Support the Western Nevada College Geology Club’s scholarship fundraising efforts by attending the annual Rock, Mineral and Fossil Sale on Friday, Dec. 5, in Room 322 of the Bristlecone Building on the Carson City campus.

WNC Professor of Geosciences Dr. Winnie Kortemeier said the sale, which runs from 2 to 6 p.m., is important to the club to support an endowed scholarship for students interested in the geosciences.

Western Nevada College Professor of History Dr. Amy Ghilieri is embracing innovation in education by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into her courses, providing students a safe, guided way to engage with technology that’s rapidly reshaping the world.

For fall semester, Dr. Ghilieri has been piloting an AI-powered chatbot in her in-person and online Core Humanities classes. The tool, designed to function as a tutor, study coach and course navigator, provides students with support drawn directly from her course materials — lectures, readings, assignments, and the syllabus — rather than from the open internet.

Western Nevada College Construction students are building more than structures — they’re building community. 

This fall, students in WNC’s Construction 109 (Methods and Materials II) class completed a custom-built storage shed that the college has donated to Healing Arenas Inc., a Gardnerville-based nonprofit that provides equine-assisted services for veterans, first responders and other community members.

The shed will be used to store tack, including saddles, bridles and other essential equipment for Healing Arenas’ programs, including the retraining of retired racehorses through the Stable Vets Project. 

Astronomy was shining brighter and more inclusive than ever at Western Nevada College’s Star Party on Nov. 22 at the Jack C. Davis Observatory. 

This special evening highlighted accessible astronomy education with the debut of a new tactile panel featuring the planet Uranus, captured by the James Webb Space Telescope and provided by the Space Telescope Science Institute. The 12x12 tactile panel allows visitors — especially those with visual impairments — to experience the wonders of space through touch. 

Uranus also was at opposition that evening — the point when Earth is directly between Uranus and the Sun — making the distant ice giant appear its brightest and largest in the night sky. Dr. Herring presented a corresponding lecture on Uranus, offering insight into the seventh planet from the Sun — a gaseous, cyan-colored ice giant that continues to fascinate astronomers.

You get the feeling after talking to Western Nevada College student Rich Tidrick that everyone on campus knows him. His friendly, outgoing personality — and his enthusiasm for learning — make him one of WNC’s most recognizable students.

After serving two decades in the U.S. Navy Seabees, where he helped build infrastructure and provide humanitarian support across the globe, Rich decided to return to school more than 30 years after graduating high school.

The Western Nevada College Foundation and Financial Assistance Office are presenting the William N. Pennington Career and Technical Education Scholarship for 2025-26. This generous scholarship provides WNC CTE students with the opportunity to learn valuable skills to enter Nevada’s diverse workforce. Don't hesitate to take advantage of this great career-enhancing opportunity!

Western Nevada College students, faculty and staff proudly carried on a tradition that dates back to 1938 by participating in the Nevada Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 1. This year’s Wild, Wild West theme made it even more memorable!

This contingent represented WNC with spirit, pride and community. Nursing students, student government, and, of course, Willy represented the college.

WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe celebrated Nevada Day alongside Nevada Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony and Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents Heather Brown and Carol Del Carlo. 

WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe attended the opening weekend of “Fiddler on the Roof” and was truly inspired by the incredible talent showcased by the Western Nevada Musical Theatre Company.

Thank you to the entire cast, crew and production team for delivering such a glorious performance over three weekends in November — your dedication and artistry continue to enrich our community!

Looking to improve upon a semifinal finish last year, Western Nevada College’s top team won its first two matches in Carson City’s Can’t Dodge This Dodgeball Tournament on Nov. 7.

However, two straight losses kept WNC out of the semifinals this time around.

The team was led by Ryan Johnson, Adrian Barrera, Nigel Harrison, Tyler Golden, Austin Long, Abraham Ortega and Michael Brito.

WNC was also represented by a student team, which included Christopher Paluch, Alessandra Sandoval Orozco, Mariana Alonzo, Karla Salas Dominguez, Elena Guzman, Catalina Wilson, Sherlyn Vasquez, Max Dillwith and Denmarc Williams.

Halloween came early to the Carson City campus on Oct. 30 as our little pumpkins from the Child Development Center brought smiles (and maybe a few happy tears!) during their annual Pumpkin Parade! Tiny superheroes, princesses, adorable critters and more made their way through campus, collecting treats and laughter from students, faculty and staff before wrapping up the fun at the Dini Student Center.

Thank you to our incredible WNC employees and students for making this festive tradition such a hit — and to our CDC families for sharing the joy of Halloween with the Wildcat community!

Thank you to everyone who came together to make this year’s Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration so meaningful and vibrant! From delicious food and refreshments to the lively music, dance class and beautifully crafted altars, our campus was filled with tradition, color and community. A special thank you to ASWN for hosting and creating such a welcoming space for students, staff and families to honor loved ones and enjoy good times together at WNC.

Your creativity, spirit and participation made this celebration unforgettable. We’re grateful to everyone who contributed, attended and shared in this tradition. 

The only thing missing from Western Nevada College’s fourth annual Turkey Bowl on Nov. 20 was snow. A steady, cold rain added another dimension to the flag football games that welcome friendly competition between students, faculty and staff.

Nine devoted students and staff members took part in the games at John L. Harvey Field.

Student Services has won the previous three chapters of the Turkey Bowl, but this year, students and staff were teammates in the friendly competition.