Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined Chancellor Cheryl L. Hyman and students from the Washburne Culinary Institute to mark City Colleges of Chicago’s Centennial anniversary Monday, as the group sampled a three-tiered cake prepared by the students from the widely-regarded culinary institute, part of the City Colleges.

“For a century, City Colleges has served as a gateway for Chicagoans striving to reach their education and career goals,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I am committed to working with the City Colleges to prepare Chicagoans for the jobs of the future to ensure our City remains strong and competitive in the global economy.”

The City Colleges was founded as Crane Junior College on September 11, 1911 with just 30 students. Since then, the City Colleges of Chicago has grown to become the largest community college system in Illinois and one of the largest in the nation, with 5,800 faculty and staff serving 120,000 students at seven campuses and thirteen satellite sites city-wide. “With the support of our Mayor, Chicago’s civic leaders, and a community of students, faculty and staff who share a common commitment to our students’ success we will realize City Colleges’ potential to serve as the economic engine of Chicago,” said Chairman of the City Colleges Board Martin Cabrera, Jr. For more information about City Colleges of Chicago, call, 773-265-5343 or visit www.ccc.edu.