LEWISTON, Idaho – Lewis-Clark State College has received a $25,000 donation from Katie Seekins, which will be used for the new Schweitzer Career & Technical Education Center.
The $25,000 donation will be used to name an information technology classroom at the center, located in the Lewiston Orchards and scheduled to open in January.
“During my tour of the CTE building I reflected back to my time at the University [of Idaho] and how much better I learned when it was application versus theory,” Seekins (pictured left) said. “Reading and studying is essential but it doesn’t always connect the dots on the big picture, where I learned the most was when I was able to visualize, experience and have hands on learning. The CTE building has created that environment for our students and it inspired me to want to be able to be a part of its success.”
Seekins serves on the LC State Foundation Board and has been on the Lewiston Airport Board since June. She co-founded Seekins Precision in 2005 and sold her ownership last year to develop Ruby Properties, a property management company.
Seekins graduated from the University of Idaho in 2003 with Bachelor of Science degrees in information systems and human resource management.
In 2017, the Idaho Legislature approved the CTE building project and appropriated $10 million with the requirement that LC State match the funds. In 2020, the legislature, through the Permanent Building Fund, appropriated another $2.5 million after construction bids came in higher than anticipated.
There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the center’s completion on Oct. 23 at 9 a.m. The ceremony will be held in the main parking lot of the new CTE center, located at 2947 Cecil Andrus Way, and will be fully compliant with the college’s coronavirus (COVID-19) safety protocols, with face coverings and physical distancing required for all attendees. A virtual tour video of the facility will be available the day of the event at www.lcsc.edu for those who are unable to attend.
In all, donations like this one from Seekins have helped generate just under $7.6 million towards the CTE center.
To make a donation, to learn more about naming opportunities, or to become an individual or corporate sponsor for the Schweitzer CTE Center visit www.lcsc.edu/giving, or call the LC State Foundation Office at 208-792-2458.