Simpson College’s Evening, Weekend and Graduate program will celebrate in style next week when it turns 30 years old.

The anniversary event is scheduled for Tuesday, March 30 and will take place at the new campus in West Des Moines.

Over 200 people are expected to help celebrate the anniversary, including current students, alumni, faculty, donors to the program and members of the Board of Trustees among many others. Additional guests will include business and community leaders, local government officials and members of the media.

There will be three featured speakers, including Simpson President John Byrd, and Rosemary Link, associate vice president for academic affairs. Rick Tollackson, Hubbell Realty president and CEO, will officially welcome Simpson to its new building. The Sonny Humbucker band, a group with Simpson ties – four are Simpson professors and one is a 1988 graduate – will also perform.

“It’s a really nice way to tie in the main campus and Indianola with our anniversary event in West Des Moines,” Day said.

The group also plans to recognize 30 exceptional EWG students and alumni by unveiling what’s been dubbed the “Thirty Over 30” project.

“We’re going to honor 30 of our adult students and alumni who demonstrate outstanding achievement in their careers, personal lives or community involvement,” Day said. “The applications we’ve received so far are very impressive.” Thirty Over 30 honorees will be recognized at the event and receive an appreciation gift from the college. Bios and photos of the Thirty Over 30 members will be on display at the event.

“Many EWG students have families and children at home,” Day said. “They face extra pressure to keep it all together with work and family and school. This is a way to recognize the extra effort those students go through just to make it to class.”

Even though these non-traditional students have a lot on their hands, they remain invested in their education.

“I’ve never really met a student who isn’t energetic and very motivated and really just wants to better themselves personally,” said Jenni Grandgeorge, a lecturer for the EWG program who graduated from Simpson in 1997. “It’s a great program. I think the quality of students is phenomenal.”

Evening, Weekend and Graduate programs are designed for “anybody that wants to finish their degree or start their degree,” Julie Manatrey, admissions support specialist and administrative assistant, said.

The program was started in 1980 in Indianola and is now available to students in the West Des Moines and Ankeny areas.

“The program is set up to offer classes for adults who are either working full time or who cannot attend day classes for one reason or another,” Amy Day, corporate relations specialist, said

The program offers 11 majors and 12 minors with the focus being on management and business related programs.

“Simpson does a great job making sure we have quality instructors and quality instruction happening in the Evening, Weekend and Graduate program,” Nate Boulten, business law and management lecturer and 2002 Simpson alumnus, said

The entire EWG faculty is preparing to make this anniversary one to remember. “We’re very excited about our anniversary!” Day said.