Mountain View Timeline Page Content1970s1970 Mountain View College opens for classes under the leadership of founding President Erwin Dale Douglas, with 77 founding faculty members and an enrollment of 2,060. The entrance sign to Mountain View College.The first classes at the new college are held in tents and trailers while construction is completed.1971In January, faculty, staff and students finally move into their permanent new home.The formal dedication of Mountain View College is held April 18, with U.S. Senator John Tower serving as keynote speaker.In August, Dr. David Sims becomes MVC's second president.1972 Mountain View College is granted full accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Faculty member Jean Brown writes the song “A Small Moment” for the college’s first graduating class. Mountain View's first-ever graduation ceremony.1973Drs. Paul Benson and Geoff Grimes create the first international education programs.1974MVC's outdoor Olympic-sized swimming pool is completed.1979In January, Dr. Bill Jordan becomes the college's third president.In June, MVC student Rosalyn Sample, 55, delivers a lecture on the student perspective on the community college experience at the International American Studies Conference in Guatemala City, Guatemala.1980s1980Vice President George H.W. Bush speaks at Mountain View College.George H.W. Bush gives an address at Mountain View College.1981Dr. Kathryn Hegar is named Teacher of the Year in Junior and Community Colleges by the National Business Education Association for her work teaching business classes.1982Lightning strikes the southwest corner of the Mountain View College campus April 19.1986Dr. Paul Benson is named MVC's first-ever National Innovator of the Year by the League for Innovation.Drama program director Rod Wilson creates the Performing Artists Musical Theater Conservatory (PAMTC).1990s1992Dr. Rodger Pool becomes MVC's fourth president.1994Dr. Monique Amerman becomes MVC's fifth president.1996Mountain View College becomes a Hispanic-Serving Institution.1997In collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration, Organization of Black Airline Pilots and Frontiers of Flight Museum, Mountain View offers the first free aviation summer camp in Dallas to encourage teenagers to prepare for a career in the skies.1998Renovations are completed on the west side of the Mountain View College campus to enhance student services.1999MVC celebrates its first Trick or Treat with Bethune Elementary School, a tradition which continues to this day.Mountain View College welcomes the first group of students into the Rising Star program.The Mountain View College Garden of Learning is dedicated. A view of the Garden of Learning.2000s2000As part of its 30th anniversary celebration, Mountain View College creates an urban wildlife sanctuary that becomes the first one certified on a college campus by the Humane Society of the U.S. Turtles sunning themselves on campus.In partnership with Dallas County Health and Human Services, the MVC Emeritus Center opens its doors to local senior citizens.2004Felix Zamora becomes MVC's sixth president.In October, the League of Women Voters hosts a congressional debate between Martin Frost and Pete Sessions, candidates for the United States House of Representatives in Texas District 32.2005Mountain View College celebrates its 35th anniversary with a gala featuring entertainer Harry Belafonte as the guest speaker.2006Trinidad Garza Early College High School opens at Mountain View College.2007Mountain View College begins its Common Book Project with the novel “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini.2008President Bill Clinton speaks at Mountain View College during an early vote rally for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign.2009The new Student Services, Economic Workforce Development, and Science and Allied Health Buildings open, as well as the remodeled Performance Hall. The new Student Services building.2010s2010Mountain View College celebrates its 40th anniversary with guest speaker Donna Brazile.Mountain View College opens the Business Incubator in its Economic Workforce Development Building.The MVC Fitness Center opens its doors to the community.2011Mountain View College’s men’s basketball team is NJCAA Division III National Champion.Mountain View College opens its nursing program. An MVC Lion takes practice.2013MVC hosts the first DCCCD Sustainability Summit in March.The first graduating class of nurses participates in commencement, having achieved a 95% passing rate on their state nursing exams.2014Dr. Preston Pulliams becomes interim president of the college.Mountain View College opens its community garden.2015Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine names Mountain View College among 16 “Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges.”Mountain View College reaches more than 8,800 enrolled students, with a record-breaking 405 students participating in the 2015 graduation ceremony. Trinidad Garza Early College High School at Mountain View College is nominated for National Blue Ribbon honors.Dr. Robert L. Garza becomes MVC's seventh president.Presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at a townhall meeting in the MVC gymnasium. More than 1,000 people attend the event.2017The first cohort of Occupational Therapy Assistant students begin their classes.2018Dr. Sharon Davis is named interim president of MVC.The "Feed the Lions" Food Pantry opens to serve students and the community. The college coordinates a Pack the Pantry benefit drive to stock the new space.2019In an effort to eliminate barriers for students, MVC creates a child care initiative to help single-parent students pay for child care.Dr. Beatriz Joseph becomes the college's eighth president.