Letter to the Editor

Local senator urges support for NIACC fundraiser
 
Letter to the Editor:
 
     I write today to express my personal support for the current “NIACC First Campaign.” This public fundraising effort is being conducted to provide necessary funds to keep North Iowa Area Community College in its educational leadership position now, and far into the 21st Century.
     We are indeed blessed to have such a wonderful school in North Iowa. For nearly 100 years, NIACC has provided more than 30,000 students with a quality, affordable, transferable education. These students have become entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and fellow citizens who provide a myriad of services to us each and every day.
     The “NIACC First Capital Campaign” was launched after extensive consultation with business leaders, industry captains and educational professionals. Analysis of these many inputs lead college officials to determine critical upgrades must be made to four areas of study:
     • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) facilities must be improved so our graduates will have access to the latest technology and equipment used in our modern society;
     • The Health Care Equipment and Training Facility so the students will have to very best education to care for all those who will be part of our health care system, especially important as our society ages and the technology of health continually expands and becomes more complex;
     • NIACC’s Diesel Technology program also needs to expand its facilities to meet the increasing demands for technicians who repair and maintain our trucks, cars, tractors, farm machinery, construction equipment, and necessary generators, the use of which is projected to expand in coming years; and
     • The Music Arts program which has to provide improved temperature and humidity climate control to preserve the department’s valuable instruments, as well as replace nine pianos which have seen decades of wear.
     Four distinct and important programs which need our help to provide the best educations we can for the next generations of students. I urge you to respond to the campaign as generously as you can when you are contacted for your support. What you do will effect more people than you can imagine.  NIACC has always been there for us; please join me in being there for the college now.
     Thank you for all your past and future support.
 
Sen. Amanda Ragan
Mason City