WESTERN inA publication for friendstouch & alumni of Western Nevada College Spring 2009 • Volume 13 • Number 1 INSIDE Message from the Chairman If you have not had the opportunity Friends & Alumni to attend the Western Nevada Col- Invest in WNC .....................2 lege Foundation’s annual scholarship reception, I hope you will someday Roger Williams consider it. Held in the fall, the recep- Gifting: Change a Life ........4 tion thanks our scholarship donors “If we’re to make any dent on poverty in America, and honors our student recipients. It we have to help more students get a postsecondary Wild About Wildcats ...........8 degree.” is an event that not only highlights Melinda French Gates, Co-chair & Trustee the generosity of various individu- poverty: a college education. A postsec- als and organizations, but how these Where are They Now? ........9 ondary credential is the best bridge awards are making a difference in between poor students and good jobs. over 150 students’ lives. As chair of Unless we dramatically increase the Foundation News ................10 the Foundation Board, I have come to number of students who earn a post- understand how higher education is secondary degree, it will be difficult really the key to a better life. Arts & Culture .....................11 for students from all backgrounds to For many generations, it was the get jobs and attain middle-class life- high school diploma that provided styles. It is not a big leap from a bet- the ticket to the American Dream. A ter educated citizenry to a prosper- high school graduate could get a job ous, thriving economy. that paid enough to support a family And that is why the foundation Welcome to in touch! and to launch a career. But now, a high will be embarking on a scholarship school diploma is no longer enough. endowment drive over the next few We hope you enjoy our Did you know that the median wage years – to make the dream of a better for workers with no college is close to life available to all who desire it. format and additional the poverty line for a family of four? That leaves only one path out of If you want to get involved, let us know – updates about Western. the need is great. We can do this together. BELOVED BENEFACTOR LEAVES LEGACY TO RECEIVE FUTURE ISSUES, WNC Mourns the Passing of Andy Butti E-MAIL US YOUR PREFERENCE: When Andy Butti made a gift to West- center that will serve students with ern Nevada College nine years ago quality programs in areas of industry By mail: To receive in touch in the mail, in the amount of $500,000, it was the need. His gift has and will be used for provide your full name and address so that largest single individual donation to vocational education equipment in WNC in its 30 year history. From the automotive, construction, electronics, you will continue to receive future issues. drafting, machine tool and welding, time of its establishment, his gift has benefited not only students but our and for scholarships that will benefit Online: To receive in touch as a pdf file, entire community. His generosity will students in these areas. His gift also provide your full name and e-mail address so surely have an impact for generations provided funding that helped make that we can notify you with our online link to to come. As one of Carson City’s Big the Jack. C. Davis Observatory a real- future issues of in touch. Four Auto Dealers, Mr. Butti’s inter- ity for Carson City. The Andy Butti ests in technology meshed well with Welding Center for Technology on the one of WNC’s goals – to emerge as Carson City campus was dedicated in E-mail: [email protected], or a “state of the art” regional training his honor in 2001. [email protected] 775-445-4410 Keep up to date on Western happenings @ www.wnc.edu - Bookmark it! www.wnc.edu/foundation/ WNC in touch MAGAZINE Spring 2009 1 FRIENDS & ALUMNI NEVADA COMMISSION ON CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION WNC Receives $10,000 Grant Thanks to the Nevada Commission on Construction Education, 20 area high school students with an interest in construction careers will have the opportunity to attend WNC. Each student will receive $250 per semester to cover most of their tuition and fees for construction classes. The mis- sion of the NCCE is to improve the quality and integrity of the construc- tion industry to attract and retain a skilled, educated work force. In addition to the high school program, the college offers both an as- sociate degree and a new bachelor’s degree in construction technology. Thank you NCCE! We’ll do our best to forward your mission! WNC Students are Real GRANT FUNDS NEW EQUIPMENT FOR STUDENTS Tourney Winners Machine Tech Now Has Latest Technology Thank you Golfers Thanks to a $182,000 federal grant nology