Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) is a
public
In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the ''Öffentlichkei ...
community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an "open enrollment" for students who have graduated from high school (also known as senior sec ...
in
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Scottsbluff is a city in Scotts Bluff County, in the western part of the state of Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. The population was 14,436 at the 2020 census. Scottsbluff is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandl ...
. It also has campuses in
Sidney, Nebraska
Sidney is a city in and the county seat of Cheyenne County, Nebraska, United States. The city is north of the Colorado state line. The population was 6,757 at the 2010 census.
History
The city was named for Sidney Dillon, president of the Uni ...
, and
Alliance, Nebraska
Alliance is a city and the county seat of Box Butte County, in the western part of the state of Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. Its population was 8,151 at the 2020 census.
Alliance is the home to Carhenge, a replica o ...
.
WNCC was previously known as Scottsbluff Junior College, Scotts Bluff County College, and Nebraska Western College. Its athletics teams are known as the
Cougar
The cougar (''Puma concolor'') is a large Felidae, cat native to the Americas. Its Species distribution, range spans from the Canadian Yukon to the southern Andes in South America and is the most widespread of any large wild terrestrial mamm ...
s.
History
Western Nebraska Community College was established in
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Scottsbluff is a city in Scotts Bluff County, in the western part of the state of Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. The population was 14,436 at the 2020 census. Scottsbluff is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandl ...
in September 1926 as an extension of the University of Nebraska. WNCC was originally named Scottsbluff Junior College. The College became inactive after only one year and was reopened in September 1929, as part of the
Scottsbluff Public Schools
Scottsbluff Public Schools, located in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, United States, is the largest school district in Scotts Bluff County. The district serves more than 2,600 students and has one high school, one middle school, and five elementary schoo ...
System. The College operated as part of that system until September 1932, when it became a public, two-year institution. In June 1968, Scotts Bluff County College became Nebraska Western College. The College became Scottsbluff’s only non-parochial institution of higher education after private
Hiram Scott College
Hiram Scott College was a private liberal arts college that operated from 1965 to 1972 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Named after Hiram Scott (1805–1828), a fur trapper with the Rocky Mountain Fur Company who was found dead in the vicinity on his re ...
went bankrupt in 1971 and was acquired by the state.
The State Legislature formed the Western Technical Community College Area in 1973, which included Nebraska Western College, Western Nebraska Technical College and the Alliance School of Practical Nursing. On July 1, 1978, the Area Board of Governors placed all three entities into a single college, multiple campus setting. July 1, 1988, the Board of Governors discontinued the separate campus names and changed the name of the college to Western Nebraska Community College.
Sidney Campus
The Western Nebraska Vocational Technical School was founded in 1965 by the State Legislature in
Cheyenne County, Nebraska
Cheyenne County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 9,998. Its county seat is Sidney. The county was formed in 1871 and named for the Cheyenne Native American tribe.
In the Nebrask ...
at the former Sioux Army Depot approximately west of
Sidney, Nebraska
Sidney is a city in and the county seat of Cheyenne County, Nebraska, United States. The city is north of the Colorado state line. The population was 6,757 at the 2010 census.
History
The city was named for Sidney Dillon, president of the Uni ...
. In October 1966, classes began at the technical vocational school. The school changed its name to Western Nebraska Technical College in 1971. On July 1, 1978, the Area Board of Governors placed all three entities (Nebraska Western College, Western Nebraska Technical College, and Alliance School of Practical Nursing) into a single college, multiple campus setting. July 1, 1988, the Board of Governors discontinued the separate campus names and changed the name of the college to Western Nebraska Community College.
Alliance Campus
The Alliance School of Practical Nursing started in 1957 in
Alliance, Nebraska
Alliance is a city and the county seat of Box Butte County, in the western part of the state of Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. Its population was 8,151 at the 2020 census.
Alliance is the home to Carhenge, a replica o ...
at St. Josephs Hospital. In 1979, the school hired a part-time coordinator and began offering a variety of general education and vocational classes in conjunction with Nebraska Western College. On July 1, 1978, the Area Board of Governors placed all three entities (Nebraska Western College, Western Nebraska Technical College, and Alliance School of Practical Nursing) into a single college, multiple campus setting. July 1, 1988, the Board of Governors discontinued the separate campus names and changed the name of the college to Western Nebraska Community College.
John N. Harms Advanced Technology Center
Given the increase in demand for worker training, retraining and economic development activities, the College established the Center for Business and Individual Training (CBIT). The CBIT, now known as the John N. Harms Advanced Technology Center of Nebraska (HATC). Named after former Western Nebraska Community College president (who served from 1976 to 2006)
John Harms, HATC provides short-term, high-impact skills training to assist in job creation and capacity building for area companies. The facility includes computer-based training, construction trades, machine tool and hazardous materials training, in addition to flexible training spaces.
Notable alumni
*
Bobby Jackson, professional basketball player
*
Dick "Night Train" Lane
Richard Lane (April 16, 1928 – January 29, 2002), commonly known as Dick "Night Train" Lane, was an American professional football player who was a cornerback for 14 years in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Los Angeles R ...
, professional football player
*
Sedric Toney
Sedric Andre Toney (born April 13, 1962) is an American former National Basketball Association (NBA) player. He was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 59th overall pick (third round) of the 1985 NBA draft.
Born in Columbus, Mississippi, he p ...
, professional basketball player
References
External links
Official website
{{authority control
Two-year colleges in the United States
Community colleges in Nebraska
Education in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska
Education in Cheyenne County, Nebraska
Education in Box Butte County, Nebraska
Buildings and structures in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska
Buildings and structures in Cheyenne County, Nebraska
Buildings and structures in Box Butte County, Nebraska
NJCAA athletics