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Ogallala celebrates new MPCC extended campus
OGALLALA, Nebraska -- Mid Plains Community College will be bringing even more educational opportunities to Ogallala and the surrounding communities with its newly opened Ogallala Extended Campus Building, located at 512 E. B Street in Ogallala.
The official grand opening of the building took place Thursday with a ribbon cutting, tours of the facility and a free lunch for those attending. Nebraska Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy served as the keynote speaker.
"One of the best ways to grow Nebraska is to provide education and job opportunities to encourage talented young people to remain here," said Sheehy. "MPCC has been invaluable in creating an atmosphere that provides lifelong learning."
MPCC President Ryan Purdy said the new extended campus truly belongs to the community.
"This is your college," he said. "We are committed to you."
Purdy told the crowd that the new facility is not just for traditional students, but will offer training and educational opportunities for business and industry as well.
Mid-Plains Community College had previously been serving the area in and around Ogallala from a 1,500-square-foot facility that consisted of one classroom/reception area and two small offices. The city had encouraged the college to find an alternate site, but MPCC was unable to obtain one that would meet its physical and fiscal requirements.
Ultimately, the community of Ogallala proposed a partnership with MPCC to provide a facility that would meet the educational needs of their portion of MPCC's service area. It was suggested that a vacated 7,442-square-foot building that previously housed a call center would be ideal for the MPCC facility to be housed in.
Once a deal was reached, the construction process and fundraising began. Work on the building was completed in late July.
"I can't say enough about what a great partner MPCC has been through all this," said Drew Krab, President of Keith County Area Development.