In a recent ceremony that recalled its proud past, Allegany Community College used the occasion of its 35th anniversary to outline an even more promising future as Allegany College.

The new name is intended to underscore the increasing comprehensiveness and expanded service region, as well as recent organizational realignments, that make the institution very different from what it was even a few years ago.

"I think you'll be surprised at the high­tech operations and comprehensive list of academic programs and services," said Allegany's president, Dr. Donald L. Alexander, before beginning an overview of the college and all that it offers.

This presentation, using some of the technology that aids teaching and learning at the college, was the centerpiece of a ceremony that included remarks from Allegany's two previous presidents and the Board of Trustees chairman and vice chair.

The open house and press conference were attended by elected officials and other supporters and friends of the college as well as current and former trustees and Foundation board members and faculty and staff members.

Central to the college and its success over the years, Alexander said, are a vision, mission and guiding principles that have Allegany striving to be the region's leading provider of high­quality, affordable education and training.

"The core purpose is to improve the lives of people," Alexander said as he began profiling the college as it was in its early years and is today, with its broad range of credit and continuing education courses and programs and related services.

Branch campuses in nearby Bedford and Somerset counties in Pennsylvania and Maryland's designation of eight college programs as statewide give Allegany an expanded, regional focus, Alexander said.

Underpinning this increased comprehensiveness and expanded service region is technology, where "we're state­of the­art," Alexander said. "Few colleges and universities have what we have in this area." Technology, he said, not only strengthens education, but adds opportunity, such as distance

learning, which brings courses and programs unavailable locally.

"Expanded opportunities through partnerships and meeting the needs of people in the region is the future of this institution," the college president said.

Dr. Robert S. Zimmer, the college's first president, and Dr. W. Ardell Haines, its second, remarked on the history of Allegany's founding and first two decades. From its modest beginnings in 1961, Zimmer said the college's impact on the region has been "nothing less than awesome."

Asking to be invited to the college's 50th anniversary celebration, Zimmer said "we'll see more changes over the next 15 years than we've seen in the last 35. This is an outstanding community college program, and it's only going to get better."

Haines, who sent remarks from Arizona, where he retired, commented on the establishment, in 1969, of the college's main campus on Willowbrook Road in Cumberland. Doing that, he said, took vision and dedication by many persons.

Likewise, he said, a name change "to fit the college's expanded philosophy and purpose" required "foresight and planning. I'm sure everyone looks forward to the continued services of the new Allegany College of Maryland."

Board of Trustees Chairman Ivan A. Hall called the new name an appropriate response to a fundamental element in life: change. "Change affects all of us, as well as our institution," he said. "The new name is in response to change at our school."

The board's vice chair, Bernice Friedland, said the new name befits the college, which she called "a place of lifelong learning." Allegany, she added, is always looking to improve. "We're a progressive institution" and the new name signals a "wide perspective."

After the open house and press conference, guests were invited on main campus tours of the new Allied Health Building and such technology applications as computers, distance learning and multimedia instruction-areas where the college has in recent years placed great emphasis.

Unveiled at the open house was a new logo that will be used on publications and other printed materials pertaining to the main campus and the two branch campuses. Diamond­shaped, it has the words "Allegany College of Maryland" on a hunter green field.