February 8, 2018
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County Community College Foundation has received a substantial gift from Drs. David and Mary Zamierowski, Overland Park, for the college’s largest facilities project in its history. The Zamierowskis join other individuals and organizations in supporting the project’s challenge lead gift of $10 million by the Sunderland Foundation.
“This gift is intended to fund renovations related to our nursing education program as well as other capital projects associated with the facilities master plan,” said Dr. Jerry Cook, Chairman of the JCCC Trustees. “We are honored by David and Mary’s continued support and passion to give the students of JCCC the best learning environment possible.”
The Zamierowskis, who are both retired medical professionals, are making second careers out of helping the Kansas City community, particularly JCCC, with innovations that train professionals to answer the call for the healthcare needs of the future.
“We have enjoyed a partnership with JCCC for many years and have been so impressed with their efforts to prepare students with the most innovative teaching methods available,” David Zamierowski said. “We are pleased to help support this facilities master plan initiative to keep JCCC on that cutting edge.”
Support from Zamierowskis is game changing
For nearly 20 years, the Zamierowskis have funded scholarships and initiatives at the college, including international service learning projects to Mexico and Uganda, creation of the Healthcare Simulation Center, the college’s first endowed professorship for healthcare education, annual underwriting for the national Healthcare Simulation Conference and, most recently, the donation of a patent. Using that patent, the SAFingerStick® (a glucose testing simulation kit) is the first product developed and brought to market by JCCC. SAFingerStick® led to the creation of JC3 Innovations®, a division of the JCCC Foundation where proceeds from the sale of JC3 Innovations® products are directed to the Foundation for student scholarships.
“Once again, our college is benefitting from the generosity and passion of the Zamierowskis,” said Dr. Joe Sopcich, JCCC president. “David and Mary are not only friends of JCCC, but they are believers in the value of innovative, forward-thinking, quality education for our students, particularly in the area of healthcare and simulation learning. This generous gift complements other major donations from the community that are helping the college make relevant student- and community-focused infrastructure changes without raising the mill levy or tuition. With gifts like this, the entire community wins.”
Gift is part of private funds drive
The gift from the Zamierowskis is part of a private funds drive the JCCC Foundation has initiated to support the JCCC board-approved $102.6 million multi-year campus transformation initiative. Recently, the JCCC Foundation received a $10 million challenge gift from the Sunderland Foundation, Overland Park, and $2 million from Hugh L. Libby, Mission Hills, for this facilities project.
The new career and technical education building will be located west of the Gym. At just under 70,000 square feet, the facility will house many of the industrial technology programs currently located in the Arts and Technology Building (ATB). This includes automotive technology, electrical technology, automation engineer technology/industrial maintenance and heating, ventilation and air conditioning training. The new building also will include space for continuing education for industrial programs to respond to workforce needs.
The Fine Arts and Design Studios is the second new building in the transformational project. This new space will bring faculty and students under one roof. Programs will include photography and film, fine arts, graphic design and art history. Situating the building near the college’s Carlsen Center, the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art and the Wylie Hospitality and Culinary Academy will establish an innovative zone to teach, learn, collaborate and inspire.
Other highlights of the facilities initiative, which are part of the project’s second phase, include:
- Renovation and expansion of the ATB and Welding Laboratory Building (WLB) locations to further strengthen industrial technology offerings such as construction management and welding;
- Creation of an enhanced “campus front door,” which includes a re-facing of the Student Center, upgrades to the athletics facilities, and re-grading of surrounding roads and parking;
- Consolidation of five JCCC academic resource centers to the first floor of the Billington Library for better student access; and
- Renovations of space throughout campus into active learning classrooms.
JCCC selected design and construction professionals to work with college stakeholders in planning and constructing the buildings and making the improvements. BNIM has been hired as the lead architect for the two new buildings and renovations to the ATB and WLB buildings. Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc. (PGAV) has been hired as the architect for the enhanced new “campus front door,” consolidation of the resource centers, and improvements to athletic facilities. JE Dunn Construction will oversee all construction. The college anticipates all buildings and renovation projects to be completed by 2020.
For more information about this facilities project, contact Chris Gray at 913-469-7623. If interested in making a gift for this project, contact Kate Allen at 913-469-3835.###