Western Nevada College has been deeply enriched by the generosity of many benefactors - people who have given time, talent and money. These investments have helped build a top quality college that is making positive differences in students' lives. In doing so, communities are enriched as qualified individuals take their place in the workforce as engaged citizens.

The Western Nevada College Foundation, founded in 1992, assists in these efforts by raising funds in support of the college through employee giving, special events and campaigns, and individual, corporate, and private foundation solicitations.

You can be the Difference

No gift is too small to help keep WNC on the road to excellence. Private giving enhances Legislative funding to meet the special needs of the college and its students. You can participate with a general gift or donation designated for needs such as scholarships, an individual faculty project or college program, or support for our quality of life programs such as the observatory, athletics or musical theater. If you would like to speak to a WNC Foundation representative about giving options, please call 775-445-3240.

Recent News

Latest News: Date	Title	Photo
April 25, 2013	Lectures, Space Art Display, Star Parties Jack C. Davis Observatory to Celebrate 10th Anniversary
April 25, 2013	View Photos From Space - Hear About Student Scientists Davis Observatory Celebrates 10 Years With Lectures, Star Parties More than a decade ago, Western Nevada College physics professor Robert Collier’s dream came true. His vision, the desire by his students to learn about astronomy, and a community’s willingness all converged to create the Jack C. Davis Observatory. Now, WNC and the observatory staff and volunteers have planned a stellar celebration from May-2-15 to commemorate 10 years of science and discovery in Nevada’s capital city. “One of my high school English teachers said to me, ‘Bob, hitch your wagon to a star’,” said Collier, a physics/astronomy professor emeritus and director of the observatory. He took the advice literally, especially when he realized that WNC’s location in Carson City possessed the perfect environment for a successful observatory. “High altitude, arid skies, and low light levels are major physical characteristics needed for observatories to operate so new discoveries can be made from Earth,” Collier said. Collier and the WNC Foundation began a community-wide fundraising campaign to construct an observatory that could be used by students, scientists and the community. It was jumpstarted by a $100,000 grant from the Nevada Gaming Education Foundation, assisted by WNC’s first president, Jack C. Davis. From there, individuals, businesses, local scientists, college faculty and staff, school children, the Nevada State Museum, and even famed astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the moon, helped the college raise the needed funds. Aldrin returned for the observatory’s First Light on May 15, 2003, along with hundreds of well-wishers. Since then, the observatory has regularly offered college classes, hosted science workshops for teachers and experts, presented distinguished lectures, captured valuable data and photos of space, and provided hundreds of Saturday evening ‘Star Parties’ where the public can visit free and look through telescopes as well as hear a lecture about science and the skies. The 10th Anniversary features lectures by two distinguished researchers. Dr. Wendy Calvin of the Mackey School of Earth Sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno will speak on Thursday, May 2. She has spent more than a decade researching for NASA and the Department of Energy. Her major scientific discoveries have included identifying oxygen on Ganymede, large path lengths in ice for the seasonal polar cap of Mars, and identification of ammonia ices on Pluto’s satellite Charon. She is also a member of the been Mars Exploration Rover, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Color Imager and Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars science teams. Dr. Candice Hansen-Koharecheck of the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Ariz., will speak on Friday, May 3. She works on the Cassini mission to Saturn with the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) investigation team, responsible for planning and analyzing icy satellite data. She led the science team for Jet Propulsion Laboratory-Titan Orbiter. Dr. Hansen is also currently the Deputy Principal Investigator for the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. JACK C. DAVIS OBSERVATORY TENTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION EVENTS THURSDAY, MAY 2 “Roving Mars: From Sojourner Through Curiosity” Lecture by Dr. Wendy Calvin, Director, Center for Geothermal Energy 7 pm • Marlette Hall, Cedar Building Topic: The evolution of engineering and landing systems as well as how our scientific knowledge about Mars has advanced. Free Admission FRIDAY, MAY 3 Cassini the Space Probe & the Moons of Saturn Lecture with Dr. Candice Hansen-Koharecheck Planetary Scientist, Led science team for Jet Propulsion Laboratory-Titan Orbiter 7 pm • Marlette Hall, Cedar Building Free Admission SATURDAY, MAY 4 Star Party for the public 8:45 pm • Jack C Davis Observatory All are invited to enjoy telescope stargazing of the night sky Free Admission MONDAY-WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 7, 8 Science Week at WNC 11 am-2 pm • Bristlecone Building Main Lobby, Carson City Campus WNC science faculty & students will participate in daily experiments and demonstrations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. WEDNESDAY, MAY 15 Davis Observatory Photography Exhibit & Student Lecture 4:30- 6:30 pm • Bristlecone Building Art Galleries View space photography by Western Nevada Astronomical Society Member and Observatory volunteer John Dykes. Learn about the history and future of the Jack C. Davis Observatory. View profiles of several former WNC astronomy students who now work in the fields of physics & astronomy, and hear from a successful student about her work with cosmic rays.
December 4, 2012	Baseball Great Matt Williams Headlines Athletics Fundraiser Annual Event Benefits Wildcats Athletics
Additional News
August 2, 2012	Foundation Golf Tourney Deemed a Success
July 27, 2012	Child Care Center Benefits from Community
July 2, 2012	Community leaders help support the college New Board Members Join Foundation
July 2, 2012	Local Couple Assists WNC Library Local Couple Assists WNC Library
July 2, 2012	$5,000 Donation to Child Development Center Family Helps Child Development Center Help Students