2月. 15, 2023
By Kourtnie Stenwall, communication assistant
Don and Jody Athen are supporting further development of 全国网赌正规平台’s School of Agricultural Sciences through a gift to the Agricultural Systems Management Fund, which supports renovations to the University’s McKemy Center for Lifelong Learning.
因为他们最近的75美元,000年的礼物, the entry to the McKemy Center will be renamed the Athen Family Entry.
这是乔迪和唐·雅典
“We consider ourselves friends of the University, and that opens up opportunities for students,唐说. “We like to see advancements in education across different fields. Our business is always looking for the right employees, and we feel that Northwest is able to supply many different disciplines.”
Although the Athens did not earn their college degrees at Northwest, their bond with the institution inspires them to support the University’s focus on student success and help advance the careers of graduates interested in agriculture-related fields.
“It’s just more of a family atmosphere at Northwest Missouri State,唐说. “We’ve always felt welcomed even though neither of us attended the University.”
Don earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of 爱荷华州, while Jody is an alumna of the University of Montana. 然而,, 汉堡, 爱荷华州, couple built a connection with Northwest through AgriVision Equipment Group, which formed in 2014 through a merger of four family-owned John Deere dealerships. Athen Implement had been supporting farmers in southwest 爱荷华州 since 1941.
“Don and Jody are true friends of Northwest, and their passion for supporting the School of Agricultural Sciences – whether it be for students, 设施, faculty or programming – is a testament to their belief that Northwest is making a positive difference in the lives of many,米齐·马尚特说, vice president of university advancement and executive director of the Northwest Foundation. “Northwest is fortunate to have the Athens in the Bearcat family.”
在西北的非常成功 永远绿色运动, which raised more than $55 million for a variety of initiatives impacting the University, 雅典提供了100美元,，以资助 农业学习中心 as well as a $25,000年的礼物 to establish the Don and Jody Athen Scholarship. Their gift to the 农业学习中心 designated the Don and Jody Athen Family Lobby.
The Don and Jody Athen Scholarship is available to full-time Northwest students majoring in an agriculture field and who hail from counties in southwest 爱荷华州 or northwest Missouri. Priority is awarded to students who exhibit academic excellence and financial need in addition to education at a rural high school.
这是这对夫妇最近的礼物, 杨晨说, further supports Northwest’s mantra of preparing students to be “career ready, 第一天.”
“The University has a great ability to change or develop courses at a much more rapid pace than a lot of larger institutions,”她说。, 添加, “A number of the employees for AgriVision Equipment Group have come through Northwest. They have proven to be well-rounded and very good employees.”
The above image depicts a metal shop in the McKemy Center after renovations are complete.
当完成, the remodeled McKemy Center will become home to revised and expanded programming with welding booths, laboratory space and safety and infrastructure upgrades. The University is developing coursework in the areas of welding, 精密测量, 电子与电力, 机电一体化, personal protective equipment and safety, robotics and other industry-standard certifications.
另外, Northwest is purchasing classroom equipment and plans to implement a Systems Management Academy for high school students and teachers. The reimagined McKemy Center will feature Power Wave C300 portable multi-process wire feeder welders with high-end functionality capable of Stick, 直流TIG, 米格, Pulsed 米格 and Flux-Cored welding as well as a VRTEX virtual reality welding training simulator that promotes the transfer of welding skills and body positioning while reducing waste associated with traditional welding training.
By offering comprehensive systems management training and skill development, as well as certifying those skills with industry-recognized stackable credentials, Northwest will help increase the labor force for the manufacturing and agribusiness industry clusters.
To make a gift to support Northwest and its School of Agricultural Sciences, contact the Northwest Foundation at 660.562.1248或浏览 www.wp101ways.com/GiveOnline.
