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60th anniversary logo and group of students holding commemorative sign at groundbreaking of fort steilacoom campus in 1974

Celebrating Our Legacy, Inspiring Our Future

Building community. Driving impact. Shaping tomorrow.

For 60 years, Pierce College has transformed lives through education, innovation, and community partnership. With your support, we have grown into a thriving institution that serves students, families, employers, and local communities across our region.

Throughout our anniversary year, we invite students, alumni, employees, and community members to join us in celebrating six decades of achievement while looking ahead to the opportunities that will shape our next 60 years. Together, we honor the people who built our legacy, celebrate the successes of today, and invest in a future where every student has the opportunity to realize their possibilities. 

Anniversary Events

Join us throughout the year as we celebrate Pierce College's rich history, vibrant community, and exciting future.

Homecoming Celebration

February 20, 2027

student in basketball uniform jumps to shoot ball

Reconnect with fellow graduates, celebrate student achievement, and enjoy a day of family-friendly activities during our special 60th Anniversary Homecoming celebration, held on our Fort Steilacoom campus.

Highlights include:

  • Men's and women's basketball games
  • Alumni reunions and networking opportunities
  • Tours of campus and the Science Dome planetarium
  • Activities and fun for the whole family
  • Food trucks and entertainment

Whether you're an alumni returning to campus or a community member visiting for the first time, celebrate your Raider Pride this Homecoming at Pierce College!

 

Diamond Anniversary Signature Event at Pierce College Puyallup

May 22, 2027

This signature event will honor the college's legacy while supporting scholarships, student success initiatives, and programs that help students reach their educational goals. Guests will experience campus art, culture, storytelling, and opportunities to invest in the next generation of Pierce College students.

Support Student Success

Pierce College has changed countless lives over the past six decades. Help us continue that work for future generations through the Pierce College Foundation.

Visit the Pierce College Foundation

 

34th Annual Pierce College Scholarship Scramble

Summer 2027

Join us for one of Pierce College Foundation’s most anticipated events of the year. The Scholarship Scramble blends friendly golf competition, community connection, and meaningful impact—all in support of student scholarships.


Share Your Pierce College Story

Were you a student, employee or community member who connected with Pierce College during the past 60 years?

We are collecting stories, memories, photographs, and milestones from members of the Pierce College community. Whether it's a favorite classroom memory, a life-changing experience, or a photo or video from decades past, we want to hear from you.

Share Your Story

Our History: 60 Years of Impact

For six decades, Pierce College has evolved alongside the communities we serve, helping students achieve their goals and contributing to community vibrancy in Pierce County.

1960s

  1. Clover Park Community College (CPCC) opens in an abandoned Albertsons building, nicknamed "Albertsons U." Students attend there, at Clover Park High School, and at Fort Lewis and McChord military bases. Adult education classes are also held in high schools throughout Pierce County.
  2. Seven students graduate with their associate degrees, and 200 graduate from adult high school.

1970s

  1. CPCC changes its name to Fort Steilacoom Community College (FSCC) to reflect the identity of its soon-to-be permanent campus on 146 acres near historic Fort Steilacoom. The main FSCC building opens, later known as the Cascade Building.
  2. An extension campus opens at Western State Hospital.

1980s

  1. An extension center for literacy education for inmates at Cedar Creek Corrections Center opens near Olympia. The Thoreau Cabin is built as a writer's retreat overlooking Waughop Lake.
  2. An education and annex site are established at McNeil Island Corrections Center to offer literacy programs for inmates.
  3. Fort Steilacoom Community College changes its name to Pierce College.

1990s

  1. The Gaspard Education Center opens as the first building at the Pierce College Puyallup campus on the 123-acre site near South Hill purchased in 1987 as the permanent home of the campus.
  2. The Pierce College Foundation is revived and holds its first Golf Scramble.
  3. Classes begin at the Stone Education Center on Fort Lewis.
  4. Pierce College Puyallup is designated as the 34th community college in Washington State.

2000s

  1. The Pierce College Library is selected as the number one outstanding community college library in the United States.
  2. “Possibilities Realized” becomes the official slogan of Pierce College.

2010s

  1. Pierce College is selected as an Achieving the Dream Leader College.
  2. Pierce College earns several awards: Washington State's Most Successful Community College (CNN Money), Best Community College for Veterans (Military Times), and is named as one of the nation's 150 best community colleges (Aspen Institute College Excellence Program).
  3. Pierce College is selected as one of 30 community colleges in the nation to participate in the American Association of Community Colleges' Pathways Project.

2020s

  1. Pierce College now offers six applied bachelor's degrees in Applied Business Management, Dental Hygiene, Fire Services Leadership and Management, Homeland Security Emergency Management, and Teaching.
  2. The Johnson Science Building opens at Pierce College Puyallup. Pierce College and the City of Lakewood unveil the first home field for Raiders baseball at Fort Steilacoom Park.
  3. The Olympic South building reopens at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom after undergoing a transformative renovation to house state-of-art classrooms, offices, study spaces, rehearsal rooms, and the Early Childhood Education program Lab School, in partnership with Clover Park School District.

Help Shape the Next 60 Years

As we celebrate our past, we are equally focused on the future. Gifts to the Pierce College Foundation support scholarships, emergency assistance, student success programs, and opportunities that help local learners thrive.

Your investment helps ensure that future generations of students can access the same life-changing opportunities that have defined Pierce College for the past six decades.