NIC dedicates science lab

SANDPOINT — Jenny Weerheim knows how tough it can be to commute for an education.

Between gas bills and time investment, driving to Coeur d’Alene in pursuit of her certification as a registered nurse was a major burden. It also made the basic process of education more difficult — typically, there was only time to drive over, attend class and drive back, Weerheim added.

“You couldn’t just knock on the door and ask your instructor when you had a problem,” she said.

Local leaders and education specialists hope to change that for Weerheim and other students by building a solid community college environment in Sandpoint. They cleared a major step toward that goal with the debut of the new campus science lab, financed through a fundraising campaign that generated about $115,000.

“This is a very good thing for students, for their pocketbooks and for keeping them off the road during the winter,” said NIC president Joe Dunlap.  

Local community leaders and NIC officials gathered Wednesday at the Sandpoint campus to commemorate the lab for service. Their high spirits were well-justified — the lab is an essential component in establishing associate’s degree programs in town. After a few more quick additions like a sink are installed, students will be able to complete entry-level science courses and earn a two-year degree without ever leaving town.

Since lab science is a general education requirement for most degrees, local students previously had to drive to the primary NIC campus in Coeur d’Alene. For people like Weerheim, that can mean the difference between completing a program and having to focus on work or other responsibilities.   

“I’m a returning student after 16 years of being out of school, so this is a much easier transition for me,” Weerheim said.

According to Dunlap, the wet lab is designed for biology but can facilitate most science classes. Collecting donations to sufficiently fund the installation took many months, but thanks to several contributions from individuals and businesses, the college raised enough to build a fully-functional lab complete with the necessary improvements to safely handle chemicals.

Dunlap said former Sandpoint mayor Gretchen Hellar was instrumental to organizing the many individuals and organizations involved in the process. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Hellar said her willingness to volunteer centered on her belief every healthy community should encourage dignity and respect, cultural vibrancy and discipline in rational thinking. While Sandpoint already offers plenty of the first two categories, she said the addition of a local science lab would contribute greatly to logic-based opinions.

“The scientific method leads students to ask how, why, and is there a better way of doing it,” she said.