Foundation preps for big student center fundraising push

Posted 3/12/24

The Northwest College Foundation is $725,000 from meeting its goal to help fund the new student center and working on the annual Giving Day fundraiser with the goal of putting a big dent in that …

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Foundation preps for big student center fundraising push

The Northwest College student center is taking form as crews work on the exterior, having recently finished installing all the windows on both levels. The building is tentatively scheduled to open in late fall of 2024.

Tribune photo by Mark Davis

Crews work to weather seal the building with Tyvek, a material used as a wrap engineered to keep buildings cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and dry all year round.

Tribune photo by Mark Davis

Posted Tuesday, March 12, 2024 8:20 am

By Zac Taylor

The Northwest College Foundation is $725,000 from meeting its goal to help fund the new student center and working on the annual Giving Day fundraiser with the goal of putting a big dent in that total.

NWC President Lisa Watson gave an update both on the fundraising progress and construction progress at the board's annual meeting in Cody on March 9 at the Cody Center.

"We have some fun things going on with Giving Day," she said, noting match opportunities and other ways for staff to take part.

"We would love to have all employees participate."

Northwest College Giving Day returns for its fourth consecutive year at noon on Thursday, March 21, and concludes at noon on Friday, March 22. Watson said having the event straddle two days is a way of trying to improve the enthusiasm for the event from start to finish.

She said donations as small as $5 will be recorded and people will be able to specify donations to certain programs at the college as well.

"It'll be the last big public push for the student center, but there's plenty that's been happening behind the scenes as well," Watson said.

Foundation President Shelby Wetzel said while last year's event featured a challenge to name the housing office in the new student center after Dee Havig, this year's event will feature a challenge to name the new student government center after John DeWitt, who the old student center was named for. The DeWitt family is also offering a match for donations.

As funding gets closer to the finish line, so does the building itself. The rooms within the new student center are taking shape, said Jake Schrickling, a project manager with the state construction department. He traveled to Powell to meet with contractors and college staff for an update on the construction, which includes more than $11 million in state funding.

“Everything is progressing really well,” he said, noting drywall is done on the first floor and the second floor passed framing inspection Monday and is ready for drywall.

“You can feel the spaces a little bit better,” he said. “You're really seeing the progress.”