Western Nebraska Community College today announced that it has received gifts totaling $100,000 from Simmons Olsen Law Firm and the families of its individual attorneys. The gift is in honor of Howard Olsen, who has served as the WNCC Foundation Board President for 27 years. As part of the WNCC Works: Expanding the Possibilities Campaign, the gift will support an endowed scholarship for special needs students, to be named the "Howard P. Olsen, Jr. Scholarship."
Steve Olsen, President of Simmons Olsen Law Firm stated, "It has always been one of
the missions of our law firm along with the attorneys and staff to support our communities.
The WNCC Foundation has been a part of Howard's life for years. It is a great honor
to recognize Howard for all his efforts on behalf of WNCC, which is such an important
part of our community," he added. "We are excited that our gift will assist students
in their educational pursuits for many years into the future."
Simmons Olsen Law Firm has been a fixture in the western Nebraska legal community
for decades. With locations in Scottsbluff and Alliance, the firm's 11 lawyers practice
in a variety of legal areas throughout Nebraska and into Wyoming.
The donation comes in the midst of the fundraising campaign for the college, which
extends through the fall of 2016. This year also marks the landmark 90th anniversary
of Western Nebraska Community College. The campaign has raised $8,500,000 so far,
more than 90 percent of its goal. WNCC joins many community colleges that have launched
campaigns to raise private donations and individual giving.
"This generous donation will be directly invested in our students through a long-term
scholarship fund that will help dozens of future students," said WNCC President Todd
Holcomb. "Many of our students would not be able to attend college without the generosity
of our local partners who establish scholarship funds. This fund is doubly special
to us at WNCC due to Howard's long-term commitment and impact to helping further the
college and support our students. He is an example of everything we could hope for
in a long-time volunteer," he added.