Western Nebraska Community College Alumni Newsletter
COUGAR OF A LIFETIME
In February 1960 , Scottsbluff Junior College hired Alumna Coral Richards , to help with a temporary project transferring handwritten transcripts to microfilm . That temporary assignment turned into a 58- year career at Western Nebraska Community College .
Coral ’ s duties evolved and changed during her tenure at WNCC . During the mid-60s , she remembers a time where she was a one-woman show helping students in a variety of ways : acting as a registrar , advisor , bookkeeper , bookstore coordinator , and even generating report cards . It was during this time she connected with a pivotal group , the WNCC Student Action Committee . These students worked to save their beloved college from closure and expanded support that eventually helped build the present day Scottsbluff Campus . Coral continues to share their story and emphasizes the importance of that history . Student Action Committee member Larry Calfee , shared , “ I was very fortunate to meet Coral on my first day of college . It has been a treat exchanging Christmas cards with her all these years . Those two years I spent in the Panhandle are special , and Coral stands very tall on that list .”
Coral has also created some important history of her own . In 1969 , when the current Scottsbluff Campus opened , she was the board secretary at the first meeting and , this past December , Coral served in that same capacity during the last meeting in the same boardroom before renovation began on the new facility .
Coral often shares , “ I simply just show up and do my job ,” but for students like Calfee , she did much more . WNCC Alumni Director Jennifer Sibal stated , “ Coral has taught us much more than just the events of our college history , she has taught us to honor and respect the individuals that are a part of that history .”
Thank you , Coral , for 58 years of work and dedication to our college , Board , students , staff , and communities ! Enjoy your retirement !
Coral as a student in 1958 yearbook