April 2026 Central Connection
April 2, 2026
Program focuses on industry
A new and innovative workforce development program will improve Nebraska workers’ readiness for manufacturing jobs and help industries fill their skilled labor shortage.
“With over 47,000 job openings statewide, and more than 109,000 Nebraskans employed in manufacturing, our employers face persistent hiring challenges that threaten their long-term economic competitiveness,” said Marc LeBaron, chair of the Nebraska State Chamber Foundation and CEO of Lincoln Industries. “This initiative strengthens Nebraska’s talent pipeline by aligning training with employer demand, embedding pre-apprenticeship pathways into statewide systems.”
The partnership to deliver this employer-based training to students or existing workers includes the Nebraska State Chamber Foundation; Central, Metropolitan, Mid-Plains, Northeast, Southeast and Western Nebraska community Colleges; and the Department of Labor.
The program establishes a statewide, stackable entry-level Nebraska Manufacturing Alliance Credential that verifies manufacturing skills and creates a consistent industry-recognized standard across Nebraska. It also establishes the community colleges as registered apprenticeship hubs.
As many as 231 learners annually will be able to participate in the program at no cost to them, producing over 500 Level 1 manufacturing credential completers over the two-year project.
“The curriculum development was completely driven by manufacturers through multiple meetings to identify common competencies for both level 1 and level 2 micro-credentials,” said CCC President Dr. Matt Gotschall. “These micro-credentials will eventually lead into future programs that will be aligned with the college’s more traditional apprenticeship and degree programs.”
In addition to taking courses tuition-free, students receive stipends for participating in them. The credential can be completed in six to eight weeks by attending one class per week. Students can go on to earn Level 2 or 3 manufacturing certificates.
A cohort of 13 students is already underway at Metro Community College with classes set to begin at the other five community colleges this spring.
Funding for the $7 million project is coming from the state’s Workforce Development Program Cash Fund.
Center wins award
The Central Community College Entrepreneurship Center was named the SourceLink Nebraska Resource Partner of the Year March 12 at the Nebraska Business Development Center’s 2025 Business Awards ceremony in Lincoln.
The event honors entrepreneurs and businesses that are strengthening communities and expanding economic opportunity across the state.
The award stated the center “has become a trusted starting point for entrepreneurs across central Nebraska, offering hands-on guidance from idea to expansion and beyond. Serving 25 counties with a team of local directors and business coaches, the center provides free, expert coaching and resource connections tailored to the needs of both rural and growing communities.”
It also said that “CCC helps ensure entrepreneurs are connected to the right resources at the right time. From one-on-one business planning and financing preparation to pitch competitions that inspire the next generation, the center strengthens Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by choosing collaboration over competition.”
New spaces
Central Community College showcased new spaces during the month of March.
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Holdrege Center A ribbon-cutting ceremony of March 24 officially opened the new location of the Holdrege Center at 424 West Ave. The new center features a nursing lab, computer labs classrooms, a community room and five rooms that can be rented by outside organizations.
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Grand Island Campus Gov. Jim Pillen was one of the speakers at a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 4 for a new welding technology building. The 12,500-square-foot facility houses 48 multiprocessing booths, 16 oxyacetylene teaching stations, a robotic welder, a dedicated grinding room and a state-of-the-art ventilation system.
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Hastings Campus It wasn’t a public event, but members of the CCC Board of Governors received a tour of the new automotive careers training center before their March 19 meeting at the Hastings Campus. The 42,000-square-foot facility, which will house the auto body technology and automotive technology programs, will feature five classrooms, a welding lab, a parts and tools suite, and oils and liquid storage.
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New teams come to CCC
Three new sports teams are coming to Central Community College: beach volleyball and women’s golf at the Columbus Campus and women’s flag football at the Hastings Campus.
“These programs create new opportunities for student-athletes and positions CCC to emerge as a forward-thinking institution,” said Athletic Director Mary Young. “We are proud to be the first community college in Nebraska to offer beach volleyball and flag football.”
Bree Spenner, head court volleyball coach, and Sam Elgert, head men’s golf coach, will lead beach volleyball and women’s golf, respectively. Because the coaches are in place, recruiting will begin immediately for the spring 2027 season. Once a head coach for women’s flag football is hired, CCC athletics will determine if fielding a team spring 2027 is feasible.
