Local News

With a boost for a new building on campus, Lewis-Clark State College has received its largest cash donation ever: $2 million from Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) and $1 million from Beatriz and Ed Schweitzer, the founder and president of the company and his wife.

The Lewiston school announced the donation last week, noting that it puts the college's $20 million Career and Technical Education Center closer to its goal. It needs a total of $10 million in matching funds required by the state of Idaho.

"With the Center, students in our region will learn highly marketable skills that will allow them to fill critical positions for local manufacturers, a true win-win for both students and employers," Ed Schweitzer says in the school's announcement.

The 75,000-square-foot building was approved by the Idaho Legislature in 2017, and houses "most of LCSC’s Technical & Industrial Division programs including auto mechanics technology; CNC machining technology; information technology; engineering technology; heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) technology; and industrial electronics technology."

More from the school's announcement:

"As part of the agreement, SEL and LCSC are collaborating in a variety of ways, including curriculum design for electrical technician training, in the hiring of instructors, and in promoting the CTE center and its programs throughout the region.

'Lewis-Clark State College is honored by and incredibly appreciative of this generous support of Career Technical Education,' said new LCSC President Cynthia Pemberton, whose first official day at the college was July 1. 'Facilitating educational access and success through meaningful community partnerships is impactful and important. This gift will help us, together, to not only empower individuals but our communities. Our sincere thanks to SEL and the Schweitzers for the powerful difference this gift will make.'"