WNC gets $1.46 million grant for science labs

The science labs at Western Nevada College will soon get a makeover thanks to a grant from the William N. Pennington Foundation.

“Today we secured a grant for $1.46 million to renovate the science labs,” said Niki Gladys, director of development, Western Nevada College Foundation.

The grant will enable the school to update its facility and double the size of its cadaver lab, among other things.

The WNC Foundation is a separate nonprofit dedicated to supporting the college.

The foundation holds annual fundraisers, including a golf tournament in its 18th year and Reach for the Stars, a black tie gala held at WNC’s Jack C. Davis Observatory.

The foundation recently raised $350,000 to remodel the college’s applied industrial technology center where students train to find work with area manufacturers.

WNC Foundation also raises money for student scholarships as does the Leisure Hour Club.

Courtney Aragon, Carly Talia, and Morgan Tingle, three recipients of the club’s scholarship who are all enrolled in WNC’s nursing program, were on hand to thank the group.

Tingle said she went through the Jump Start Program, in which students earn credits through WNC while still in high school. She finished all her nursing prerequisites in a year before starting the program.

Talia, who graduated from Douglas High School, plans to graduate from the WNC nursing program in 2018 and then continue her education at the University of Nevada, Reno.

And Aragon is starting as an apprentice nurse next month at Carson Tahoe Health hospital.

“I would like to donate back like the Leisure Hour Club has done for me,” said Aragon.