Silver balloons, cake and Hershey Kisses were all part of the celebration at the University Community Childcare 25th anniversary party.

The Iowa State childcare facility has been a part of the campus since 1971. It is the only childcare facility on campus.

“We started out in a little room off the Pammel Court grocery store,” said Penny Pepper, a director of headquarters at the facility. “Since then, we have expanded to 125 children.”

UCC is a facility which makes childcare available to students, staff and faculty. Pepper said there are also Iowa State alumni who still use the facilities.

The facility has programs for infants, toddlers and younger children who need care before and after school. In addition, the facility has a “comfort zone” for children who are mildly ill and cannot attend full-time childcare. The comfort zone is available to anyone in the Ames community.

In celebration of 25 years, UCC had an open house yesterday afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m.

“We are expecting anywhere from 300 to 350 people. That includes guests, parents and children,” said Maryn Rogge, substitute teacher at UCC.

Rogge was a full-time teacher for seven years, but has been a substitute as long as she can remember.

Mary Kleis, UCC board president, began the event by talking about the role of UCC throughout the years. She said she is extremely proud of the comfort zone facility, which is one of the first of its kind in the country. She is also very proud of how the UCC has kept up with the changing times of the environment.

Kleis said she is ready to “look to the future.”

Pepper is thankful for those who help fund UCC and who have helped the program succeed. University Students Apartment Community, Government of the Student Body and Iowa State University are some of the on-campus supporters.

Other funding for the center comes from public entities such as United Way, City of Ames and Story County.

“As long as there is support from the university and a need for childcare,” Pepper said, “we can make it possible to continue the success of this childcare facility.”