was working full-time, married and had two children when he opted to return to LCCC to continue his education. A little extra effort and a few late nights paid off when he earned an additional associate degree in electrical engineering, which he spent most of his career putting to use. His successful path included positions with prominent Lorain County companies, including Ridge Tool. His last role was as a senior electrical engineer at Forest City Technologies Inc. in Wellington.

“I feel very fortunate that I came to LCCC. It gave me a great career. It’s a great opportunity for young people, and it’s right here.”

Soon after the college launched the University Partnership, it wasted no time in preparing for the opportunities that lay ahead as a new technological age dawned.

In 2018, LCCC became the first community college in Ohio to receive authorization to offer an applied bachelor’s degree in Microelectronic Manufacturing (MEMS). The program prepares students to master and apply the engineering principles and technical skills needed for design, assembly, prototyping and manufacturing of

ALUMNI Jackie Below 1978

Standout volleyball, basketball and track athlete, Jackie Below, thought her athletic career was over in 1976 after graduating from Elyria High School. But when she discovered that LCCC had a women’s basketball team in 1978, all of that changed. Not one to sit on the sidelines, Below tried out and made the team and pursued a degree in accounting. Then one day after practice, the late Coach John “Jack” Wilhelm, who would eventually become like a father figure to her, suggested that she run track as well.

“We didn’t have a track, but Coach made it work in the grass. We did drills. There was a hill — I think it’s still there — that we ran up and down. We just trained with what we had. There was just something about him. Very positive. He believed in me,” Below says of the coach who was instrumental in training and instilling confidence in her.

The absence of a track proved to be irrelevant as Below was soon headed to the national championship. But on the day of the meet, Wilhelm’s wife was very ill and he couldn’t go. Below was devastated.

Once again, Wilhelm’s words gave her the boost she needed, “Just have confidence in yourself. I trained you. You are ready. Go represent LCCC.”

When she returned home with a gold medal, she gave it to Wilhelm. Today, it can be found in a display case at LCCC.

For the last 34 years, she has coached track at Elyria High, continuing to share Wilhelm’s legacy. She tells her athletes, “Now it’s up to you. I train you up to a certain point, but you’ve got to dig deep within yourself if you want to be a champion. There’s only so much I can do. The rest comes from you.”

Scan here to learn more about Jackie:

Scan here to learn more about David:

printed circuit boards (PCPs) used in electronic hardware containing digital microcontrollers, analog circuitry and MEMS sensors.

In 2021, the college debuted its second bachelor of applied science degree in Smart Industrial Automated Systems Engineering Technology. The multidisciplinary engineering field focuses on the design, modeling, analysis and control of predominantly computer-based automated systems — often referred to as smart manufacturing. The program is designed to meet the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology requirements, and train students for jobs that include automation engineer, controls engineer and systems engineer.

“Chips drive the smart technology that’s embedded in everything we use from our cell phones to our watches to our cars — absolutely everything our world has become dependent on,” Ballinger says. “As always, our faculty, staff, leadership and board of trustees ensure LCCC remains innovative.”

That attention to cutting-edge detail was crucial with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. While other institutions grappled with remote connection, LCCC already had the tools in place to seamlessly create courses for online learning.

“We went back to that grit, perseverance and determination the college and community are known for,” Ballinger says. “We were able to hold classes in a way that ensured our students would get to the finish line.”

And they did with aplomb: In 2021, Lorain County Community College awarded 2,585 degrees and certificates. It was the largest graduating class in LCCC history.

As the college looks ahead to its seventh decade, Ballinger, her team and Lorain County leaders employ strategic foresight to study megatrends regionally, statewide, nationally and globally. The process, known as VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) is a pivotal component in building a framework for the future.

“It’s no longer about designing curriculum from a rearview mirror based on what needs have been,” Ballinger says. “As we’re poised to become the Silicon Heartland of Ohio, having a talented workforce is critically important.

“Our community,” she adds, “is aligned to make sure we’re well on our way to successfully providing that.”

Take a look at highlights from the the last 60 years on the next pages.

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Tim Alcorn 1983

It all started in the Radio-TV Department at Lorain County Community College for the current radio play-by-play voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tim Alcorn. Growing up in nearby Grafton, LCCC was the most affordable and accessible choice for Alcorn after graduating from Midview High School in 1981. And although the look of the current television production studios and facilities have drastically changed in the last 40 years, he believes the value and the caliber of the hands-on educational experiences at LCCC have not. Plus he could easily rattle off a list of fond memories from his time at LCCC, including meeting his wife, Diane, in speech class and invaluable experiences that led to an incredible amount of educational, interpersonal, and individual growth.

After receiving an associate of arts degree from LCCC in 1983, Alcorn took his solid foundation to Kent State University to finish his bachelor’s degree. Having settled on Lorain County as home, he and his wife moved back after graduation and Alcorn started his career at WOBL in Oberlin. In 1992, he transitioned to WEOL in Elyria. Almost 27 years later, his dream came true when he was named the radio voice of the Cavs.