“With Coach Spenner already leading court volleyball, adding beach volleyball provides a spring offering that will elevate the overall profile of our volleyball program and allow us to strategically use crossover players as we build the beach program,” Young said. “Similarly, with Coach Elgert, we have the leadership and expertise in place to grow both the men’s and women’s golf programs, building competitive, well-rounded teams that provide student-athletes the opportunity achieve success both on and off the course.”
CCC belongs to the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC), which has offered women’s golf for several years. The ICCAC added beach volleyball in March while women’s flag football is seeking emerging status.
“CCC is excited about expanding opportunities to attract more student athletes to central Nebraska because it ultimately means more will stay to live and work after getting a top-notch education and student experience,” said CCC President Dr. Matt Gotschall.
Campus awards degree, scholarships
Several individuals were honored Feb. 26 at the annual presentation of the DeBord Scholarship at Central Community College-Hastings.
The scholarship’s namesake, Jim DeBord, received an honorary diploma for his sustained commitment and advocacy in the heavy equipment field where he worked for 33 years. He has worked on construction projects in Nebraska that include the Farwell Canal project from Sherman Dam to St. Paul, Highway 18 south of Curtis, Highway 25 south of Trenton and Highway 12 from Valentine to Sparks.
The DeBord Scholarship was established in 2020 by Jim’s son and daughter-in-law, Ron and Tammy Debord. It is presented annually to two students in the heavy equipment operator technician program at the Hastings Campus.
This year’s recipients of the $1,000 scholarship are Cameron Collins of Lincoln and Zach Johnson of Grand Island.
In tribute
William “Bill” Glenn Giddings, 79, died March 12 at his home.
Services were held March 23 at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Ames with burial in the Ames Municipal Cemetery.
He was born on Oct. 3, 1946, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Virgil G. and Elvina M. Nelson Giddings.
He was a Humboldt High School graduate who earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Iowa State University in Ames.
He joined the U.S. Army in 1969 and was stationed in Bamberg, Germany, from 1970 to 1971.
He married Jean Worthan on April 1, 1972, in Ames.
He brought his talent and leadership to several community colleges in Iowa and Nebraska, including serving as president of Central Community College-Grand Island for 12 years. He retired as president of Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon.
He was a member of the Lutheran church, Civitan, Elks, Rotary and multiple chambers of commerce.
Survivors include his wife, four children and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother.
Memorials may be given to the William G. Giddings Scholarship for Leaders at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, Iowa, or Bethesda Lutheran Church in Ames, Iowa.
Employee news
Administrative Office
Angela Davidson has resigned as human resources benefits manager.
Columbus Campus
Lisa Gdowski has been promoted from campus financial aid director to area-wide director of financial aid services.
Brett Harris has joined the staff as men’s soccer coach.
Courtney Holt has resigned as events coordinator.
Grand Island Campus
New employees include Carlos “Charlie” Simmons, electrical instructor, and Alina Vila, admissions technician.
Jody Luce, academic education administrative assistant, died March 10.
She joined the CCC staff as a part-time employee in 1992 and was promoted to a full-time position in 1994.
She previously worked at Wortman Motors in Aurora and Floodman Irrigation in Grand Island.
She was a 1977 graduate of Pleasanton Public School and CCC where she earned associate of applied science degrees in accounting, data processing, general office and paralegal studies and diplomas in microcomputers and word processing.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Hastings Campus
Dennis Farris has been promoted from part-time to full-time groundskeeper.
Shifting positions are Alison Feeney, from associate dean of career and technical sciences to associate dean of community and workforce education, and Amy Jensen, from residence life director to student activities and engagement director.
Ken Gompert has retired as an information technology systems specialist, a position he has held since 2000 and will continue as a part-time employee.
Prior to joining the CCC staff, he was a foreman for Industrial Contractors, a road maintenance worker for Garfield County and county weed superintendent for Garfield and Valley counties.
He earned an associate of applied science degree in electronics technology from CCC in 2000.
Silvia Sacalxot-Chojolan has joined the staff as a custodian.