WCC HOSTS RIBBON CUTTING FOR CENTER
Earlier this week, Woodland Community College administrators hosted hundreds of community members for a ceremonial ribbon cutting celebrating the completion of the latest addition to the campus, the brand new $42 million Performing Arts Center and Culinary Institute building.
Although Woodland College, located at 2500 E. Gibson Road, has been fully established as a legitimate place for higher education for years now, offering a range of academic programs and services, the spectacular new facility will further open up the gamut of course offerings to meet the diverse needs of its student population.
“The Performing Arts and Culinary Center is a testament to Woodland Community College's commitment to providing a holistic education experience for its students,” stated Yuba Community College District Chancellor Dr. Shouan Pan. “The new facility is equipped with cutting-edge resources and spaces dedicated to both performing arts and culinary arts, creating an environment that fosters creativity, skill development and collaboration.”
After years of planning, the two-year construction was completed on schedule, just in time for the Friday afternoon ceremony and the start of the college's spring semester.
“Education in the arts encourages us to think critically and creatively about the world around us. The Performing Arts and Culinary Center represents a significant investment in the future of education and the arts in our community,” said newly appointed Woodland Community College President Dr. Lizette Navarette. “Woodland Community College looks forward to showcasing student talent through performances and culinary offerings that further connect us to the community.”
Navarette began the ceremony located inside the new fa
cility on the eastern part of the campus, with a brief welcoming and opening statement followed by a Land Acknowledgment by Sherri Chiappone from the California Tribal College.
Around 150 community members and students, along with dozens of Yolo County and Woodland elected leaders, were in attendance, including Woodland Joint Unified School District Superintendent Elodia Ortega Lampkin, Woodland City Manager Ken Hiatt, Woodland City Clerk Ana Gonzalez, Woodland City Council Members Vicky Fernandez and Tom Stallard, Yolo County Supervisors Mary Sandy and Angel Barajas and all seven members of the Yuba Community College District Board of Trustees including President Susan Alves and Woodland native Jesse Ortiz.
Comments from Dr. Pan and then Alves were followed up by a project overview from the District Director of Facilities Planning, Maintenance, and Operations for the Yuba Community College District, David Willis.
Following the closing remarks from Navarette, she thanked everyone for their attendance and announced the start of free-roam walkthrough tours of the new center.
New exciting features of the 35,000-square-foot Performing Arts and Culinary Institute include:
State-of-the-Art Performance Spaces: The center boasts adaptable 450-seat theatre and performance spaces equipped with modern audiovisual technology, providing a platform for students to showcase their talents in music, drama, and dance. Additionally, the building has a high-density costume storage and fabrication shop, changing rooms, a greenroom and a scene shop.
Culinary Arts Kitchen: A fully equipped culinary arts kitchen allows students to hone their culinary skills under the guidance of experienced instructors. This space is designed to provide handson experience in a professional kitchen setting.
Collaborative Learning Spaces: The center includes dedicated spaces for collaborative learning and practice, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration between performing arts and culinary arts students. The large lecture room contains engaging features, tiered level seating, and student workstations which can be moved around to create workgroups or provide other flexible learning layouts.
Sustainability: The courtyard has sustainable landscaping and furnishings to provide students and visitors with opportunities to gather or share a meal. All lighting is LED highly efficient lighting, and many areas have daylight harvesting features to maximize energy efficiency.
Community Engagement: The Performing Arts and Culinary Center is not only a resource for students but also a hub for community engagement. The 2D art room is spacious with a large gallery walk to showcase Woodland Community College student talent.
“Everyone in the Woodland community and beyond can be so grateful for the new center,” Stallard said during the tour. “To say that it is state-ofthe-art is an understatement in itself. This space is gorgeous. It's wonderful to put a facility like this in the hands of students who want to learn how to be theater professionals going into the future.
“We also have a phenomenal culinary arts kitchen where aspiring chefs and others in the culinary arts field can learn their trade. If you have an opportunity to visit this facility, you should. It will turn your head.”
The college recently hired a full-time culinary arts instructor, Paschell Wilson, to lead the program. The college reported Wilson brings more than two decades of experience in the culinary industry to the school.
Earlier in the process, former Woodland High School music instructor Bobby Rogers was named to head up the music program.
The massive project was funded by voter-supported Measure J along with over $17 million in matching state funds, made available through Proposition 51, which was a bond measure to improve and expand facilities for public educational institutions.
Trustee Jesse Ortiz was also vital in relentlessly lobbying for the funds alongside former retired senate majority leader Richard Polanco.
“It's been a long time coming since the Masure J bond, and for me, it is exciting to see this dream fulfilled,” Ortiz said. “It's something that the Woodland community will treasure for many years. Woodland people, in general, and those in leadership capacities have always been very supportive. That's the city of Woodland, we come out for the good and always support each other if the need arises.”
Voters in the Yuba Community College District approved a $190 million facilities measure in 2006 to help modernize existing facilities and expand the academic footprint of the college, according to an earlier Woodland Community College press release.