The college has set the goal of $10 million in fundraising to meet its needs for the first phase of its 25-year master plan. While $4 million has already come in, the pledge has the potential to boost donations above $6 million if matching support is found.
"The Wheelers and the foundation board are especially hopeful that those whose businesses have benefited from Casper College will help us in this endeavor," said Paulann Doane, executive director of the Casper College Foundation. "Wyoming Machinery ... took advantage of the work professions taught up here."
The first phase of the 2006 master plan involves adding five buildings and a campus plaza, according to Rich Fujita, director of public relations for Casper College. Three of the buildings have already been completed: the Gateway Building, a residence hall and the Early Childhood Learning Center. The other two — a music building and a student center — will be completed later this year. The plaza should be in place by 2014.
"Donors may elect to support particular facilities or features that are within any of those projects," Fujita said in an email.
In a news release, Casper College touted its school-to-work numbers for some programs. Of electronics majors, 95 percent go directly into the workforce from the two-year program. Meanwhile, all graduates of the robotics program have gone right to work for companies based in Casper upon graduation. Additionally, a 2010 survey found that all graduates who responded — or about 75 percent of those surveyed — from the nursing program were employed as nurses.
To participate in the match challenge contact Doane at 268-2684 or pdoane@caspercollege.edu. As of press time, it was unclear whether a sunset date is on the table for the million-dollar match donation.
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