From Motel to Medallion: Lake Tahoe CCD and GradComm Team Up to Tell a 50-Year Story
Fifty years is a significant milestone for any college—and for Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC)—it was a moment not only to reflect on the past, but also to reimagine the future.
To mark the occasion, LTCC partnered with GradComm to produce a short-form video celebrating the college’s journey, growth, and continued mission of student-centered learning. The project offered a streamlined path to production, allowing both teams to begin work quickly without delay from the contracting process.
The storytelling begins with humble roots—LTCC’s early days operating out of a converted motel—and traces its transformation into a 164-acre mountain campus serving thousands of students. Rather than producing a glossy promotional reel, the video leans into authenticity, featuring the voices and values that have defined the college over five decades. GradComm collaborated closely with campus leaders to ensure the final product captured LTCC’s unique culture and sense of place.
The result is a powerful piece of storytelling that earned the 2025 National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) Gold Paragon Award and the District 6 Gold Medallion Award, the top national and regional honors in community college marketing.
“Reaching our 50th anniversary gave us the opportunity to reflect on our past while looking ahead,” said Mark Thomsen, public information officer at LTCC. “GradComm took the time to understand our campus and helped us share a story that feels authentic to who we are and where we are going.”
The project was made possible through the CollegeBuys program, which helped LTCC secure competitive pricing and move forward with confidence.
“CollegeBuys makes it easier for colleges to invest in high-quality work without unnecessary complexity,” said Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm. “When procurement is straightforward and cost-effective, colleges can focus on the work that truly matters—like telling stories that inspire.”
The success of the anniversary project serves as a blueprint for how institutions can balance heritage with modern communication needs. As the college enters into its next chapter, this retrospective ensures that the foundational spirit of its early years remains a central part of its future growth.
You can watch the full video here. If you are interested in learning more about leveraging the Foundation for California Community Colleges’ agreement with GradComm, please contact cbcontracts@foundationccc.org.
