Governor Steve Sisolak certainly hasn’t been a stranger to Western Nevada College, he frequently visits the 51-year-old institution in his hometown to talk with students and understand the current challenges impacting education.
In Sisolak’s latest visit to WNC, the Governor toured the Commercial Driver’s License and EMS/Paramedicine programs, explored the college’s food pantry and visited with student leaders and members of the college’s executive team.
One of the highlights of his visit was having the opportunity to drive one of WNC’s new CDL training simulators in the Reynolds Center. The simulators assist training of students as they prepare for their Commercial Driver’s License skills test as part of Western’s five-week program. He also took the time to congratulate Travis Trinidad, who earned his CDL license in July after completing the college’s CDL program and is employed by Hiskett & Sons Ready Mix in Fallon.
“It’s opened up some doors and I can do more for the company I work for,” Trinidad said.
WNC received a $400,000 grant earlier this year from the Governor’s Office of
Economic Development Board to grow the training program and address
the national commercial driver shortage. With the GOED grant funding, WNC will be able to double the number of students it trains — 12 — during its five-week courses.
“There is a lot of demand for the graduates, I’m sure,” Sisolak said. “It’s a great program and just what we need for the business community. We need a lot more drivers.”
Governor Sisolak took time to talk with student leaders in the Dini Student Center and visit the Wildcat Reserve Food Pantry run by the student government.The pantry is funded entirely through generous community donations and allows WNC’s most vulnerable populations to focus on their studies instead of when they’ll eat their next meal.Governor Sisolak asked each student leader about their education and wanted to know how well the college was meeting their needs.
“The 10 years I spent on the Board of Regents were some of the most rewarding years for me,” Sisolak said. “I was able to find out what’s going on and what’s needed. What you need and what they want is different sometimes. You have to have a voice and having this student government group is great.”
The Governor’s tour included a visit with the Emergency Medical Services class and viewing the high-fidelity simulation mannequins funded by the Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology. The state-of-the-art adult and infant mannequins made by Laerdal will help enhance real training for students.
Previously, Sisolak visited WNC on Sept. 30, 2020 to speak to the college’s Latino Leadership Academy and visit a class in the Nursing program. Last March, the Governor took time to read, sing songs and share snacks with children in WNC’s Child Development Center.
Original source can be found here.
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