Gift gives boost to complete the ATEC project

The J.R. Simplot Foundation will make a $50,000 contribution to help complete the Grant County Advanced Technologies Education Center (ATEC), Big Bend Community College officials announced today.

The gift provides a boost for the "Finish the Job" campaign to raise $1.5 million to complete the ATEC project.

"This decision reflects the Simplot family's desire to financially participate in key community projects that make a difference…and education certainly makes a difference," said Steve Hennig, Simplot Plant Manager in Moses Lake.

The funds will be awarded to the BBCC Foundation, which has helped the college raise more than $5.5 million for the ATEC project.

This is great news," said Dr. Bill Bonaudi, BBCC President. "It is a generous gift that will benefit students and communities throughout the college's service district."

Simplot acquired the Moses Lake potato processing plant in 2000. The plant employs 420 people. Simplot also has other food processing plants, farms, and fertilizer distribution facilities throughout the Columbia Basin.

The college and foundation continue to raise funds for ATEC in its "Finish the Job" campaign. More than $5.5 million was raised in the last five years, and the goal is to raise another $1.5 million for technology, equipment and furnishings.

ATEC includes a University Center to help local people earn bachelor's degrees without relocating, a training and conference center with video conferencing capabilities, and a new dining commons. The Zipp fiber network will be used in ATEC to provide educational, training, and conferencing opportunities.

ATEC also is connected to a new Library now under construction.

"The potentials of this building and what it can bring to the college and community, we are just starting to realize," said Big Bend public information officer Catherine Holestine.

Together, ATEC and the Library represent the biggest construction project in the history of the college. The college has received funding for the library, and will build as much of ATEC as private funds allow.

"We continue to need support of generous people and organizations to Finish the Job," Bonaudi said.

ATEC donors in recent months include: Larry and Lorrayne Peterson of Moses Lake, $21,000; Bob and Agnes Holloway of Quincy, $22,000; Gordon Ebbert of Moses Lake gave $5,000; Paul and Ginny Hirai of Moses Lake, $3,000; Pat and Wally Lane of Moses Lake, $2,700; Argus Insurance (Norm Benson) $1,000; McCain Foods, $750; and Elwood and Betty Dart, $500.

In addition, hundreds of friends and alumni of BBCC have supported ATEC by purchasing engraved bricks to be placed outside the building.

Gifts of appreciated stock, property, cash, unneeded insurance policies, and three to five year pledges are all options for supporting ATEC completion, Bonaudi said.

The $15 million project is approximately 72 percent complete and BBCC plans to move into ATEC the end of November 2004 and ready for student use in January 2005.

"This makes us just as good or better than any other college in the state," Holestine said.