Alcorn credits his LCCC foundation as the impetus of his career. He’s thankful he got a little taste of LCCC while dabbling in a few college courses in high school.

“It’s amazing to see where it has come from in the last 40 years. And to think where it can still go and where it will go. The leadership of Marcia Ballinger and her team, the progress, all the different avenues, and the university partnerships that they now have are incredible. It’s truly a resource for Lorain County.”

1963

The State of Ohio grants LCCC’s charter on July 15, 1963.

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1966 LCCC moves to its current location, making it the first community college in Ohio with a permanent campus.

1971 LCCC receives full accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the highest ranking accrediting association of higher education institutions.

LORAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE 1963

1972

The Health Sciences building opens.

LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

1963 - 2023

LCCC Presidents

1963-1970

• Dr. Max Lerner

1970-1971

• Thomas Bowen

1971-1986

• Dr. Omar L. Olson

1986-1987

• Dr. Richard R. Mellott

1987-2016

• Dr. Roy A. Church

2016 - Present

• Dr. Marcia J. Ballinger

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1975 Learning Resources Center (first library) opens.

1980 The C. Paul Stocker Humanities and Fine Arts Center opens and presents its first season.

1984 The Nord Advanced Technologies Center opens.

1988

The Mabel L. Ewing Activities Center opens.

• Lorain County citizens approve the creation of the University Partnership, bringing bachelor’s and master’s degrees to the LCCC campus.

1998 The University Center building opens to house the University Partnership program.

2001 LCCC’s first outreach center, the Lorain Learning Center, opens in downtown Lorain at the St. Joseph Community Center.

• County Commissioners, Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Department of Development and LCCC create the Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise, a regional business incubator.

2001

The Patsie C. Campana, Sr. Engineering and Development Center opens.

2004 LCCC enrollment tops 10,000 students in fall semester for the first time in the College’s history.

• LCCC is named one of the state’s fastest-growing colleges.

• The Lorain County Early College High School opens on campus, providing firstgeneration college students the opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree simultaneously.

1995 The John A. Spitzer Conference Center opens.

LCCC Fab

opens, the first of its kind on a community college campus, making invention accessible to the community.

• NEO LaunchNet opens on campus to provide free access to business and entrepreneurship support services for students and alumni.

• Innovation Fund is created to assist emerging technology entrepreneurs.

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College enrollment tops 13,000 in the fall semester, a 120 percent increase in just a decade.

2006

Lab

2007 The Richard Desich Business and Entrepreneurship Center opens to inspire, support and connect entrepreneurs.

2007 LCCC opens the Wellington Learning Center.

2008 Barbara and Mike Bass Library/Community Resource Center opens.

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2010

2011 Renovated College Center building re-opens.

LCCC IMPACT

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college library.

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Lorain

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2015 Achieving the Dream names LCCC as a Leader College of Distinction, a national designation awarded to community colleges that commit to improving student success and closing achievement gaps.

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2018 LCCC is authorized to offer Ohio’s first bachelor of applied science in microelectronic manufacturing degree.

• LCCC is named the top community college in the country for Excellence in Student Success by the American Association of Community Colleges.

2012 Innovative Learning Opportunities for Tomorrow (iLOFT) opens in a renovated building that was the original

2013 The Ben and Jane Norton Culinary Arts Center opens.

• The University Partnership Ridge Campus learning center opens in North Ridgeville.

2014 The Laboratory Sciences LifeShare Science and Health Education Center building opens.

2014

The Richard A. Desich SMART Commercialization Center for Microsystems opens.

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Learning Center relocates to the City Center on West Erie Avenue.

2019 LCCC unveils the expansion and renaming of the Patsie C. and Dolores Jeneé Campana Center for Ideation and Invention, home to a digital manufacturing line, industrial 3D printing lab, expanded Super Fab Lab and virtual reality cave.

• The Aspen Institute recognizes LCCC in the Top 150 U.S. Community Colleges.

• LCCC adopts the its new strategic plan that declares a bold goal of 10,000 individuals earning a degree or certificate by 2025.

2020 Achieving the Dream awards LCCC the Leah Meyer Austin Award, a national prize reserved for network colleges that show the greatest, sustained improvements in student outcomes and student success.

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2021 LCCC launches Career by Design, a college-wide focus on supporting individual and family needs related to career and employment.

LCCC is authorized to offer a bachelor of applied science in smart Industrial automated systems engineering technology.

2023 The Aspen Institute and the Community College Research Center name LCCC as one of 10 colleges selected for the Unlocking Opportunity initiative, aimed at improving student outcomes in higher education.

• Harvard University’s Project on Workforce releases a book featuring LCCC as one of five exemplary community colleges nationally contributing to regional economic growth and opportunity.

2022 LCCC is recognized by Achieving the Dream as a 2022 Leader College of Distinction.