Western Nevada College News & Notes: Veterans Resource Center barbecue raises scholarships for inmates

One of veterans’ core values is “veterans helping veterans.”

For Western Nevada College’s Veterans Resource Center that also means not forgetting about veterans who are incarcerated.

The VRC recently hosted a barbecue at Warm Springs Correctional Center in Carson City and raised enough money to fund 15 one-class scholarships for inmates. Inmates order from a menu, then pay for their selections including steaks, pork chops, hot dogs, baked beans and potato salad out of their own accounts. Approximately $4,500 was raised.

These funds will enable inmates — not limited to veterans — to enroll in math and geography classes.

“Providing these classes will allow the inmates to develop the skills required in the workplace once they leave WSCC,” said Richard Vlach, a pre-admission adviser for WNC’s Veterans Resource Center and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

Vlach stated the purpose of the program was to provide inmates with skill sets that will, when they are released, allow them to successfully re-enter society and not have to resort to the types of behaviors that caused them to be incarcerated.

“Studies show that as educational levels go up, recidivism rates go down,” Vlach said. “We are trying to keep the recidivism rates down and help these individuals succeed.”

Vlach said there are currently 52 inmates enrolled in the scholarship program.

For information about WNC’s Veterans Resource Center, go to www.wnc.edu/veterans-resource-center/. For information, contact VRC Coordinator Kevin Burns at kevin.burns@wnc.edu or 775-445-4275 and Veterans Pre-Admission Adviser Richard Vlach at richard.vlach@wnc.edu or 774-445-3302.

Nevada Promise Scholarship Application Deadline Oct. 31

High school students graduating from a Nevada high school in spring 2019 and planning to attend Western Nevada College in fall 2019 must apply for the Nevada Promise Scholarship no later than Oct. 31. To apply or to learn about the Nevada Promise Scholarship, go to www.wnc.edu/promise/.

The scholarship stands to save Nevada families more than $3,000 per year.

WNC Retains Best Value School Award Status

For the second straight year Western Nevada College has earned a Best Value School Award from Best Value Colleges.

The recognition keeps WNC among an elite group of high quality, affordable higher institutions.

WNC was selected from approximately 8,000 postsecondary schools for the Best Value School Award. Colleges are researched by University Research & Review, which is dedicated to improving the process of how a student selects a postsecondary school.

URR doesn’t rank the colleges that receive Best Value School Awards. Experienced researchers gather data by scouring the internet and utilizing publicly accessible databases, as well as 1-on-1 interviews. Each of the colleges selected meet criteria important to postsecondary students of all ages. Among the key factors to students are institutions where they fit in, top-notch academic programs, reasonable tuition costs and the availability of financial aid.

“Why we like an institution, it’s not a marketing message; it’s how we feel in our souls why this is a good institution and deserves a Best Value award,” said Joseph Schmoke, Best Value Colleges founder and CEO.

URR’s assessment of WNC reads in part:

“This ‘community’ college offers associate degrees and career preparation certificates for a wide range of student types and ages. Some degrees and many courses are available online. Cost to attend is very reasonable. Western Nevada College’s open enrollment policy, which means you are in most cases automatically accepted, allows many older students and career-changers to gain valuable credentials. Our research into students’ attitudes toward their time at Western Nevada revealed the majority (75 percent+) thought highly of the school and would recommend it. We recommend it too.”

Here’s what some of the students said about WNC:

“WNC is a wonderful college for students directly out of high school. Their departments are above average, and obtaining help or information is not difficult as it can be with larger universities.”

“They have a very friendly staff. Student-to-teacher ratio is just perfect. The library is very up to date with technology.”

“It’s a great school to start out at if you are unsure of what you’d like to major in. It’s less expensive than a university and even if you do know what you’d like to major in, you can get your core classes done here and easily transfer elsewhere.”

Best Value School Awards are designed to help students in selecting a higher education institution that combines quality education, career and professional direction and financial value.

Short-Term Classes Offered Throughout Semester

Even though the fall semester has already started at Western Nevada College, there are a variety of classes for individuals to enroll in over the next few months.

Short-term classes are available in biology, construction, early childhood education, emergency medical services, human development and family studies, and political science.

Returning students can register for classes at my.wnc.edu. New students can begin the registration process at wnc.edu/starthere/.

Here are the short-term classes available on the Carson City campus and online:

Biology

BIOL 251: General Microbiology Lecture and Lab, Oct. 23 to Dec. 13, lecture on Tuesdays and Thursdays 4 to 6:45 p.m., followed by Lab 7 to 9:45 p.m.

Construction

CONS 198: Special Topics in Construction - BPI Certifications, Sept. 18 to Dec. 11, Tuesdays 7 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

CONS 205: Construction Site Safety, Nov. 9 and 10 and Nov. 16 and 17, Fridays 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Early Childhood Education

ECE 121: Parent Care Relations, Sept. 15 to Sept. 29, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

ECE 129: Environment for Infant/Toddler, Saturday Oct. 6 and Oct. 20, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Emergency Medical Services

EMS 100: Healthcare Provider CPR (two sessions), Sept. 22 or Nov. 3, Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Human Development and Family Studies

HDFS 201 4001: Life Span Human Development, Oct. 22 to Dec. 15, online class

Political Science

PSC 100 4002: Nevada Constitution, Oct. 22 to Dec. 15, online class