Sturm Family Foundation gift provides scholarships, equipment for WCCC students

A gift of $200,000 from the Sturm Family Foundation will provide scholarships to students in Western Colorado Community College’s Electric Lineworker and Construction–Electrical programs as well as much needed equipment for the Welding Technology and Machining/Manufacturing Technology programs.

In recognition of the generous donation, Colorado Mesa University and WCCC will name a lab in the Youngblood Building at WCCC the Sturm Family Manufacturing Center.

“The Sturm Family Foundation is committed to supporting nonprofit entities that are providing valuable services and programs to their local community that make significant impacts,” said Emily Sturm of the Sturm Family Foundation. “We are particularly interested in helping with workforce development and higher education so we were delighted to be able to support the technical education provided at WCCC.”

In addition to the scholarships, the Sturm family gift will pay for MIG and TIG welding equipment, lathes and mills for machining and will upgrade the electrical service in the Construction-Electrical lab.

“It is so important that our students are learning on the most current equipment possible so that when they graduate, they are well prepared for employment in today’s high tech manufacturing environment,” said Liz Meyer, CMU vice president of development and CEO of the Colorado Mesa University Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that supports the university.

A naming reception will be held during the spring semester, after the installation of the new equipment.