HOW THE COLLEGE WAS BORN

• 1952 – A group of community leaders met to discuss the potential for establishing a junior college or agricultural and trades school to serve the Upper Missouri area of North Dakota.
• 1956 – A group of local citizens formed the Northwest Trade School Association to lobby the ND state house to establish a trade school in Williston.
• 1957 – Governor John E. Davis signed legislation to establish a trade school. Freshman level extension classes from UND are offered at Central School in downtown Williston.
• 1958 – UND-Williston Extension Center opens with 13 instructors offering general education classes.
• 1961 – A formal Memorandum of Agreement between the University of North Dakota and Williston School District #1 was signed. The University was to supply supervision and administration of a general program of collegiate instruction. The Williston school district supplied space, utilities, and equipment.
• 1961 – UND Williston touts attendance of 140 students.

THE FOUNDATION IS BORN

• 1962 – The University Foundation at Williston (later renamed the Williston State College Foundation) was founded, its mission being to benefit higher education in Williston.
• 1965 – The Foundation and community members began a drive for the construction of UND-Williston Center facility.
• 1966 – Construction started on the Williston Center, known today as Stevens Hall.
• 1967 – UND-Williston moved to its present 80-acre campus on University Avenue.
• 1970 – The Foundation constructed a campus dormitory capable of housing 60 students.
• 1972 – The Foundation provided a new building, named the Art Wood Building, to house auto mechanics and diesel technology programs.
• 1973 – The Foundation built an addition to the dormitory, providing housing for 24 more students.
• 1974 – Bond sale funded the construction of a student center addition to the main building, and allowed UND-Williston to purchase the dormitory from the Foundation.
• 1976 – The Foundation built a housing unit on campus to house 16 female students.
• 1976 – The Foundation provided a new building, named the Crighton Building, to house the expanded diesel technology program.
• 1979 – Bond sale funded the construction of two four-plex housing units on campus and allowed UND-Williston to purchase female residence hall from the Foundation.
• 1984 – UND-Williston became part of the North Dakota University System
• 1994 – The Foundation constructed an addition to the west side of the Crighton Building to house the physical therapy assistant and licensed practical nursing programs, and interactive video network lab. It also built an addition on the east side of the Crighton Building to expand lab space for the diesel technology program.
• 1999 – Legislation was passed which changed the name of UND-Williston to Williston State College. This bill also designated Williston State College as the primary provider for workforce training for ten counties in northwest North Dakota.

RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• 1999 – Legislation passed, providing $1.5 million for the construction of a health, science, and sports center (HS & SC). The Foundation led a capital campaign to complete the funding.
• 2000 – Construction began on the HS & SC, named the Thomas Witt Leach Complex.
• 2000 – University Foundation at Williston changed its name to Williston State College Foundation.
• 2003 – Construction of the Thomas Witt Leach Center was completed, housing the “Well,” a high-class sports complex. Its Leonard P. Nelson wing helped WSC establish premier massage therapy, physical therapy assistant, and nursing programs.
• 2004 – WSC Foundation financed construction of Little Tetons Daycare, an on-campus childcare service for students, faculty and staff.
• 2008 – WSC Foundation purchased Teton Heights, two 4-plex apartment units that provide housing for 24 student athletes.
• 2008 – WSC Foundation purchased equipment for major classroom upgrades.
• April 2008 – WSC Foundation installed Herb Parker as professor of a 3-year pilot vocal and instrumental music program and opened a student music scholarship fund.
• June 2008 – WSC Foundation offered students scholarships to buy tools for auto and diesel training.
• September 2008 – Ardean and Colleen (Coke) Aafedt established an Athletic Endowment through the Foundation.
• November 2008 – WSC Foundation Board established a Retired Teachers Endowment Fund used to support faculty development, agreeing to match gifts up to $1000, for a total limited to $25,000.

The Foundation seeks investors to provide matching grants to raise funds for a number of urgent campus building projects. Contact Foundation Executive Director Terry Olson at 701-572-9275 for details.