The award-winning Child Development Center staff includes, from left, Anna Lisa Acosta-Rogers, Adrienne Keith, Sally Morgan, Carla Tolotti, Debie Warnar, Lisa Herron, Nicole Neal and Joyce Stroup.
By Western Nevada College
Sunday, September 5, 2021
Knowing that not everyone has the time to visit and learn more about WNC’s campuses in Carson City, Fallon and Minden, Western has invested in bringing the college to you.
WNC’s website at wnc.edu now includes a virtual tour feature so individuals can see Western’s beautiful campuses and gain more insight into the programs the college offers.
“The addition of this new feature to our website will bring more traffic to our website and better assist people in learning about the many amenities our campuses offer,” said WNC President Vincent Solis. “During the current health pandemic, we realize that it is not easy or possible for some people to visit our campuses to learn what we can provide them. This new feature should alleviate that discord and create a better connection with the people who we serve.”
You can access the tool by visiting wnc.edu and clicking on the virtual tour at the top of the page.
Virtual tourists simply click a button to visit each campus, placing them precisely in the location they’re interested in visiting. There are also information boxes for each location to help the visitor learn more about academic programs as well as the campus. Maybe you want to look at the facilities where Western’s Paramedicine or Nursing classes meet, or learn more about Jack C. Davis Observatory or the Andy Butti Welding Technology Center. The virtual tour will take you there.
Students will appreciate taking a virtual tour of Western before a semester begins to become familiar with the campuses. The tool also allows visitors to simply wander around campus virtually.
“The virtual tour will help eliminate some of the worries of our new students before the semester starts since they will be able to know exactly where their classes are located in each building,” said Student Life Coordinator Heather Rikalo. "We are so pleased that this new tool showcases our campuses and provides our students with the key information they are looking for.”
New degree and certificate-seeking students meet with a counselor, take placement tests and attend an orientation to prepare for attending WNC. The addition of the virtual tour will make students more prepared when they come to WNC, but that doesn’t mean that the tool is a deterrent from touring the campus in person.
“Western Nevada College’s virtual campus tour offers prospective students and their families the chance to explore our campuses and experience the Wildcat experience from the comfort and safety of their own home,” said Admissions and Records Director Dianne Hilliard. “Come tour our facilities and learn about the vast opportunities for a quality education in a supportive atmosphere.”
Students and community members are also highly encouraged to visit campus in person. Campus tours can be arranged by calling 775-445-3000.
Free vaccine clinics for students on Sept. 17 and Oct. 15
After the recent mandate from the State Board of Health that students in the Nevada System of Higher Education must be fully vaccinated for Spring semester, Western Nevada College is arranging free COVID-19 walk-in vaccination clinics in September and October.
The vaccine mandate applies to any student enrolling after Nov. 1. It does not apply to currently enrolled students for fall semester. Students continuing their education will be required to be vaccinated before the start of spring semester.
The first clinic is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 17 in WNC’s Reynolds Building Rooms 101 and 102. Vaccines are offered for first and second doses in a walk-in format.
A second clinic, which will also include the flu vaccine, is set for Oct. 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the same location: Reynolds Rooms 101 and 102.
As a reference for students and their families, the Pfizer vaccine is recommended for age 12 and older and the Janssen and Moderna vaccines are for age 18 and older.
For information, phone the Quad-County COVID-19 Hotline at 775-434-1988.
CDC retains top spot in Best of Carson City Contest
A consistently exceptional child care provider has become a consistent winner of the Nevada Appeal’s Best of Carson City Award.
For the fourth year in a row, Western Nevada College’s Child Development Center has been voted by community members as the Nevada Appeal’s Best Child-Day Care Provider.
“We are so excited to receive this honor for the fourth year in a row!” said CDC Director Anna Lisa Acosta-Rogers. “With all the uncertainty and changes this last year/year and a half, we are happy we have been able to be a constant for our children and families. We are happy to provide a safe, loving, nurturing environment.”
The Western Nevada Musical Theatre Company and WNC were nominated in the Best Entertainment and Most Philanthropic categories, respectively.
Verdugo, McCarthy and Stiff honored at Welcome Back Convocation
For the first time, Western Nevada College employees enjoyed the open and inviting space of remodeled Carson Nugget Community Hall for the annual Welcome Back Convocation.
After a virtual gathering a year ago, the Welcome Back meeting provided employees with the choice of in-person and Zoom attendance options on Aug. 25. Many opted to turn out in person.
The annual conference provides an opportunity for Solis to welcome campus members to fall semester to honor outstanding employees, recognize college-wide accomplishments, welcome new employees and encourage staff to look ahead to the future so the college can adapt to forthcoming changes and continue serving students successfully.
Much of the convocation is spent honoring employees for their contributions to the college.
