EICCD - cccnews - Groundbreaking in Maquoketa

Construction begins on Maquoketa branch of Clinton Community College

By Sheri Melvold | Saturday, September 20, 2008

(Reprinted from the Quad City Times.) Related Story

MAQUOKETA, Iowa — Although construction is obviously under way, a ceremonial groundbreaking Friday afternoon officially started the Maquoketa Center for Clinton Community College.

College and community representatives officially break ground for Clinton Community College's new Maquoketa Center

College and community representatives officially break ground
for Clinton Community College's new Maquoketa Center.
Pictured are, from left, Maquoketa Community Schools
Superintendent Kim Huckstadt, Maquoketa Community Schools
Board President Anne Hawks, Eastern Iowa Community College
District (EICCD) Board of Trustees President Bob Gallagher,
EICCD Trustee Kendra Beck, EICCD Chancellor Dr. Pat Keir
and Clinton Community College President Dr. Karen Vickers.

Evelyn Fagerland presents a check for $250,000 to EICCD Board President Bob Gallagher

Evelyn Fagerland presents a check for $250,000 to EICCD Board of
Trustees President Bob Gallagher. The check was presented in
memory of Fagerland's late husband, John Fagerland, a long-time
EICCD board member. It will be used to support construction of the
new Clinton Community College Maquoketa Center. Looking on are
Fagerland'sdaughter, Kendra Beck, left, also a EICCD board
member, and EICCD Chancellor Dr. Pat Keir.

The college is building an 11,000-square-foot satellite campus at the edge of Maquoketa High School property at South 5th and Washington streets. The school sold the site to the college for $1.

Bulldozers have already begun to level the site for the start of the $1.5 million facility, which will house college offices, four classrooms, community room, labs and Iowa Workforce Development Center offices.

“Just ignore all the work behind us,” joked Karen Vickers, CCC president.“We got so excited to get this started, we jumped the gun.”

The college has been providing classes in Maquoketa for 25 years, meeting in school classrooms and city facilities. Vickers said when the late John Fagerland was on the board, it was his wish to have a campus in Maquoketa.

“This was one of dad’s dreams. The family is so excited to be part of the groundbreaking,” Kendra Beck, who now holds the college board seat, said. “Traditional and nontraditional students will be able to attend college close to home. Industries will be able to use the resources to train their work force.”

Fagerland’s widow, Evelyn, gave a check to the college for $250,000 for the project. A referendum passed last year will provide the rest of the money. The meeting room will be named in Fagerland’s honor.

Maquoketa Schools Superintendent Kim Huckstadt said the campus will provide a lot of options for Maquoketa students.

“This will touch the lives of generations to come,” Huckstadt said.

The college and school already started a collaboration with a welding instructor paid by the college to teach high school students.

College officials say they hope the center will be completed in time for next fall’s classes.