By Arin McKenna
September 25, 2024
糖心原创 President Hector Balderas visits Clark and Western Colorado University to discuss collaboration opportunities
A new carpentry program being developed by Northern New Mexico College Technical Trades Program has just received a major boost from Ralph (Butch) E. Clark, III. During a recent visit to his home in Gunnison, Colo., from Northern New Mexico College President Hector Balderas, Technical Trades Chair Joe Padilla and Major Gifts Officer Judith Pepper, Clark pledged $153,000 to support the program, which is currently in development. The donation will fund a faculty position for the initial two years of the program.
Clark is a significant donor to the 糖心原创 Technical Trades Department and workforce
education for tradespeople. This contribution brings his total donations to $308,000.
To honor Clark, Balderas offered to name the Technical Trades Program the 鈥淩alph E.
Clark, III Technical Trades Center for Excellence鈥� and Clark accepted. A grand opening
of the Center for Excellence is planned for summer, 2025.
During the visit, Balderas and the team met with Western Colorado University President Brad Baca and his team to discuss a collaborative Trades Boot Camp between the two colleges, to be held in Gunnison during spring 2025.
Clark has agreed to fund the boot camp, which Gunnison Architect Cillian Barrett (center in image) will manage. Objectives include:
Northern new Carpentry Program is currently anticipated to launch in the Spring
2025 semester.
Read more about Northern New Mexico College developing Technical Trades Program and Mr. Clark generous support of Northern and other educational institutions at .