programs at the college. and Sponsors! through the Carl Perkins Vocational “The Rottler machines are used and Technical Education Act, Western for restoring engine blocks, boring out Having fun at the WNC Fallon/Greater Nevada Nevada College now has the latest cylinders, honing cylinders, and re- Mortgage Services Golf Tournament and the Elev- technology for automotive machin- surfacing the heads of engine blocks. enth Annual WNC/Greater Nevada Credit Union ing. The grant was used to purchase With tolerance to one ten-thousandth Golf Classic last spring and fall was guaranteed by two computer-guided machine tools: of an inch, they can also bore out a the foundation. They made good on their prom- a milling center and a honing device. perfect alignment for crankshafts ise as 152 golfers enjoyed two days of spirited “These are the first two machines and camshafts. The Rottler tools are competition while providing educational oppor- a nice complement to our other ma- of this type in Nevada, and the only tunities to the real winners - WNC students. The ones being used in a teaching setting chinery. Students learn on our manu- tournament in Fallon raised almost $3,000 that in Nevada or northern California,” ally operated devices and then move professor Paul Eastwood said. Made up to computer controlled machines, funded six scholarships for graduates of Churchill by Rottler Manufacturing Company, and now we can offer them the very County High School who now attend WNC Fallon Eastwood hopes that the new ma- latest in machine technology,” East- campus. The Carson City tournament raised al- chines will spark a greater interest in wood said. most $29,000 which is being used for special machine tool and automotive tech- projects – the annual Scholarship Appreciation and Recognition Reception, Newspapers in Edu- cation, the In Touch newsletter, the athletics pro- gram, and faculty/staff appreciation events. We appreciate your commitment to WNC! Jim Montgomery of the Rottler Manufacturing Company, center, shows the controls to Ron Marrujo was in great form at the Fallon Tournament. student assistant Matt Digangi for a new computer-guided machine tool. 2 Spring 2009 WNC in touch MAGAZINE www.wnc.edu/foundation/ FRIENDS & ALUMNI AT&T GRANT TAKES YOUNG WOMEN IN NEW DIRECTION Ninth graders to learn about non-traditional careers Thanks to a $10,000 grant from AT&T, “We are dedicated to provid- Western Nevada College will be able ing workforce opportunities to as to provide a new avenue for young many communities as possible, women to learn about college and and Western Nevada College’s potential careers. On May 8 at the program to expose women to WNC Carson City campus, 450 ninth- non-traditional careers brings the grade students and their teachers will meaning of job-shadowing to a attend a “Women in Non-Traditional whole new level,” said Kris Wells, Career Day,” a time for them to hear area manager for AT&T External about higher education possibilities. Affairs. “We are proud to partner The college will invite 30 high with them as they help build ca- school freshmen from each of the reers for women in all fields.” 15 service area high schools to hear Kris Wells of AT&T presents a check presentations from successful local women in the non-traditional careers to President Lucey. of science, criminal justice, welding, construction technology, automotive Providing for Area’s Homeless Children is “Food for Thought” repair, machine tool technology, engi- neering, drafting and electronics. College Potluck Raises Money for Carson Charity Western Nevada College’s Holiday less children every Friday. The group Potluck raised $1,000 plus donations says that a large percentage of home- of food from classified employees, less families are headed by single faculty and staff for a local food as- mothers escaping an abusive home. sistance program. Lunch and break- The good news is that children fast programs have done a lot to help who benefit from the “backpack” WNC Employees Prove the hundreds of homeless children programs improve in math and read- They…arrrrrrr...Great Pirates! attending Carson City schools, but ing, in addition to better attendance many homeless children have very lit- and behavior. WNC is proud to do tle to eat on the its part in helping to nourish weekends and both the bodies and minds of may go to bed these youngsters. hungry. A local group, “Food for Thought,” Organizing committee mem- provides a bag bers and President Carol Lucey of food for the present a check to “Food for area’s home- Discovering Treasure Thought” program. from Within This year’s theme for the WNC Beck Foundation Gives Fallon Library Facelift Foundation’s employee giving cam- The library at the Fallon campus has a whole new look and feel.