Wilkes Community College (WCC), a member of the North Carolina Community College System, is a public, two-year, open-door institution serving the people of Wilkes, Ashe and Alleghany counties and beyond. Wilkes Community College was founded in October 1964 by the North Carolina Board of Education. The first Board of Trustees was sworn into office on January 15, 1965, and classes were first held in August 1965. The student enrollment for the college's first year was 68. The college's campus originally covered 75 acres and included three buildings - Thompson, Hayes and Lovette halls. The first president of WCC was Dr. Howard Thompson, who served from March 5, 1965, to June 30, 1977.