Western Nevada College

In August, Western Nevada College received recognition for its work with veterans, applauded at a national conference attended by President Barack Obama. Just two months later, WNC has continued its multi-faceted support of veterans as they make the transition from serving their country to a life focused on academics and career preparation.

The student veterans group of WNC will celebrate the opening of the Western Nevada College Student Veterans Resource Center on Thursday, Oct. 31, 1-3 p.m., at the Carson City campus.

The Western Nevada College Tourism and Hospitality Career Center is offering a training opportunity on Friday, Oct. 18, 1:30-4:30 p.m., to those seeking employment or advancement opportunities in the tourism and hospitality industry.

The Guest Service Gold certification workshop will be at the Hampton Inn and Suites, 10 Hospitality Way, in north Carson City.

Western Nevada College President Carol Lucey announced that she is retiring from her post Wednesday, following more than 14 years at the helm of the Carson City and Northern Nevada-based college system. The announcement followed an earlier notice to the college community in the summer in which she relayed her intention to retire at some point during the 2013-14 academic year.

Pursuant to Board of Regents Policy, Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Daniel Klaich has designated WNC Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services Chet Burton as the Officer in Charge for WNC.

Western Nevada College President Carol Lucey, a staunch supporter of higher education in Carson City and Northern Nevada, abruptly resigned Wednesday four months ahead of when she had said she was going to leave.

In the letter below addressed to the Western Nevada College Advisory Board, Dr. Lucey, who has served 14 years as president of WNC, states that she had hoped the national search for her replacement would have commenced after she announced in July that she would be leaving.

Carol Lucey, who has been president of Western Nevada College for the last 14 years, stepped down from the position today.

CARSON CITY — Western Nevada College’s Tech Prep Consortium has been recognized nationally for its Career Pathways program.

The National Association for Career Pathways Leadership selected WNC for the 2013 Rigorous Programs of Study National Award for exceeding what other states offer students in career and technical programs. The award recognizes the college’s collaboration with industry and hard work by faculty and staff to provide the essential curriculum and instruction in technology-automated systems, construction, machine tool technology and welding.

The Western Nevada College softball team’s bullpen just got stronger. Carson High School grad Lindsey Ashbaugh, who played softball at Feather River College in California last year, is coming home to pitch for the Wildcats in 2014.

Wentworth said she is very pleased with the news. The right-hander gives the Wildcats an experienced and proven college pitcher to complement another established sophomore, Carlee Beck, and three freshmen hurlers.

“It’s nice to have someone with maturity at this level. It takes some time to adjust to the next level,” Wentworth said.

With an expanding public interest for alternative health care, domestic production of Chinese medicinal herbs offers a new and untapped market to Nevada farmers.

The Western Nevada College Specialty Crop Institute offers a workshop, “The Business of Chinese Herbal Medicines,” Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the WNC Carson Campus, 2201 W. College Parkway, Carson City. Cost is $45 for those registering by October 25, $55 afterward.

On September 24, 2013 the Northern Nevada Development Authority held their Pioneer Awards event, recognizing new businesses that have relocated to Nevada along with those that have expanded in the past 12 months. This signature event also saw the largest attendance for this event in NNDA history with over 340 celebrating these announcements. In addition to this annual recognition businesses were selected in 9 different categories. For six weeks NNDA collected over 50 nominees in those categories with the winners being announced at the Pioneer Awards Banquet.

Enjoy autumn’s change of season and get fit for the holidays with a 5K run and walk on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 3 p.m., in Carson City.

The Western Nevada College softball team is sponsoring the event to promote fitness and fun, and to raise funds for their upcoming 2014 season. Race headquarters is at El Charro Avitia Mexican restaurant, 4389 S. Carson St. in Carson City.

With news this week that Western Nevada College is the recipient of a $1.5 million grant, Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, announced two other grants for area colleges, Truckee Meadows Community College and Great Basin College.

The grants are part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant Program, which was authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus bill. WNC's portion of the grant is $1,567,530. TMCC received a grant of $ 3,201,968 and Great Basin College, $4,009,331.

A Carson High School senior and cadet with the Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Crops received a rare merit award Wednesday in Carson City after he applied a life saving technique he learned as a cadet three years ago.

CARSON CITY — Western Nevada College students will have more opportunities to prepare for skilled technical jobs in the coming years, following Wednesday's announcement of a $1,567,530 grant workforce training grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. It is part of $474.5 million in grants to community colleges and universities around the country for the development and expansion of innovative training programs.

A worldwide industry leader known for welcoming and accommodating guests has awarded Western Nevada College and its Carson City business partners a grant to offer hospitality certification workshops.

Hilton Worldwide has allocated a $5,000 Travel and Purpose Action Grant to WNC and key local partners - the Hampton Inn & Suites Carson City, and the Carson Valley Inn, Carson City Chamber of Commerce, and Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce. The grant will help fund a public workshop for American Hotel and Lodging Association certification on Friday, Oct. 18, at the Hampton Inn.

Carson City department heads responded to questions from locals Monday in a town hall meeting. While the public was given plenty of opportunity and notice to attend and encouraged to speak, three actually came to the podium, including two Carson High School students and the chair of the Carson Animal Services Initiative.

