Northwest Arkansas Community College gets $250,000 for Washington County Center

NWA Democrat-Gazette/DAVID GOTTSCHALK Work continues Thursday, March 7, 2019, on the Northwest Arkansas Community College - Washington County Center in Springdale.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/DAVID GOTTSCHALK Work continues Thursday, March 7, 2019, on the Northwest Arkansas Community College - Washington County Center in Springdale.

BENTONVILLE -- Northwest Arkansas Community College has received another significant donation for construction of its Washington County Center.

The Sunderland Foundation, based in Overland Park, Kan., donated $250,000 to the project, said Evelyn Jorgenson, college president.

Jorgenson made the announcement at Monday's Board of Trustees meeting, saying the check arrived earlier that day.

The 38,000 square-foot center is scheduled to open for classes in January. It is under construction just west of Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. Once it opens, the center will consolidate the 25,000 square feet the college leases in three Washington County locations: two in Springdale and one in Farmington.

The college's foundation is trying to raise $12 million for the project. An exact amount wasn't available Monday, but Jorgenson said she believes the foundation has raised nearly $7 million so far.

Lester T. Sunderland, who was president of the Ash Grove Cement Co. for 33 years, established the Sunderland Foundation in 1945. It focuses on supporting construction projects, awarding grants to nonprofits in the Kansas City region and other markets traditionally served by the company, according to the foundation's website.

NW News on 09/17/2019

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