BENTONVILLE — The Northwest Arkansas Community College Foundation is making progress toward raising $15 million to build a permanent campus in Washington County.
College officials gathered Thursday to announce a $105,000 gift from a foundation associated with Black Hills Corp. It was the second campaign donation the college has announced, after a $1.5 million donation from the Jackson and Ella Byrd Trust, which was revealed in April.
“Our wonderful friends at Black Hills are investing in our future and the future of our region by providing dedicated space for quality higher education and training,” said Meredith Brunen, the college foundation’s executive director.
The college owns 20 acres just west of Arvest Ballpark in Springdale where it plans to build its Washington County Center. The college has developed programming and a plan for the facility, estimated to be 50,000 square feet. It offers classes and services at different leased spaces in Washington County.
The school in December launched the “quiet phase” of its fundraising campaign, called NWA Ripple Effect, for the building as well as the college’s culinary arts program in Bentonville. A more public campaign likely will start next spring, Brunen said.
Black Hills is an energy company based in Rapid City, S.D., that serves more than a million customers across eight states. It began serving part of Arkansas following its acquisition last year of SourceGas.
Todd Jacobs, the company’s vice president for Arkansas operations, said Thursday that the company was proud to help the college grow.
Stephanie Weston-Rothfus, a Springdale resident pursuing a degree in business management, said being able to access college services close to home has been crucial.
“I personally cannot wait for the opening of the new Washington County Center and the opportunities it will bring to almost half of NWACC’s population, like me, that benefit from it being in our own community,” she said.
Evelyn Jorgenson, the college’s president, gave special thanks to Brunen, whose last day at the college was Friday. Brunen, who has worked at the college for 10 years, is leaving for a job at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Fla.
A search committee was formed to identify Brunen’s replacement and candidates have been interviewed, but there’s no certainty as to when a candidate will be chosen, according to Steven Hinds, a college spokesman.