When construction on Southwestern Community College’s new Health Sciences Building is completed in 2021, students will learn and train on state-of-the-art technology, thanks in part to a $400,000 award from WNC Bridge Foundation. The Foundation has secured naming rights in the first-floor lobby in the $20 million facility.

“Our top priority is helping our students succeed, and this grant from WNC Bridge Foundation will provide a portion of the financial resources necessary for equipping our new building,” said Dr. Don Tomas, SCC President. “We are extremely grateful that WNC Bridge Foundation recognizes the potential this new building has for training future generations of healthcare professionals in our region.”

The 55,000-square-foot building will house many of SCC’s 14 existing health sciences programs and also allow the college to add three more, pending approval from the local board of trustees as well as from the state board. Once those new programs come online, and once the existing programs are expanded, Southwestern will have the capacity to accommodate up to 144 additional students in the first year – and up to 288 additional students in the second year.

According to research compiled by William Brothers, SCC’s Vice President for Financial and Administrative Services, the starting salaries for graduates of SCC’s existing health sciences programs range between $32,100 to $64,909.