Concert kicks off COD's 50th anniversary celebration

College of DuPage kicks off a yearlong celebration of its 50th anniversary with a concert by Chicago tribute band Brass Transit at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at the Lakeside Pavilion on the Glen Ellyn campus, 425 Fawell Blvd.

The free concert includes fireworks and giveaways.

Over the next year, the college will host free on- and off-campus events to highlight the institution's history and continued service to students and District 502 residents over the past half-century.

Featured events include the COD Food Truck Rally and Sunset 5K on Saturday, Sept. 17, and a Homecoming Reunion and Homecoming Game on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, respectively.

The college also will sponsor traveling history exhibits throughout the district, will participate in area parades, host alumni lectures and host "pack the place" throwback events at Chaparral basketball games.

In addition, COD is celebrating the McAninch Arts Center's 30th anniversary, WDCB's 40th anniversary and the COD Foundation's 50th anniversary.

Chartered in 1965 and opening its doors in 1967, College of DuPage originally formed from 10 high school districts. Since that time, it has evolved and grown into a modern institution that has provided high-quality instruction to more than 1 million students over the past 50 years.

Today, College of DuPage is an accredited community college that serves more than 29,000 students each term. The college, which grants nine associate degrees and more than 170 certificates in 100 areas of study, is the second largest provider of public undergraduate education in Illinois.