A compelling and poignant photography exhibition is showing in the galleries of Western Nevada College in Carson City. Reno-based artists Jeff Ross and Susan Mantle share their photography through Friday, Oct. 18.

In the Main Gallery, Ross invites visitors to contemplate "The Faces of St. Vincent’s," photographs and reflections of people in poverty who are being helped through St. Vincent’s Catholic Charities program.

Enrollment at both rural campuses of Western Nevada College has increased this fall, after six years of state budget cuts that drastically reduced programs and available classes.

Full-time equivalent enrollment, which measures the number of credits a student takes and is a key factor in determining state funding levels, rose 4 percent at the Fallon campus to 415 and 3 percent at the Douglas campus to 371. At the Carson City campus, full-time equivalent headcount rose by 2 percent, indicating that individual students are enrolling in more credits.

The Western Nevada College softball team will meet College of the Siskiyous of Weed, Calif., in a doubleheader scrimmage beginning at 1 p.m. Friday at Edmonds Sports Complex in Carson City. It is the only time WNC will play at home during the summer-fall scrimmage season.

“We are really excited to be back at home in front of our home crowd and having the weather we are having now,” Wentworth said. “It’s another JC team in the same situation as us, the getting-to-know phase. It will be interesting to see where we stand against another team.”

Former Wildcat Andrew Garcia turns the double play against Jack Hall during the alumni game at Western Nevada College in Carson City, Nev., on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. The Wildcats defeated the Alumni 7-1.
Photo by Cathleen Allison / Nevada Photo Source

Northern Nevada high school robotics teams gathered at Western Nevada College in Carson City on Saturday, Sept. 7 for a kick-off event the 2013-2014 FIRST Tech Challenge.

For the first time in program history, the Western Nevada College baseball team is going to take a crack at beating a team made up of successful Wildcats from the past.

Coach D.J. Whittemore has scheduled the first Wildcat Alumni Game for 11 a.m. Sept. 7 at John L. Harvey Field in Carson City. Fans are invited to watch the nine-inning game for free.

Seven players from WNC’s three National Junior College Athletic Association World Series teams have agreed to participate in the matchup and, so far, Wildcats from seven of Whittemore’s eight previous clubs will participate.

Carson City businessman Steve Browne is a successful professional who has written several books for the gaming industry. But perhaps the most memorable words he has written are those that tell the story of his amazing daughter, Katie May. Browne’s memoir, “How to Raise a Rocket Scientist,” will appear in a free lecture on Friday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-noon, at Western Nevada College.

With the 2014 season a little more than five months away, the Western Nevada College baseball and softball teams will take advantage of the mild fall months ahead in Carson City to prepare their rosters for the spring season.

Baseball coach D.J. Whittemore’s fall scrimmage schedule includes eight home dates at John L. Harvey Field in Carson City.

Consumer advocacy website NerdWallet says Carson City is among the best cities and towns in Nevada for young families. The website notes the capital city's proximity to Lake Tahoe, higher education opportunities at Western Nevada College and Carson City School District's reform-based Race to the Top grant as standout reasons for its choice.

Western Nevada College is collaborating with local business leaders in the hospitality industry to provide training to resort, hotel and restaurant employees. The Carson City Chamber of Commerce, Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce, Carson Valley Inn, and Hampton Inn and Suites are all part of the effort.

Capital Crossfire, a forum highlighting Nevada and Carson City politics and policies, continues its look at implications of the 2013 legislative session.

Join Karl Neathammer and Shelly Aldean with guests Carol Lucey, president of Western Nevada College, and Rob Hooper, executive Director of the Northern Nevada Development Authority, as they discuss funding cuts to Nevada’s community colleges at a time when creating a skilled workforce has become a State imperative.

Northern Nevada communities are set to reap the rewards of the Western Nevada State Peace Officer Academy’s 2013 graduation class. Twenty-two cadets were honored Friday at Western Nevada College. The 2013 WNC graduating class hails from throughout the region:

All-Star Weekend was a huge success for the Northern Nevada area. The Fanfest festivities were a great way to kick off the big weekend. The events included appearances by former San Francisco Giants JT Snow, Robb Nen, Steve Finley, and Jack Clark. There were great interactive things for the fans to do as well: Batting cages, test your pitching speed, see how fast you could steal home, and my favorite thing was the whiffle ball home run field they created in the Reno Events Center.

Musician and educator John Shipley will present a lecture and demonstration with slides and audio samples on the history of rock n' roll, concluding with questions and comments from the audience and the raffle of an electric guitar. The talk will be on Tuesday, August 6, 7-8:30 p.m., at Brewery Arts Center Ballroom, 449 W. King Street, Carson City. Admission is free.

Western Nevada College student veterans are invited to join fellow student veterans from the University of Nevada, Reno and Truckee Meadows Community College for a hiking event on Saturday, July 27, at Spooner Lake, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.

The preregistration deadline is July 25. The easy 2-mile hike on the Spooner Loop Trail will begin at 10 a.m., so participants are encouraged to arrive in the parking lot by 9 a.m. Pre-registered participants will be sent a parking pass prior to the event, to avoid paying a $6 parking fee at the state park.