Public Relations
NWACC Foundation Breaks Ground on New Facility
Fundraising Efforts Continue
BENTONVILLE (Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008) – The NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) Foundation broke ground today on a new 40,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility.
The Shewmaker Center for Global Business Development will house the College’s business and technology programs and new, innovative programs to serve the northwest Arkansas community.
The estimated $8 million facility will be constructed adjacent to the existing Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technologies.
Together, the two-building complex will become known as the “Shewmaker Centers.”
HOUSES FOUR INSTITUTES
In addition to becoming the new home for NWACC’s business programs, the Shewmaker Center for Global Business Development will house four primary institutes focusing on specific areas of instruction:
- Retail Institute,
- Entrepreneurial Studies Institute,
- Sustainability Institute, and
- Transportation and Logistics Institute.
“These Institutes will provide our stakeholders and constituents with a unique, one-of-a-kind education and training experience,” said NWACC President Dr. Becky Paneitz. “We will offer a ‘blended’ approach to instruction to help our customers gain the knowledge and skills needed to compete in the global world.”
A REGIONAL: HUB FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY
The facility will act as a regional hub for entrepreneurial activity. NWACC is an active participant in the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship and has developed entrepreneurial studies curriculum which is being adopted for statewide use.
To date, nine community colleges have partnered with NWACC to support entrepreneurial initiatives throughout Arkansas.
DONATIONS MAKE FACILITY POSSIBLE
Philanthropy is the funding stream for the Shewmaker Center for Global Business Development. In April 2007 the NWACC Foundation announced a $4 million matching grant from the Walton Family Foundation. One month later, the Jack and Melba Shewmaker family announced a gift of $1.8 million to name the facility.
Many donors have contributed generously to the new facility, yet the fundraising goal has not been met.
Approximately $1.3 million remains to be secured by December 31, 2008 to meet the requirements of the Walton Family Foundation matching grant.
“We are grateful to our friends who have made a financial commitment toward the construction of this project,” said David Thrasher, Chairman of the NWACC Foundation. “But we’re not done yet. There is an opportunity for others to step forward to participate.”
NWACC’s enrollment has topped 7,200 credit students, a double-digit increase over last fall’s enrollment.
The addition of the Shewmaker Center for Global Business Development is timely as it will provide additional classroom space for the extraordinary growth.
The facility will also become the home to the College’s award-winning Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team.
Students participating in SIFE will be able to mentor other students and community members in the John and Emily Douglas Learning Resource Center, a place to find business and entrepreneurial resources.
Significant donors to the Shewmaker Center for Global Business Development include:
- Walton Family Foundation
- The Jack and Melba Shewmaker Family – to name the facility
- Linda Dillman
- John and Emily Douglas – to name the John and Emily Douglas Learning Resource Center
- Horace and Jeretta Hardwick – to name the Horace and Jeretta Hardwick Hospitality Center
- Randy and Valorie Lawson – to name the Randy and Valorie Lawson SIFE Center
- Dick and Paul Mahan
- Doug and Shelley McMillon
- Nabholz Construction
- Outdoor Cap Company
- Bill and Cathy Stribling – to name the Stribling Sustainability Institute
- George and Cheryl Westmoreland – to name The George Westmoreland Veterans Advising Center in the Student Center
The Shewmaker Center for Global Business Development Center is a component of the NWACC Foundation’s $16 million capital campaign. Other campaign projects are a nursing center and a scholarship endowment.
Construction of the Shewmaker Center for Global Business Development Center is planned for completion in time for classes in January 2010. WD&D Architecture is serving as the architectural firm for the facility. Flintco Construction has been chosen as the building contractor.
For information about Educational Programming, contact Dr. Donna Wood, Associate Vice President for the Global Business Development Center, at (479) 619-4154.
To make a contribution toward the capital campaign, contact Jill Wagar, Associate Vice President for Development, at (479) 619-4321.
This page was last updated on: December 21, 2009 @ 8:51 am
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