Victoria College, VC Foundation, and Victoria ISD administrators, board members, and special guests gathered at Patti Welder Middle School on Tuesday, Feb. 4, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Victoria College.
Victoria College and Victoria ISD leaders gathered Tuesday at Patti Welder Middle School to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Victoria College’s founding. On February 4, 1925, the Victoria ISD Board of Trustees took the visionary step to establish Victoria Junior College, which would later become Victoria College.
Attendees celebrated VC’s founding, its growth over the past century, and the strong partnership between the two institutions.
“Victoria College’s story is one of transformation, from its humble beginnings at Patti Welder to the comprehensive community college we know today,” said Dr. Jennifer Kent, President of Victoria College. “This anniversary is a testament to the power of collaboration and the commitment to providing accessible higher education to our community.”
Victoria ISD Superintendent Sheila Collazo emphasized the collaboration between the two institutions.
“The partnership between Victoria ISD and Victoria College has been instrumental in shaping the educational landscape of our region,” said Collazo. “We are proud of VC’s legacy and are fully committed to our collaborative work that empowers students and builds a brighter future for Victoria County residents.”
The ceremony was attended by three granddaughters of Frank Crank, Sr., who made the motion to establish Victoria College as an extension of Patti Welder High School (now Patti Welder Middle School) – Bebe Crain of San Antonio; Pam Crain of Taylorsville, Utah; and Julie Heinitsh of Brevard, North Carolina.
“We were especially honored that Mr. Crain’s granddaughters traveled to Victoria to commemorate this historic occasion,” said Kent. “We are grateful for the vision of Mr. Crain and the other Victoria ISD board members who voted to establish Victoria College in 1925, years before VC became its own separate institution with a separate campus.”
The event officially kicked off a year of celebrations for VC’s 100th anniversary.