Copper Mountain College began as a remote extension of College of the Desert in 1966, with classes held wherever space could be found. The campus opened in its present location, 120 acres, north of State Route 62 in the unincorporated area of Joshua Tree, after years of fundraising by the Friends of Copper Mountain College, whose $1.8 million fundraising effort started with a simple $200 quilt raffle.
Sandy Smith, Executive Director of the CMC Foundation, shared that at the same time the new campus was unveiled to the community, “the Friends of Copper Mountain College were nominated by Congressman Jerry Lewis to receive the President’s Volunteer Action Award,” an award that recognized exemplary community service.
With more than 2,500 nominees, the Friends were chosen as one of only 19 recipients. While the entire board made the trip to Washington D.C. that May to be honored; only Howard Van Elgort and Kay Vilott actually attended the White House ceremony and met President Ronald Reagan.
Over the next two decades, the college continued to grow, attracting students from the surrounding desert communities and families stationed at the 29 Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. As the campus expanded, momentum for independence from College of the Desert was a natural progression. In response, State Senator James Brulte introduced legislation in 1984 to establish a separate Copper Mountain College District. Fifteen years later, in 1999, Morongo Basin residents overwhelmingly approved the measure, with a 90% vote. The college earned full accreditation in 2001 from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, officially becoming the Copper Mountain Community College District.
CMC’s journey to independence is a powerful testament to the strength of community, grassroots action, and a shared vision for the future of the Morongo Basin. Smith feels this milestone is not just about our college – “it’s a celebration of the community that has shaped, supported, and grown with us over the past 25 years.”
The Copper Mountain College Foundation – formerly the Friends of Copper Mountain College – has planned a year-long series of events. Festivities will kick off with the annual Foundation Dinner on June 14, 2025.
The college will host a Reunion Weekend, October 10-12, 2025, inviting alumni back to campus for three days of celebration; there will be countless events including a community BBQ, a color run hosted by student organizations, the popular Howlin’ at the Mountain III concert, and a women’s volleyball game.
Additional festivities commemorating the college’s 25th anniversary will be sprinkled in throughout the year, including a silver-themed wreath featured at the annual Festival of Wreaths auction.
Board of Trustees President Mary Lombardo is excited to take part in the celebration of this campus’ milestone. Representing her district for over a decade, President Lombardo has personally witnessed the immense growth this campus has made. Copper Mountain College has become a place of second chances, offering students across the Morongo Basin the opportunity to rewrite their futures through accessible, supportive, and affordable education.
Copper Mountain College currently offers over 50 transferable degrees, certificates, local degrees, and Career Technical Education programs. In the Fall of 2025, the first-ever Water Technology classes will begin as a career pathway for people interested in working in water treatment, distribution, and wastewater management.
Simultaneously, a cross country team will be launched in our Athletic Department, alongside the current men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball teams. These strides in progress are a testament to the progress our campus has made in merely 25 years.
As we celebrate the successes of the past quarter-century, the campus community is honoring the past by building towards our future. During the 2026 Foundation Dinner, the college will unveil a Legacy Project – an initiative designed to invest in the heart of campus and the community we continue to serve.
Copper Mountain College’s 25th anniversary is more than a series of events, but rather a reaffirmation of the campus’ mission and a tribute to the people who made it possible.
– From the May 2025 Cacti Chronicles, story by Mariam Hussain
