College of Lake County turns 40

Fresh out of Mundelein High School in 1969, Bob Lossmann registered for classes at the brand new College of Lake County in Grayslake.

The 18-year-old filled out his registration form, which the clerk promptly dropped into a shoe box on her desk.

"Things were different back then, that's for sure," Lossmann said Thursday.

The young student completed his two-year degree at CLC and went on to earn a master's degree at Northern Illinois University. He eventually landed a job as an art teacher at the community college that gave him his start.

Lossmann, along with students and fellow teachers, celebrated CLC's 40th anniversary Thursday.

Students and staff were treated to a free lunch along with a slide show of historical photos, raffle prizes and a chance to be photographed in 1960s vintage clothes.

Lossmann, now 57 and chairman of CLC's art department, said the educational institution has progressed in ways he couldn't have imagined.

"We were in six little brown buildings then," he said. "There were some extension sites including a farmhouse. I had a class in that one."

His parents both worked factory jobs. The thought of attending a four-year university was out the question. But tuition at CLC was just $7 per semester hour. That gave Lossmann a chance.

"I worked as a grocery stock boy and for the Mundelein Park District. I made just enough money to pay my own way," Lossmann said. "If it wasn't for CLC there is no way I could have completed college."

More than 400,000 students have taken courses since 1969, according to CLC officials. The first classes were held Sept. 25 with an enrollment of 2,360 students taking 224 courses.

Now, four decades later, CLC reached a record-high enrollment of 18,092 students this year taking nearly 3,700 classes at the Grayslake, Waukegan and Vernon Hills campuses.

"This anniversary year is a chance for us to celebrate the success of our graduates, the dreams of our current students and the 40-year commitment of our faculty and staff," CLC President Jerry Weber said in a statement.

Lossmann has been teaching at CLC since 1977. He said the biggest advances have come in the area of technology and equipment.

"Everything here is state-of-the-art," he said. "Not only that, but there is a huge variety of classes offered and teachers that specialize. That wasn't true in the early days."