Dr. Ray Hoy, president of Wor-Wic Community College, announced the start of the public phase of a $10 million fundraising campaign, “Preparing for a Stronger Tomorrow,” at a groundbreaking ceremony recently for the construction of a new applied technology building that will begin on campus this fall.
The ceremony was attended by more than 100 people.
State and local elected officials joined the college board of trustees, major donors, college foundation members, the campaign steering committee, employees, students, alumni and other friends of Wor-Wic Community College at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new applied technology building on campus.
Marty Neat, a member of Wor-Wic’s board of trustees who is chairing the campaign, said that gifts and pledges totaling $8 million have been received to date. During the silent phase of the campaign, the college was able to obtain two leadership gifts of $2 million each, from the Patricia and Alan Guerrieri Charitable Fund and the Richard A. Henson Foundation.
In recognition of the $2 million gift from Alan Guerrieri, the new applied technology building will be named the Patricia and Alan Guerrieri Technology Center. Private donations designated for technology (up to the first $500,000) are eligible for Henson Foundation and the state of Maryland matching funds, while each additional dollar designated for scholarships or technology (up to $1.5 million) is eligible for the Henson Foundation matching funds.
Neat explained that the campaign is broken down into three major areas of need – $2.5 million for high-tech, state-of-the-art equipment for the new building; $3.5 million for technology across campus that will be used to implement, update and sustain relevant cutting-edge technology across the institution; and $4 million to support students who are in need but not eligible for other sources of financial aid.
Hoy reminded those assembled that 90 percent of Wor-Wic’s students stay, live and work in the community, even after they go on and earn advanced degrees. “Our graduates provide the quality trained workforce to meet the needs of our business community.”
The 50,000 square foot building will be located on the south side of the campus on the site of the former soccer field and will support credit programs in the college’s occupational education division. The building will also include a makerspace multipurpose laboratory where students and community members can gather to create, invent and learn.
The project also includes new roadways and an expanded parking lot in front of Brunkhorst Hall. The parking lot expansion will provide additional parking spaces for visitors who are seeking registration and/or financial aid services.
Scheduled for completion before the fall of 2023, the $36 million building project is funded by the State of Maryland and Wicomico and Worcester counties. The Becker Morgan Group won the bid for architectural services, with Whiting-Turner as the construction management firm.
Anyone interested in making a donation can send a check made payable to the Wor-Wic Foundation, 32000 Campus Dr., Salisbury, MD 21804, with “Stronger Tomorrow” written on the memo portion. Or, click the “Donate” link at the top right of the college website and designate your gift for the “Preparing for a Stronger Tomorrow” campaign.
