ESCANABA -- Bay College is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the weekend bash kicked off Friday night with a founders reception from 4 to 6 p.m.

The theme Friday night was "Honoring the Founders," and the invite-only event was attended by members of the founding families, college officials, and the board of trustees.

The college was founded in 1962, and there are about 26,000 students enrolled.

"Oh, it's amazing! I'm really happy that Dick lived long enough to come back for the 40th anniversary," said Mary Rinehart, wife of Bay's first president. "A lot of these buildings are up, but the new Besse Center wasn't here, and it's like a mother seeing her child grow up."

The Bay birthday bash community open house on Saturday will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.