NWCCD Vice President Janell Oberlander, NWCCD President Dr. Walt Tribley, Mayor Louise Carter-King, Gov. Mark Gordon, First Lady Jennie Gordon, and County Commissioner Chairman Rusty Bell pose for a photo at Gillette College’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.

The three-day 50th Anniversary celebration for Gillette College wrapped up the evening of Sept. 7 with brief commentary from Northeast Wyoming Community College President Dr. Walt Tribley followed by a keynote address from Gov. Mark Gordon. The event displayed the history of the college and honored “those who made the dream of a few, the reality for many,” said Gillette College Vice President Janell Oberlander, Class of 1997 Gillette College alumni. 

“What you’ve got here in this school, is research” said Gov. Gordon. “That is going to pave the way for carbon-negative solutions that will solve the problem, that will bring our future brighter, and keep our coal mines going. That is the technology that is so important for our future as a nation.”

Student Senate President Andrea Pfeil, a sophomore and dual major in math and engineering, said the anniversary represents “an opportunity for all students, every kind of student, from the nontraditional, traditional, first generation, and veteran students, all have the chance and the privilege to come to this college to be able to pursue a higher degree.” Pfeil founded the Gillette College Mathematics Club, enjoys student activities board events, and hopes to be an engineer. 

“This is such a big deal! Look at everything that this community has done. We’ve done it all together,” said Gillette Mayor Louise Carter-King. “This [the college] is the gem of our community, the jewel, the diamond.” The mayor’s parents supported the nursing program, and the Herbert A. & Dorothy P. Carter Health Sciences Center is named in their honor. 

Gillette College’s Student Senate President Andrea Pfeil

“Having a community college that supports just Gillette is a fantastic deal for this community. The cool thing about Gillette College is that it supports our technical people too,” said County Commissioner DG Reardon, Sheridan College alumni. 

Several other Wyoming government officials were in attendance, including Sen. Michael Von Flatern, Sen. Jim Haselberger, Rep. Eric Barlow, and Chairman of the Campbell County Commissioners Rusty Bell. 

“The anniversary is a great, great thing,” said Gov. Gordon. “It shows the durability and vitality of this community in the fact that it is invested in this school.”