Investing in Education
In the Last Will & Testament of Edward A. Whitney, dated 1917, he writes “I do hearby authorize the establishment of a school of agriculture or of technical training in or near the City of Sheridan, Wyoming.”
Whitney Benefits Beginnings
The Whitney Benefits Foundation was first able to fiscally support the start of what would become Sheridan College in 1948 by initiating a 99-year lease of land for the future college site at a cost of $1.00/year. A formal gift of $15,000 was then granted by the Whitney Benefits Trustees to the Northern Wyoming Community College of Sheridan Wyoming in 1955. This began Whitney’s ongoing support for Sheridan College.
Beginning in 1959, and continuing through June 2023, Whitney Benefits has contributed $92,555,683 to help establish and enhance the educational programs and student opportunities at Sheridan College. The partnership between Whitney Benefits and Sheridan College continues to thrive today.
Highlights of our Investments
Sheridan College Innovation Center (2024)
Whitney Benefits has played an integral part in funding the Sheridan College Innovation Center, which enhances and grows the career and technical education programs at Sheridan College. With the help of over $2 million in funds from Whitney Benefits to get state matching funds, Sheridan College was able to renovate and expand its current space to meet the needs of local industry. The building includes flexible spaces for programs, classrooms, offices, and common areas and displays creativity and creation. Programming includes advanced manufacturing, composite materials, construction trades, carpentry, HVAC, plumbing, residential and commercial electrical, and industry contract training. This building opened in the Fall of 2024 and is serving the community in countless and growing ways.
Centennial Hall (2018)
In 2018, Whitney Benefits committed $7.1 million to Sheridan College to construct a 100-bed residence hall. The new dorms were open for student use starting in the Fall 2020 semester. They were named Centennial Hall in recognition of the 100-year legacy of Edward A. Whitney’s generosity. Centennial Hall includes three floors with traditional rooms, common lounges, and study rooms. It is located just east of the Thorne-Rider Campus Center at Sheridan College.
Academic Center (2013)
The Edward A. Whitney Academic Center, a space dedicated to supporting the academic areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, was made possible with a $7,667,487 gift from Whitney Benefits and a $7,500,000 matching grant from the State of Wyoming. The center opened for student use in the Fall of 2013 and includes a dozen classrooms, an expanded math lab, a student welcome center, and a 12’6” tall skeletal replica of an Allosaurus, discovered and excavated by Sheridan College students and faculty. The Center provides a 6,000-square-foot multi-purpose atrium and over 45,000 square feet of academic and student support space.
Programs
Whitney Benefits has partnered with Sheridan College to serve the community and the state of Wyoming by helping to fund many educational programs. These programs include the CAN program, nursing and dental hygiene programs, welding, diesel technology, machine tools, and computer coding programs, among others.
To learn more about the educational excellence ongoing at Sheridan College, please visit their website: https://www.sheridan.edu/