The Board of Directors of the Area Ten Vocational Technical School held its first organization meeting fortuitously in the Kirkwood Room at the Roosevelt Hotel on May 18, 1966. The newly elected Board of Directors was sworn in prior to the meeting by…
A summary of the law (SF 550) passed by the Iowa legislature on May 29, 1965 which was the enabling legislation to create community colleges in Iowa. This document, commonly referred to as the "Ten Point Law", stipulates those educational services…
After a national search, Kirkwood hired it's second leader, Bill F. Stewart from Anchorage Community College in Alaska where he served as president. He assumed duties on July 1, 1978.
Dr. Mel Oliven, astronomy and physics professor 1968-1975, died unexpectedly in an air plane crash on March 5, 1975. This photo was taken in 1971 at an all-college open house. The Mel Oliven lecture series was initiated in his memory to educate…
Linn Hall is the first permanent building on the main campus. Construction began in 1968 and was ready for classes Fall 1969. Indicative of Kirkwood's "can-do" spirit, the college contracted with two contractors to help speed the construction to…
After students petitioned the Board of Directors for "a more humanized name" rather than Area Ten Community College, a lengthy process ensued until just the right name was found. The Board approved the name Kirkwood Community College on August 25,…
The first order of business for the new board of Area Ten Community College was to hire it's first superintendent. On June 10, 1966 Dr. Selby Ballantyne, Iowa native and superintendent of schools at Bettendorf, Iowa, was hired. The new board and…
Dr. Ballantyne, commonly referred to as Dr. B., had the appearance of a gruff person but he was admired by many. From his humble beginnings in Albia, Iowa and dropping out of school when he was 15 years old, he understood hard work and the…
