A new year will bring the realization of a personal professional goal for former Western Nevada College student Evelyn Espinoza. Evelyn, who studied business at WNC in 2019, and her husband, Francisco, will open Eve’s Eatery in downtown Carson City early in 2022. “My dream was to one day open my own business and be my own boss, the American Dream,” she said. “Studying business really gave me the confidence to open a restaurant. I believe everyone that works for what they want can accomplish anything. Opening our own restaurant is a dream come true for our family.” Evelyn said her American dream became more realistic because of specific training she received at WNC. She enrolled in bookkeeping and computer classes during the 2019 spring semester after moving from Las Vegas to Carson City. “I remember searching online and Western Nevada College was the first college that caught my eye,” Evelyn said. “I chose it because it has a great business program and many class schedule options. I needed flexibility because I’m a mom, an employee and a student, so time is important to me.” The classes she took that semester are helping the Espinozas address some of the needs of opening a new business. “The bookkeeping class taught me how to be profitable, how to be successful with retail, and then I applied it to the restaurant,” Evelyn said. “Budgeting has been so important at the beginning stages of our business. Opening a restaurant is expensive and making sure you budget everything can be stressful.” If all goes as planned, Francisco and Evelyn will open their restaurant specializing in American cuisine by Jan. 13 in a historic location at 402 N. Carson St. “The location is probably our favorite part of the restaurant,” Evelyn said. “We noticed it had an availability sign in the window and that prompted us to call. We were able to secure it within two weeks. We fell in love with the building and location at first sight.” While Evelyn brings business knowledge to the restaurant and loves to cook, Francisco is an experienced chef and has worked for celebrity chefs such as Brian Malarkey, Costas Spiliadis, Scott Conant, Chris Santos and Robert Irvine. He’s also served as the Chef de Cuisine for the Bistro at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. “My husband and I decided to open a restaurant because we love cooking for people. We are big foodies,” she said. “I am the cook at home while my husband is a chef at work. He started cooking at 18 years old and has moved up the ladder throughout the years. Having 15 years’ experience in the industry gave us more confidence in being successful.” Eve’s Eatery will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. They will offer breakfast, lunch and brunch, and provide food for special events. For a sneak preview of the restaurant, go to https://www.facebook.com/100666489085920/videos/409378437557102. Now that the goal of opening her own business is nearly here, Evelyn is appreciative of the professional training she received at WNC. “I’m grateful that WNC gave me so much help from the get-go,” she said. “I hadn’t gone to college previously and they showed me what I had to do. I met a lot of good people… people who were willing to help me.” To learn more about WNC’s business program, go to https://www.wnc.edu/areas/business-finance-marketing/ or to learn more about other workforce training options at WNC, go to wnc.edu/pat/. Individuals can register for winter session classes that start Dec. 20 and Jan. 3 and for spring semester courses that begin Jan. 24. For a list of classes, go to wnc.edu/class-schedule/. For information about programs and classes or becoming a student at WNC, phone 775-445-3267. Winter session classes start on Dec. 20 and Jan. 3 Deadlines are rapidly approaching for students planning to enroll in winter session classes and registration is well under way for spring semester at WNC. Students can choose between 3-week and 5-week online classes. Accelerated courses are being offered in Art, Biology, Education, English, Environmental Science, History, Mathematics, and more. Five-week online classes begin Dec. 20 and this is the final day students can enroll in these classes. After this date, a late registration form with instructor approval must be submitted to Admissions and Records by Dec. 27. Students also have an option to take 3-week online classes that start on Jan. 3. To enroll in these classes after Jan. 3, students must submit a late registration form with instructor approval to Admissions and Records by Jan. 7. The three-week and five-week courses will end by Jan. 21. Spring semester classes are still more than a month away, but students are advised to register early so they can enroll in the classes they want. Students planning to take in-person classes during the spring will be required to be vaccinated as mandated by the Nevada State Board of Heath. Students taking all of their classes online won’t be required to be vaccinated, but all students will need to fill out a vaccine status form at wnc.edu/student-vaccine-form/. For assistance with filling out this form, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qAYqHS_BiQ. Short-term, late-start and self-paced courses will also be available in the spring. View winter session and spring semester classes at wnc.edu/class-schedule/. If you need help preparing for spring semester, arrange an appointment with Counseling Services at 775-445-3267 or counseling@wnc.edu. Purchase note cards created from student artwork Students helping other students. That’s what a handful of art students at Western Nevada College are doing with their artwork this fall. Fiona McDonald, Danielle Nichols, Nicole Klein, Syeda Khadija and Candy Peck have graciously allowed WNC Foundation to use their art to adorn note cards that are being sold to support students at the college. WNC Foundation has transformed imaging from these students’ paintings, drawings and pottery for note cards that are now available for purchase. The note cards are available in a 10-card pack for $10. “We are so grateful to these very talented students for their amazing contributions to this project,” said WNC Foundation Executive Director Niki Gladys. Purchase the note cards through the Foundation Shop at wnc.edu/foundation/foundation-shop/. WNC-themed jackets, vests, beanies, T-shirts, wine glasses, coffee cups, etc. can also be purchased through the online store. If you’d like to make a separate donation to WNC, contact the Foundation at foundation@wnc.edu or 775-445-3240. WNC’s Angel Trees, Toys for Tots campaigns making holidays better for local children Western Nevada College’s nursing students, the Child Development Center and the Associated Students at Western Nevada are doing their part to brighten the holidays for area children. Like it has in the past, the WNC chapter of the National Student Nurses Association has set up Angel Trees in the Cedar Building: Room 216 and the Nursing and Allied Health Office in Room 101. Both trees contain tags with special Christmas present wishes from local children. The angels in this cause are the individuals on campus or in the community who want to remove a tag from one of the trees and purchase the gift of the child’s wishes. The unwrapped gifts can be returned to either location so they can be distributed to the Salvation Army of Carson City. The CDC has continued its involvement with the Toys for Tots campaign. To donate to this cause, purchase a toy and place it in a collection bin located at the CDC. “This is a wonderful way to give back to our community in need and we definitely discuss with our Pre-K class what it means to participate and how they can help,” said CDC Director Anna Lisa Acosta-Rogers. Acosta-Rogers said that children have been bringing in canned food to donate as well. ASWN is also involved in the same Toys for Tots campaign through the Ron Wood Family Resource Center in Carson City, setting up collection cans in the Student Center in the Joe Dini Building and in the hallway fronting the President’s Office area in the Bristlecone Building. Thanks to those who have donated gifts! Thomas to give free talks on witches, aliens at JCDO Witches and aliens are the topics for a pair of Mike Thomas talks during his December Lecture Series at Western Nevada College’s Jack C. Davis Observatory. Thomas’ presentation on “Witches” is set for Friday, Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m. This lecture focuses on the history of sorcery, the Salem Witch Trials and witchcraft today. Thomas plans a light-hearted talk on “Aliens in the Movies” on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Both talks are free to the public and require attendees to wear facial coverings. Doors open at 6 p.m. Following Thomas’ “Aliens in the Movies” presentation, is the weekly Star Party. These weekly Saturday night gatherings from sundown to 11 p.m. are presented by the Western Nevada Astronomical Society. Newcomers are always invited to join in the fun and excitement of learning more about the universe. The observatory is located at 2699 Vanpatten Drive in Carson City.
