Wor-Wic Community College will hold its 40th anniversary Founder's Day celebration on Wednesday at the campus just east of Salisbury.

Remarks will be given by college President Dr. Ray Hoy, state Sen. Jim Mathias, Del. Charles J. Otto, Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver, Worcester County Commissioners President Jim Bunting and Wor-Wic Board of Trustees Chairman Marty Neat.

Founder Robert W. Cook will give the keynote address, followed by a series of five speakers who share their stories about their experiences with the college.

The event will begin at 2 p.m. in Guerrieri Hall.

It was in June 1975 that the State Board for Community Colleges approved a proposal for the creation of a community college to serve the postsecondary vocational and technical education needs of the residents of Worcester and Wicomico counties.

The college was designated to operate as a "college without walls." In November 1975, the college's board of trustees appointed Dr. Arnold H. Maner to serve as president of the college. Continuing education courses were offered in the fall of 1975, and the college opened its doors to credit program students in the fall of 1976..

After almost 20 years of leasing classroom and office space at various locations in its service area, the college purchased 173 acres on the southeast corner of Route 50 and Walston Switch Road in Salisbury. Construction was started in 1993, and the campus officially opened in the fall of 1994.