It was an idea born and cultivated on a cold, snowy morning in February of 2017, a plan to reinforce Powell’s image as a “college town.”

Out of that public meeting, hosted by leaders at Northwest College and the Powell Economic Partnership came the Connect to Community initiative, designed to bring the college and the community closer together. That summer, what would become the initiative’s signature event was held for the first time during NWC’s Kick-Off Weekend: Paint the Town Red. It featured downtown window paintings, an outdoor concert and dance, food trucks and a host of other activities, all family friendly.

Sounds like a can’t-miss event, right? Not exactly. The very first Paint the Town Red was a gamble, as NWC President Stefani Hicswa will be the first to attest.

“We didn’t know if we would do it again, we just thought it would be something fun to try,” she said. “We wanted to make Powell more of a college town, and this event just grew out of the brainstorming of a bunch of active community members. But we had no idea what the response would be.”

While the idea of introducing new and returning students to the community they inhabit (and the community to them) sounds great in theory, it was a roll of the dice. Questions arose as to the viability of the event, as well as whether the community would show up in support; logistics were an issue, and the fact that it was scheduled the same night as the Powell Panthers home football opener caused some to wonder whether folks would support both.

The failure of that first Paint the Town Red would have been costly, and not just in terms of economics; if the event flopped, there wouldn’t be another.

Thankfully for all involved, the first Paint the Town Red was an unmitigated success, and it’s become an event NWC and the community look forward to each August. Last weekend was the third annual Paint the Town Red, and once again, downtown Powell was awash in Trapper colors as students and the community came together to celebrate the end of summer and the start of another school year.

“I was so pleased with the turnout and the continued support of the community of Powell for Northwest College and our students,” Hicswa said. “What a great way to start the school year and welcome students back to campus. Everything was fantastic, and bringing the community together like that was so much fun. We’ve been talking about it all week; it was just amazing.”

As NWC continues to struggle with lower enrollment and seemingly never-ending budget cuts, it’s heartening to see that events like Paint the Town Red still resonate. It reminds us of the importance of the college to our community and all of Park County. That’s not just in terms of economic impact, though that impact is significant.

NWC gives everyone in Powell the opportunity to experience things not every small town has the means to enjoy. From concerts and art shows, to sporting events and author readings, we as a community are blessed that we can share in all the college has to offer.

We proudly support Northwest College and we hope the community continues to support the students, whether that’s by catching a basketball or a volleyball game, or attending any number of concerts and events, such as those put on by the college’s fantastic international program.

NWC’s significance in our community and county can’t be overstated — nor can the role we as a community play in its success. Here’s hoping the bonds created by events like Paint the Town Red continue to grow and strengthen with each passing year.