A $25 million gift from a local philanthropist couple is to transform “The Barn” at the University of Nebraska’s rural agricultural campus and also spur more innovative projects at NU’s urban Omaha campus.
Announced Wednesday, the pledge by Barbara and Wally Weitz of Omaha will direct $19 million to UNO and $6 million to the College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, Nebraska.
The gift is part of “Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future” — an effort to encourage benefactors to give a total of $3 billion to support NU students, faculty, research and programs addressing needs of Nebraska. The Weitzes are campaign chairs.
‘Well-kept secret’
At the Curtis campus, the funds are to contribute to the renovation and expansion of a building students call “The Barn” into the Student Success and Activity Center. Originally built in 1917, the structure was the original gymnasium for the campus and now serves as a café and meeting place.
The $6 million from the Weitzes, said to be the largest donation to that rural arm of NU, is to match other private donations. Work on the $12 million project, intended to double the size and create more community event space, is to launch after fundraising is complete.
Barbara Weitz, a member of the NU Board of Regents, said she was “charmed” by the Curtis campus and called it a “too well-kept secret south of North Platte.”
“It is a seemingly small but remarkably important part of our commitment to bring resources, faculty and students to improving our agricultural knowledge and workforce in Nebraska,” she said.
The funds were inspired by the couple’s desire to promote workforce development in the agricultural sector and improve educational opportunities in rural Nebraska, said a statement by the University of Nebraska Foundation.
NCTA, a two-year school, seeks to grow from under 300 students to 500 in the next 10 years.
“We are teaching agriculture ‘in the field’ at the collegiate level, with the latest technology and practices in our academic programs,” said Larry Gossen, dean of NCTA. Programs include agronomy, animal science, equine industry management, ag mechanics, irrigation technology and agribusiness and veterinary technology.
Gossen foresees the student center project as a gathering place students will be proud of, where they can study, socialize and dine.
“It will draw in students living off-campus and generate the energy and excitement our students need to feel a sense of belonging,” he said.
Source: nebraskapublicmedia.org
Photo Credit: pexels-karolina-grabowska
Categories: Nebraska, Business, Education, Rural Lifestyle