Faculty and staff awards were presented to Sylvia Verdugo, Rachel Stiff and Piper McCarthy. In addition, Elizabeth, Tattersall, the only full-time faculty member on the Douglas campus, was honored in person after receiving the 2020 Faculty Member of the Year Award virtually.
Verdugo, an administrative assistant for the Professional and Applied Technology program, stepped outside her day-to-day duties and assumed a leadership role in helping the college serve Indigenous People. She assisted the college in starting the Indigenous Student Association and is serving as its adviser.
“I am very honored and feel very grateful to have been nominated and selected for Classified Employee of the Year!” said Verdugo, who began working at WNC in March 2019. “It means so much to me! I came to work at WNC open and ready for a change after working for the State of Nevada for 13 years and was met with kindness and acceptance. I would like to thank the Classified Council for continuing to uplift our Classified staff with support and also wish to acknowledge my fellow Classified staff — with all of your hard work and pride, WNC continues to be the best.”
The ISA will promote a sense of community on campus and provide an educational support system to WNC’s Native American students through cultural events and coming together to have a presence on campus.
Stiff, a Fine Arts professor, began teaching at WNC in 2018. She teaches painting, drawing and art history classes, as well as coordinates exhibits for the galleries located in the Bristlecone Building. She also has shown her own artwork in the community, focusing on landscapes and the West.
“Students often ask about my own art practice,” she said. “Sharing my work is rewarding and students benefit from this as well. I bring my dedication and knowledge as a visual artist to the classroom. Enthusiasm, commitment and a devotion to lifelong learning are all things that I share and encourage in my students.”
But what she enjoys most is teaching at WNC.
“My job is to create a classroom environment where students are engaged in the quest for meaning through the creative process,” Stiff said. “Self-discovery is essential to aspiring artists and to students pursuing other avenues of education. The capacity for creativity is present in every person and as an educator it is my responsibility to guide students to this invaluable resource.
“True curiosity brings knowledge, and I employ two forms of curiosity in the classroom. Throughout the semester my task is getting to know and understand how each student learns. To be truly curious about one’s students is to truly care about their development. The second form of curiosity that must be present in the classroom is the curiosity inspired in the student. To do this I establish a foundation but strongly encourage experimentation and careful observation. Providing the opportunity to make mistakes teaches students that taking risks is essential to the creative process and that mistakes lead us to success. It's okay to not be perfect!”
McCarthy has been leading Counseling Services since July 2015, dedicating herself to helping students pinpoint a career best suited for them and advising them academically to reach that goal.
“I am thankful for this award and recognition,” McCarthy said. “It's always nice to feel appreciated. I work hard because I care about the students and the people that work here. I have the best, most supportive team to work with. We always pull together to get the job done and are very student focused. It's easy to work hard for people you care about and even more motivating when you know they care about you.”
Tattersall has been teaching biology and chemistry classes at WNC since 2007.
“I feel honored to be selected as the outstanding faculty member of the year and was completely surprised by the announcement,” Tattersall said. “I love being in the classroom and laboratory with students, and I have actively sought funding opportunities to support WNC students doing research in STEM disciplines. It is wonderful to see the students blossom and flourish when they discover their passion in the learning arena.”
Solis also presented the 2021 President’s Team Award to employees who continued to work the front lines of the college after COVID-19 sent many to the safety of their homes to work remotely. The award included team members from a variety of departments and the group was nominated by Financial Assistance Director JW Lazzari.
WNC welcomes New Employees
WNC’s Fall semester began on Monday, Aug. 30. To prepare for the new school year, Western has hired new employees to support its students.
In Academic Affairs, WNC has hired Todd Ross, Applied Technology Instructor; Kathryn Cocking, Nursing Instructor; Chassity Mills, Nursing Instructor; Angeline Vogl, Reading Specialist and English Instructor; Christian Copley-Salem, Chemistry Instructor; Windi Altemeyer, Certified Nursing Assistant Instructor; Ron Beller, Machine Tool Technology Instructor; Kendall Valdez, Certified Nursing Assistant Instructor; and Katie Jones, English Instructor.
New Classified employees are Natasha Anderson, Supply Technician; Steve Aurand, Custodial Worker I; Morgan Dolan, Maintenance Repair Specialist I; Jessica Matthews, Custodial Worker I; Jesse Pacheco, Custodial Worker I; Jessica Paglialunga, Personnel Technician I; and Carin Duriez, Accounting Assistant II.
For Administrative support, WNC has hired Carol McIntosh, Assistant Director of Development; Nichole Paul, Discovery Librarian; Gregory Sly, Perkins Grant and CTE College Credit Coordinator; and Randal Miller, Instructional Media and Equipment Manager.
Reminder: WNC Will Be Closed on Labor Day
All three of Western Nevada College’s campuses will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6 for the Labor Day holiday. WNC campuses will resume regular business hours beginning Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
