Sheridan College announced Tuesday that it has received the largest gift in the history of the school—a $25.3 million commitment from educational foundation Whitney Benefits.
The college says $16 million of the donation will be used to renovate and expand the fine and performing arts wing of Sheridan’s Whitney Academic Center. The funds will also help improve parking and renovate the Technical Education Center.
Whitney Benefits President Tom Kinnison says the updates at Sheridan College are much-needed and have been on the school’s to-do list for decades.
“The money is gifted to further education for facilities that are over 30 years old that have not been replaced,” Kinnison said. “We’re trying to move Sheridan College and the state of Wyoming forward to give another educational opportunity to people around the country.”
Sheridan College serves more than 2,000 students each semester. Officials with Sheridan and Whitney say the gift will make room for more students and visitors which will help bolster the Sheridan County economy.
“We feel that it’s really going to help the student enrollment, but it’s also going to help parents,” said Kinnison. “They can send their students to a local community college, whether it be for diesel mechanics or pre-med or whatever—and they can move on with a successful career in their future, and that’s what it’s all about.”